Shloka 30
Adhyāya 51: Kṛṣṇa’s Leave-Taking and Departure for Dvārakā (द्वारकागमनानुमति)
कर्म केचित् प्रशंसन्ति मन्दबुद्धिरता नरा: । ये तु वृद्धा महात्मानो न प्रशंसन्ति कर्म ते,कुछ मन्द-बुद्धियुक्त पुरुष (स्वर्गादि फल प्रदान करनेवाले) काम्य-कर्मोंकी प्रशंसा करते हैं, किंतु वृद्ध महात्माजन उन कर्मोंको उत्तम नहीं बतलाते
karma kecit praśaṃsanti mandabuddhiratā narāḥ | ye tu vṛddhā mahātmāno na praśaṃsanti karma te ||
Vāyu said: “Some men, attached to shallow understanding, praise ritual action—especially desire-driven rites that promise heaven and other rewards. But the aged and great-souled do not commend those actions as the highest good.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Desire-driven ritual actions (kāmya-karmas) may be praised by those with limited discernment, but mature, wise persons do not regard them as the highest path; they imply that ethical and spiritual maturity looks beyond reward-seeking action.
Vāyudeva is instructing the listener by contrasting two viewpoints: ordinary people who celebrate reward-oriented rites, and elder great-souled sages who withhold such praise, steering the discussion toward higher dharma beyond mere fruit-seeking कर्म.