Better is one’s own dharma, though defective, than the dharma of another well performed. Performing the action prescribed by one’s own nature, one does not incur fault.

Verdict on sva-dharma: śreyān — better, higher. Viguṇaḥ — even with defects, imperfect. Better than para-dharma — the dharma of another — sv-anuṣṭhitāt — even though well performed.

Svabhāva-niyataṃ karma — action regulated by one’s own nature. Na āpnoti kilbiṣam — does not obtain guilt/fault. Acting according to one’s own nature with dedication avoids negative karma, even if the execution is imperfect.