--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To perform one’s duty is not dharma. To…" description: "\"“To perform one’s duty is not dharma. To not perform one’s duty is a crime. People do carry out their duties anyway, but to do so grudgingly is a crime..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/441/dada-bhagwan-31_balance-in-life_to-perform-one-s-duty-is-not-dharma-to-n_686989.jpg" --- # To perform one’s duty is not dharma. To not perform one’s… ![“To perform one’s duty is not dharma. To not perform one’s duty is a crime. People do carry out their duties anyway, but to do so grudgingly is a crime.” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/441/dada-bhagwan-31_balance-in-life_to-perform-one-s-duty-is-not-dharma-to-n_686989.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/441/dada-bhagwan-31_balance-in-life_to-perform-one-s-duty-is-not-dharma-to-n_686989.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/441/dada-bhagwan-31_balance-in-life_to-perform-one-s-duty-is-not-dharma-to-n_686989.jpg) > ““To perform one’s duty is not dharma. To not perform one’s duty is a crime. People do carry out their duties anyway, but to do so grudgingly is a crime.”” [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Neglecting moral duty is a serious wrongdoing; performing it reluctantly is equally blameworthy. **In simple terms:** Duty must be done willingly, not under compulsion. Key Takeaway Do your duties with sincere intent. Themes ethics responsibility integrity Mood reflective serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - workplace - family obligations - civic duties - personal goals Key Concepts moral philosophy dharma intentionality Questions to Reflect On - What duties do you fulfill half‑heartedly? - How can you cultivate genuine commitment? A Different Perspective Reluctant compliance may stem from fear or lack of purpose. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Balance-in-life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balance-in-life/) [Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) [Dharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dharma/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Free-from-faults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-from-faults/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Spiritual quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-quotes/) ## Related quotes > [“These are all faults of the relative self, but one believes them to be of the Self (Chetan). That is why this worldly life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/these-are-all-faults-of-the-relative-self-but-one-believes-them-to-be/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“Once one becomes 'above normal', he will continue becoming 'above normal'. Once one becomes 'below normal', he will continue becoming 'below normal'. To bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/once-one-becomes-above-normal-he-will-continue-becoming-above-normal/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [There must be something here for me to get or to share or to do. So I have the duty that I do, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kraftsow/there-must-be-something-here-for-me-to-get-or-to-share-or-to-do-so-i/) [Gary Kraftsow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kraftsow/) > [“Whose fault is it? The one who is suffering. Which fault? The belief that ‘I am Chandulal’, verily is your mistake. It is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/whose-fault-is-it-the-one-who-is-suffering-which-fault-the-belief/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“This place (worldly life) is one of dependency, ‘We’ (the Self) are independent. We will find a solution if we go back to ‘our’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/this-place-worldly-life-is-one-of-dependency-we-the-self-are/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“Who is your superior? Your own ‘blunders’ and ‘mistakes’ are your superior. I will destroy your ‘blunders’ and you need to destroy the ‘mistakes’.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/who-is-your-superior-your-own-blunders-and-mistakes-are-your-superior/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“As long as someone gets hurt in the slightest, on your account; its effect will fall upon you. So beware. If the other person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/as-long-as-someone-gets-hurt-in-the-slightest-on-your-account-its/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“You will find people to point out your mistakes, but you will not find people who will destroy your mistakes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/you-will-find-people-to-point-out-your-mistakes-but-you-will-not-find/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“As long as you see faults of the world, you will have to wander around, and when you see the world as flawless, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/as-long-as-you-see-faults-of-the-world-you-will-have-to-wander-around/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“The main fault is our own, which proves that no one else is guilty. What is the mystery behind this? If Soul does a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/the-main-fault-is-our-own-which-proves-that-no-one-else-is-guilty/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“The one who does not have any conflicts through his mind, for him the worldly life has diminished (to zero).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/the-one-who-does-not-have-any-conflicts-through-his-mind-for-him-the/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“The one who destroys his mistakes is God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/the-one-who-destroys-his-mistakes-is-god/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“How much the inactivity of kashayas (i.e. anger, pride, deceit, and greed), there is that much activity of samadhi (state of inner bliss). Complete…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/how-much-the-inactivity-of-kashayas-i-e-anger-pride-deceit-and-greed/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [ “Once you are in the state of the Soul \[Real Self, I am Pure Soul\] then you do not have to complain.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/once-you-are-in-the-state-of-the-soul-real-self-i-am-pure-soul-then/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“The world is existing on which basis? It is the mistake of atikraman (aggression through thoughts, speech or action). There is no problem with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/the-world-is-existing-on-which-basis-it-is-the-mistake-of-atikraman/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) ## More by Dada Bhagwan > [“Where there is doubt (shanka), there is misery. The moment one begins to doubt the knowledge that, 'I am Chandubhai,' misery arises. Once one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-is-doubt-shanka-there-is-misery-the-moment-one-begins-to/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [ “The worldly \[spiritual\] science is methodic (kramic) in nature; one progresses “step by step”; one has to ascent one step at a time. Whereas… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/the-worldly-spiritual-science-is-methodic-kramic-in-nature-one/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“In the worldly life, due to maadakta (intoxication of the ego of ‘I am Chandubhai’), one has completely lost awareness of everything about one’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/in-the-worldly-life-due-to-maadakta-intoxication-of-the-ego-of-i-am/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [ “Through the grace of a thief, one can become a thief and through the grace of a Gnani \[the enlightened one\], one can become… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/through-the-grace-of-a-thief-one-can-become-a-thief-and-through-the/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [ “Where there are kashays (anger-pride-deceit-greed), there is worldly life. As long as anger-pride-deceit-greed exist; one is a sansaari \[living a worldly life\] regardless of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-are-kashays-anger-pride-deceit-greed-there-is-worldly/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“If one does not know how to read the account (karmic) book, then he will start to have doubts, and doubts lead to unhappiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/if-one-does-not-know-how-to-read-the-account-karmic-book-then-he-will/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [ “Skills (learning) or lack of skills is all egoistic knowledge (ego based knowledge). Ego-free Knowledge is called (true) Knowledge \[Gnan\].” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/skills-learning-or-lack-of-skills-is-all-egoistic-knowledge-ego-based/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“Continue with whatever it is that you have been doing, except for attachment-abhorrence. If ‘we’ stay in our state of Pure Soul, attachment-abhorrence will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/continue-with-whatever-it-is-that-you-have-been-doing-except-for/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“A variety of difficulties will come your way. But at the time of difficulty, you will be able to find a ready made medicine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/a-variety-of-difficulties-will-come-your-way-but-at-the-time-of/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“Suppose you want to go to Juhu (suburb in Mumbai) from here, and you come across two paths, which of the two paths is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/suppose-you-want-to-go-to-juhu-suburb-in-mumbai-from-here-and-you/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“The Soul (our true Self) has to be experienced, the Soul known through scriptures will not do. Work will not be completed through scriptural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/the-soul-our-true-self-has-to-be-experienced-the-soul-known-through/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“If God were the doer, when will there be an end?! (If) God is the creator and he made us, we become his toys,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/if-god-were-the-doer-when-will-there-be-an-end-if-god-is-the-creator/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“For those people whose association is harmful to the Self (kusangi), there is no better respectful fear (taap) than that of satsang (spiritual company).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/for-those-people-whose-association-is-harmful-to-the-self-kusangi/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“Forgiveness is not to be given by speaking. Forgiveness is natural and spontaneously there. Spontaneous forgiveness is a sign of having attained the Self…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/forgiveness-is-not-to-be-given-by-speaking-forgiveness-is-natural-and/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“Remaining absolutely non-acquisitive (aparigrahi) amidst all possessions is the ultimate ‘test examination’.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/remaining-absolutely-non-acquisitive-aparigrahi-amidst-all/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) [Explore all 2,468 Dada Bhagwan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) ## More Balance-in-life quotes > [“We don't need to strive towards balance, we rather need to work on the obstacles that are preventing the natural flow of balance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-alebraheem/we-don-t-need-to-strive-towards-balance-we-rather-need-to-work-on-the/) [A.A. Alebraheem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-alebraheem/) > [“Disharmony at home or work is toxic to a person’s physical disposition and mental health.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/disharmony-at-home-or-work-is-toxic-to-a-person-s-physical/) [Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/) > [“To break chanchadta (unsteadiness, unstillness) with chanchadta (unsteadiness, unstill) is called relative religion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/to-break-chanchadta-unsteadiness-unstillness-with-chanchadta/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“Decide in your mind that you want to completely live by the absolute worldly truth (vyavahar satya). The one, who follows the worldly truth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/decide-in-your-mind-that-you-want-to-completely-live-by-the-absolute/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“Life is to be lived with a focus and thoughtfulness. One has to see ‘what is the outcome’ of each and every action. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/life-is-to-be-lived-with-a-focus-and-thoughtfulness-one-has-to-see/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“Circumstances will continue to change. They will not adjust to you; you will have to adjust to them. Circumstances do not have bhaav (inner-intent)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/circumstances-will-continue-to-change-they-will-not-adjust-to-you-you/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [ “\[Be\] Non-insistent in the ‘relative’ and insistent in the ‘real’.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/be-non-insistent-in-the-relative-and-insistent-in-the-real/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“Ego is considered one’s own wealth. Profit or loss of endless lifetimes comes into ego. Whatever is one’s ego, that is how his medium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/ego-is-considered-one-s-own-wealth-profit-or-loss-of-endless/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“Is there no God? What is his correct address? Which street does he live in? Is he up there? There is no one up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/is-there-no-god-what-is-his-correct-address-which-street-does-he-live/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“If there is difference of opinions on a rare occasion, then that is the measure of being a human.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/if-there-is-difference-of-opinions-on-a-rare-occasion-then-that-is/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“People waste time to bring circumstances together. Nature itself brings circumstances together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/people-waste-time-to-bring-circumstances-together-nature-itself/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“The whole worldly life is in the form of net (which catches us). One frees himself from nylon net and becomes entangled in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/the-whole-worldly-life-is-in-the-form-of-net-which-catches-us-one/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“The one, who worries, does not believe in God and the one who believes in God, he will not worry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/the-one-who-worries-does-not-believe-in-god-and-the-one-who-believes/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“When does one experience the ‘Samadhi sukh’ (happiness of the blissful state)? When one does not want anything, when the entire ‘tuber’ of greed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/when-does-one-experience-the-samadhi-sukh-happiness-of-the-blissful/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“If you become impressed by someone, you will become infected by his disease. Then you will become impressed by his attributes and his powers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/if-you-become-impressed-by-someone-you-will-become-infected-by-his/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) [Browse all 113 Balance-in-life quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balance-in-life/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“To perform one’s duty is not dharma. To not perform one’s duty is a crime. People do carry out their duties anyway, but to do so grudgingly is a crime.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dada Bhagwan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/to-perform-one-s-duty-is-not-dharma-to-not-perform-one-s-duty-is-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Balance-in-life" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/to-perform-one-s-duty-is-not-dharma-to-not-perform-one-s-duty-is-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/441/dada-bhagwan-31_balance-in-life_to-perform-one-s-duty-is-not-dharma-to-n_686989.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/441/dada-bhagwan-31_balance-in-life_to-perform-one-s-duty-is-not-dharma-to-n_686989.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/441/dada-bhagwan-31_balance-in-life_to-perform-one-s-duty-is-not-dharma-to-n_686989.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To perform one’s duty is not dharma. To not perform one’s duty is a crime. People do carry out their duties…” — Dada Bhagwan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Dada Bhagwan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“To perform one’s duty is not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/to-perform-one-s-duty-is-not-dharma-to-not-perform-one-s-duty-is-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/to-perform-one-s-duty-is-not-dharma-to-not-perform-one-s-duty-is-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```