Shloka 4
Sāttvika-vṛtta-kathana (Brahmā on the Conduct of Sattva) — Chapter 38
मुधा ज्ञानं मुधा वृत्तं मुधा सेवा मुधा श्रम: । एवं यो युक्तधर्म: स्यात् सोअमुत्रात्यन्तमश्षुते
mudhā jñānaṁ mudhā vṛttaṁ mudhā sevā mudhā śramaḥ | evaṁ yo yukta-dharmaḥ syāt so 'mutrātyantam aśnute ||
Vāyu bersabda: “Ilmu duniawi itu sia-sia; tingkah laku duniawi itu sia-sia; khidmat dan jerih payah yang dikejar semata-mata untuk tujuan sementara juga sia-sia.” Sesiapa yang memahami hal ini lalu menumpukan diri pada jalan kebajikan yang benar (dharma yang diterapkan dengan tepat) akan memperoleh kebahagiaan yang kekal dan tiada bandingan di alam sana.
वायुदेव उवाच
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.