Your own work, done badly

1 · Chapter 2 · Shloka 31

Further, looking to thine own duty thou shouldst not tremble; for there is nothing more welcome to a Kshattriya than righteous war.

First pass, aimed at Arjuna the soldier: this work is yours; refusing it is not virtue.

2 · Chapter 3 · Shloka 8

Perform thou right action, for, action is superior to inaction, and, inactive, even the maintenance of thy body would not be possible.

Do the work you are assigned — even keeping the body going takes action; standing still is not on the table.

3 · Chapter 3 · Shloka 35

Better one's own duty, though destitute of merit, than the duty of another, well discharged. Better death in the discharge of one's own duty; the duty of another is full of danger.

Your own duty done poorly beats another's done well; another's path carries a danger you can't see from outside.

4 · Chapter 18 · Shloka 45

Man reacheth perfection by each being intent on his own duty. Listen thou how perfection is won by him who is intent on his own duty.

Each person reaches completion through their own kind of work, not by escaping into someone else's.

5 · Chapter 18 · Shloka 47

Better is one's own duty though destitute of merits than the well-executed duty of another. He who doeth the duty laid down by his own nature incurreth not sin.

The verse restates 3.35 near the very end — seventeen chapters later, the same answer, now earned.

6 · Chapter 18 · Shloka 48

Congenital duty, O son of Kunti, though defective, ought not to be abandoned. All undertakings indeed are clouded by defects as fire by smoke.

Every undertaking has some flaw in it, like smoke in fire — not a reason to drop the one that is yours.