Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, 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 ||
जो असे करतो, त्याच्यावर देव प्रसन्न होतात आणि त्याची योग्य इच्छा देखील पूर्ण होते. पण अल्पबुद्धी मनुष्य असे न करता व्यर्थ इतर-इतर कामांत गुंतून राहतात.
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.