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 ||
Sesiapa yang berbuat demikian, para dewa akan berkenan, dan hasratnya yang wajar pun tercapai. Tetapi orang yang dangkal akalnya, tidak melakukannya, lalu mensia-siakan hidup manusia dengan mengejar pelbagai pekerjaan lain yang sia-sia.
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.