This is one of the most frequently quoted verses in the Gita. Krishna states unequivocally that one's own duty (sva-dharmo), even if performed with faults or lacking merit (viguṇaḥ), is vastly superior (śreyān) to the duty of another (para-dharmāt), even if that other duty is performed perfectly (sv-anuṣṭhitāt). He concludes with a chilling guarantee: Dying while performing your own duty is glorious and beneficial (sva-dharme nidhanaṃ śreyaḥ), but taking up another's path is dangerous and fraught with fear (para-dharmo bhayāvahaḥ).