श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् । स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः ॥
Translation
It is better to do your own duty imperfectly than another's duty well. Death in one's own duty is better; another's duty brings danger.
Explanation
This isn't really about literal death — it's a strong way of saying that a genuine, if flawed, attempt at your own honest path tends to serve you better than skillfully performing someone else's. Comparing your unfinished, imperfect version of your own path to someone else's polished version of theirs is often a losing comparison from the start.
Reflect
Where have you been quietly comparing your imperfect path to someone else's finished one?
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