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Sanatan Dharma has been immaculately framed in a way that it focuses on the concept of fulfilling one’s individual duties; Swadharma. It is the foundational principle of Sanatan that defines the path to collective harmony and personal growth. The concept of Swadharma comes from two Sanskrit terms; Sva that means Self and Dharma which means Duty/Righteousness. The obligations and responsibilities that are unique to an individual, based on their nature and role in the society in correlation with the stage of life one is at is swadharma.
Swadharma is following one’s unique responsibilities and life path acting in accordance with the greater cosmic good. It teaches us that true harmony is in following our inherent duties rather than trying to imitate that of the others. Bhagavad Gita talks about the same,

श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात्। स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः।।
Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 3 Verse 35
In the stanza Shri Krishn talks about how it’s better to follow one’s own path and perform one’s own duties even if they don’t seem as fruitful rather than following others, just as it’s better to die following our own path rather than in fear and following others.

When we talk about Swadharma it’s important to understand where the concept originated from. The traces of Swadharma can be found in early scriptures, particularly vedas and upanishads and emphasis on the importance of Karma. Swadharma becomes even more significant as we continue to understand its role in class (varna) and stages of life (asharam). Manusmriti also shares the significance and details of the same, the ashrams have been divided in four that showcases the stages of life as follows:

Brahmacharya – Student
Grihastha – Householder
Vanaprastha – Retiree
Sannyasa – Renunciate

As the person progresses through different stages in life, so does he moves through these different asharams that are like a guide map for the responsibilities and duties of a person.
Swadharma teaches us that societal harmony and individual duties are interconnected on a much greater level. The understanding of following through one’s responsibilities creates a systematic structure in the community, everyone is an active and contributing member which further helps as no one is overburdened and that creates harmony and well-being in the community.

This concept is further exemplified in Bhagavad Gita, chapter 18, verse 47 as:

श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात्।स्वभावनियतं कर्म कुर्वन्नाप्नोति किल्बिषम्।।

In this verse Shri Krishn speaks about that it’s in one’s own well being to perform their own duties imperfectly over someone else’s even if they do it with utter perfection; as by performing one’s own duties they incur no sin.
This teaching emphasizes how if a person plays the role assigned to them it’s not just a matter of individual morality but also a collective contribution to maintaining cosmic harmony.

Swadharma is said to be closely tied to one’s karma, though humans tend to not do a task without thinking of their personal gain, swadharma is said to not only be about fulfilling their personal duties but also a selfless contribution to maintaining cosmic harmony. One should just focus on their own duties and spiritual growth, detaching themselves from materialistic desires and ego, thus bringing their soul closer to the ultimate goal, that is, moksha.

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