Shloka 21
Umā–Maheśvara-saṃvāda: Varṇa-bhraṃśa, Ācāra (Vṛtta), and Karmic Ascent/Decline
देवतास्तस्य तुष्यन्ति कामिकं चापि सिध्यति । अन्यथा हि वृथा मर्त्याः कुर्वते स्वल्पबुद्धयः
devatās tasya tuṣyanti kāmikaṃ cāpi sidhyati | anyathā hi vṛthā martyāḥ kurvate svalpabuddhayaḥ ||
Wer so handelt, dem sind die Götter gewogen, und selbst seine rechtmäßigen Wünsche gehen in Erfüllung. Doch die von geringem Verstand tun es nicht und vergeuden ihr Menschenleben, indem sie anderen, nichtigen Unternehmungen nachjagen.
बलदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Rightly performed dharmic conduct brings divine favor and the fulfillment of worthy aims; neglecting it, the short-sighted waste effort on actions that do not yield lasting fruit.
Baladeva is instructing his listener by contrasting two paths: the disciplined, proper course that pleases the gods and succeeds, and the misguided course of the dull-minded who ignore it and toil in vain.