श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् | स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः ||३-३५||
śreyānsvadharmo viguṇaḥ paradharmātsvanuṣṭhitāt . svadharme nidhanaṃ śreyaḥ paradharmo bhayāvahaḥ ||3-35||
Chapter 3 · Verse 35
Karma Yoga
कर्मयोग
In plain words
You need to focus entirely on your own dharma, which is your unique duty and righteous path in life, even if you perform it imperfectly. Trying to live someone else's life or duty is dangerous and brings fear. Even if you fail or die fulfilling your own natural calling, it is far better than succeeding at a path that was never meant for you.
Translation
3.35 Better is one's own duty, though ill-done, than the duty of another well-performed. Better is death in one's own duty; the duty of another is fraught with fear.
Meaning
It is indeed better for man to die discharging his own duty though destitute of merit than for him to live doing the duty of another though performed in a perfect manner. For the duty of another has its pitfalls. The duty of a Kshatriya is to fight in a righteous battle. Arjuna must fight. This is his duty. Even if he dies in the discharge of his own duty it is better for him. He will go to heaven. He should not do the duty of another man. This will bring him peril. He should not stop from fighting and enter the path of renunciation. (Cf. XVIII.47).
Word by word
श्रेयान् better स्वधर्मः ones own duty विगुणः devoid of merit परधर्मात् than the duty of another स्वनुष्ठितात् than well discharged स्वधर्मे in ones own duty निधनम् death श्रेयः better परधर्मः anothers duty भयावहः fraught with fear.