The Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 3 · verse 3.35
Better one's own dharma, even though imperfectly performed, than the dharma of another well performed. Better death in one's own dharma; the dharma of another is fraught with fear.
Sanskrit (Devanagari)
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात्। स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः॥
Transliteration
śreyān sva-dharmo viguṇaḥ para-dharmāt sv-anuṣṭhitāt; sva-dharme nidhanaṁ śreyaḥ para-dharmo bhayāvahaḥ
English translation
Better one's own dharma, even though imperfectly performed, than the dharma of another well performed. Better death in one's own dharma; the dharma of another is fraught with fear.
Meaning — what the verse is actually saying
The verse is the foundation of svadharma — your own path. The Gita's instruction is striking: doing your work badly is better than doing someone else's work well. The "comparison" trap of modern professional life is exactly what this verse warns against.
Modern practice — what to do today because of this
When you find yourself envying someone else's path or trying to imitate it, return to this verse. Their dharma is not yours. Doing yours imperfectly is honest; doing theirs perfectly is theft from yourself.