Bhagavad Gita 3.35
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् । स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः ॥
śreyān sva-dharmo viguṇaḥ para-dharmāt svanuṣṭhitāt | sva-dharme nidhanaṃ śreyaḥ para-dharmo bhayāvahaḥ ||
Translation
One's own duty, though defective, is better than another's duty well performed. Death in performing one's own duty is preferable; the performance of the duty of others is dangerous.
Reflection
Whose work have you been doing well that was never yours to do?
Read this verse in its chapter: Chapter Three
Sva-dharmo viguṇaḥ. One's own work, even badly done. Para-dharmaḥ svanuṣṭhitaḥ. Another's work, even done well. The verse is famous and often misread as a caste defense. Read it as a craft argument. The work that is yours, however imperfectly handled, sits closer to your nature than someone else's work performed at a higher polish. Sva-dharme nidhanaṃ śreyaḥ, death in your own work is preferable. The verse names the cost of borrowed lives. Aurobindo: the danger is not in failing at your own work. The danger is in succeeding at someone else's.