The Yoga of Action

After explaining how nature guides action (3.33) and how attraction-aversion mislead us (3.34), Krishna delivers this powerful teaching: better your own dharma (svadharma) done imperfectly than another's dharma (paradharma) done perfectly. Your authentic path, even with its flaws, serves your growth. Their polished path leads you astray. The verse goes further: better to die in your own dharma than succeed in someone else's. Why so strong? Because paradharma brings fear (bhayāvahaḥ)—the anxiety of living inauthentically, misaligned with your nature.