Shloka 4

मुधा ज्ञानं मुधा वृत्तं मुधा सेवा मुधा श्रम: । एवं यो युक्तधर्म: स्यात्‌ सोअमुत्रात्यन्तमश्षुते,नाना प्रकारकी सांसारिक जानकारी, सकाम व्यवहार, सेवा और श्रम व्यर्थ है--ऐसा समझकर जो कल्याणके साधनमें लग जाता है, वह परलोकमें अक्षय सुखका भागी होता है

mudhā jñānaṁ mudhā vṛttaṁ mudhā sevā mudhā śramaḥ | evaṁ yo yukta-dharmaḥ syāt so 'mutrātyantam aśnute ||

Vāyu sprach: „Weltliches Wissen ist vergeblich; weltliches Tun ist vergeblich; auch Dienst und Mühe, die nur um zeitlicher Ziele willen auf sich genommen werden, sind vergeblich.“ Wer dies erkennt und sich den wahren Mitteln des Heils zuwendet (dem recht angewandten Dharma), erlangt jenseits eine unvergängliche, unvergleichliche Glückseligkeit.

मुधाin vain, uselessly
मुधा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootमुधा
ज्ञानम्knowledge
ज्ञानम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootज्ञान
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
मुधाin vain
मुधा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootमुधा
वृत्तम्conduct, behavior
वृत्तम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootवृत्त
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
मुधाin vain
मुधा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootमुधा
सेवाservice
सेवा:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootसेवा
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
मुधाin vain
मुधा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootमुधा
श्रमःtoil, effort
श्रमः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootश्रम
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
एवम्thus, in this way
एवम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएवम्
यःwho
यः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
युक्तधर्मःone devoted/engaged in dharma
युक्तधर्मः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootयुक्तधर्म
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
स्यात्would be, may be
स्यात्:
TypeVerb
Rootअस्
FormOptative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular
सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अमुत्रthere, in the other world
अमुत्र:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअमुत्र
अत्यन्तम्exceedingly, utterly
अत्यन्तम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअत्यन्तम्
अश्नुतेattains, enjoys
अश्नुते:
TypeVerb
Rootअश्
FormPresent (Lat), 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada

वायुदेव उवाच

V
Vāyudeva (Wind-god)

Educational Q&A

Actions and attainments aimed only at worldly ends—information, social conduct, service, and hard work—are ‘in vain’ if they do not lead to true welfare. When one redirects life toward properly grounded dharma (right means, right purpose), one gains lasting, imperishable happiness beyond this life.

Vāyudeva is speaking as a moral instructor, reframing common human pursuits and urging a shift from merely secular or desire-driven effort to dharma that functions as a genuine sādhana (means) for ultimate good, promising enduring reward in the hereafter.