श्रेयान् स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् । स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः ॥
श्रेयान्better / superior
स्वधर्मःone's own duty
विगुणःdeficient / tinged with faults
परधर्मात्than another's duty
स्वनुष्ठितात्well performed
निधनम्death
भयावहःfraught with danger / fear-inducing
It is far better to perform one's natural prescribed duty, though tinged with faults, than to perform another's prescribed duty, though perfectly. In fact, it is preferable to die in the discharge of one's duty, than to follow the path of another, which is fraught with danger.
dharmadutyself-reliance