Question: It has been stated in Gita Adhyay 3 Shlok 35 and Adhyay 18 Shlok 47 that one's own religion, even if is devoid of merits, is better than other's religion which is properly brought into practice. It is auspicious to even die for one's religion; other's religion is fearsome. It is proved from this that whatever worship one does, one should not relinquish it. It is auspicious to even die in one's religion.
Answer: - If the meaning of Gita Adhyay 3 Shlok 35 and Adhyay 18 Shlok 47 is this only that whatever worship one does, one should continue doing it; do not leave it, then what was the need for the knowledge of Holy Shrimad bhagwad Gita Ji? One Shlok was enough. The purport of these Shloks of Shri Gita Ji is correct, but the translators have given an opposite meaning to it. Please read below the actual meaning of the above-mentioned two shloks -
Gita Adhyay 3 Shlok 35
Shreyan′, swadharmH, vigunH, pardharmat′, swanushthitat′, Swadharme, nidhnam′, shreyH, pardharmH, bhyavahH ||35||
Translation: (VigunH) devoid of qualities i.e. abandoning the injunctions of scriptures (swanushthitat ) an arbitrary; properly brought into practice (pardharmat ) another's religious worship (swadharmH) one's scripture-based way of worship (shreyan ) is much better. Scripture-based (swadharme) in one's way of worship (nidhnam) even dying (shreyH) is auspicious and (pardharmH) another's way of worship (bhyavahH) is fearsome.
Translation: One's scripture-based way of worship is much better than another's arbitrary way of worship that is devoid of qualities i.e. abandoning the injunctions of the scriptures which is properly brought into practice. It is even auspicious to die in one's scripture-based way of worship and another's way of worship is fearsome.
Gita Adhyay 18 Shlok 47
Shreyan′, swadharmH, vigunH, pardharmat′, swanushthitat′, Swabhavniyatam′, karm, kurvan′, na, aapnoti, kilbisham′ ||47||
Translation: (VigunH) devoid of qualities (swanushthitat ) arbitrary i.e. opposite to the injunctions of scriptures properly brought into practice (pardharmat ) another's dharm i.e. religious worship (swadharmH) one's own dharm i.e. religious worship which is in accordance with the injunctions of the scriptures (shreyan ) is superior (swabhaavniyatam ) formed by oneself from arbitrary behaviour according to one's nature (karm) bhakti acts (na) not (kurvan ) perform (kilbisham ) due to which, sin (aapnoti) incurs.
Translation: One's own dharm i.e. religious worship which is in accordance with the injunctions of scriptures is superior to another's dharm i.e. religious worship, which is devoid of qualities and is arbitrary i.e. is opposite to the injunctions of scriptures and is properly brought into practice. Do not perform arbitrary acts of bhakti formed by oneself according to one's nature, due to which one incurs sin.
Important: Its evidence is clear in Gita Adhyay 7 Shlok 1 to 6.
It is clear in the above-mentioned shloks that one's scripture-based way of worship is superior. No matter how well-organised other's ostentatious way of worship may seem, it is harmful.
For instance, those who do jagran of Goddess Durga, they sing the praise of the Goddess through fanciful poems in a very melodious voice with all the instruments. Getting attracted to that (Swanushthitat) self-made way of worship which is against the injunctions of scriptures, one should not leave one's scripture-based way of worship.
When a worshipper engages in the true worship, then he abandons the previous ways of worship which were opposite to the scriptures like, pitra-worship, going to temple etc-etc. Then other people who do scripture-opposed worship say that you have given up all the previous religious practices (poojas). All the gods will become annoyed with you. Someone had done the same thing, his only son died. In this way, this scripture-opposed worship of others raises fear, but it is auspicious to only carry on doing one's scripture-based worship unto the last breath.
FAQs about "Is it true that one's own religion, even if devoid of merits, is better than other's religion"
Q.1 What is the main message conveyed in Gita Adhyay 3 Shlok 35 and Adhyay 18 Shlok 47?
The main message is that one's scripture-based way of worship is superior to another's arbitrary and devoid-of-qualities way of worship, even if the latter appears well-organized. It emphasizes the auspiciousness of continuing one's scriptural worship and warns against abandoning it for practices contrary to the scriptures.
Q.2 Why is one's scripture-based worship superior?
The Gita Adhyay 3 Shlok 35 indicates that one's worship, based on scriptures, is much better than another's worship that abandons scriptural injunctions. It asserts that even dying in one's scripture-based worship is considered auspicious, while another's worship is deemed fearsome.
Q.3 How useful is handling attractive but arbitrary practices like Goddess Durga Jagran?
The Holy scripture advises against abandoning one's scripture-based worship, even when attracted to well-organized but arbitrary practices. For example, those engaged in Goddess Durga Jagran are allure of self-made practices against scripture hence useless.
Q.4 What happens when a worshipper engages in true worship?
When a worshipper engages in true worship, they abandon previous practices contrary to scriptures, such as pitra-worship or temple visits. Others who oppose scriptural worship may instill fear by citing negative consequences, but the Suksham Ved emphasizes the auspiciousness of persisting in scriptural worship.
Q.5 Are there any consequences for those who abandon their scripture-based worship?
Abandoning one's scripture-based worship lead to negative outcomes. Deviating from the scripture based worship doesn't provide any wordly or spiritual benefits.
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Gauri Singh
I am a singer and great worshipper of Goddess. I sing Bhajans in Jagran but my life is full of misery. Where is the problem? How to attain happiness in life?
Satlok Ashram
Human life is as destined due to earlier birth's virtues and sins. Happiness is till virtues continue. Sins incurs difficulties in life. Virtues increase by true devotion. You must take refuge in an enlightened Saint to regain virtues and aim to attain salvation. With true worship your life here will again be filled with happiness.
Salwan Singh
I visit temples, Mosque, Gurudwara, Church quite often because God is everywhere and I aim to attain God.
Satlok Ashram
True, God is Omnipresent but worshipping idols is useless. Only scriptural worship provides benefits. Non scriptural worship is useless evidence in Gita Chapter 3:35.
Swati Singh
I read Gita Paath everyday. I also practice hymns of Buddhism. I go to Church and at 'Mazaars'. I am very religious by nature. God will surely be pleased by me
Satlok Ashram
One should only worship one God means Almighty KavirDev because the right way of devotion is only fruitful. It has been mentioned in Gita 3:35 that one's own scriptural worship is superior to another one's unscriptural worship since it incurs sins. Kindly visit our website for details.