Better is ones own duty , though devoid of merit, than the duty of another well discharged. Better is death in ones own duty ; the duty of another is fraught with fear (is productive of positive danger) .

śreyān = far better; svadharmaḥ = one’s prescribed duties; viguṇaḥ = even faulty; paradharmāt = than duties mentioned for others; svanuṣṭhitāt = perfectly done; svadharme = in one’s prescribed duties; nidhanaṃ = destruction; śreyaḥ = better; paradharmaḥ = duties prescribed for others; bhayāvahaḥ = dangerous.;