By Swami Harshananda
Svadharma literally means ‘one’s own duty’.
This is a word that has been specially used in the Bhagavadgītā. It is generally interpreted as sva-varṇa-āśrama-dharma. It means the duties that accrue to one as a result of his belonging to a particular varṇa and āśrama
Arjuna was kṣattriya and a gṛhastha or a householder. It was his svadharma or ordained duty to fight the evil forces and defend the good. It is noteworthy that svadharma should be on the righteous means of dharma, otherwise a thief may declare that stealing is his svadharma.
- Bhagavadgītā 2.31
- Bhagavadgītā 33
- Bhagavadgītā 3.35
- Bhagavadgītā 18.47
- Varṇa means caste.
- Āśrama means station in life.
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore