Shloka 22
The Marks of Merit and the Destinies of Beings
Divine vs Demonic Traits
न देवेषु न विज्ञेषु न धर्मश्रवणेषु च । स्तोत्रमंत्रादिके पुण्ये यथाकार्येष्वनिश्चयाः
na deveṣu na vijñeṣu na dharmaśravaṇeṣu ca | stotramaṃtrādike puṇye yathākāryeṣvaniścayāḥ
ਨਾ ਦੇਵਤਿਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ, ਨਾ ਵਿਦਵਾਨਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ, ਅਤੇ ਨਾ ਹੀ ਧਰਮ ਸੁਣਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਦਾ ਵਿਸ਼ਵਾਸ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ; ਉਹ ਪਵਿੱਤਰ ਮੰਤਰਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਕਰਤੱਵਾਂ ਬਾਰੇ ਅਨਿਸ਼ਚਿਤ ਰਹਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ।
Unspecified (context needed to identify the dialogue pair in Adhyaya 76)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यथाकार्येष्वनिश्चयाः → यथा-कार्येषु + अनिश्चयाः (ष्व + अ → स्व); stotramaṃtrādike → स्तोत्र-मन्त्र-आदि-के.
FAQs
It highlights lack of niścaya (firm resolve): wavering toward worship (devas), respect for the wise, listening to dharma, and performing meritorious practices like hymns and mantras.
Devotional life requires steadiness—regular hearing of dharma and consistent practice (stotra, mantra). The verse criticizes a mindset that remains perpetually undecided and therefore spiritually uncommitted.
One should act decisively in appropriate duties (yathākārya), choosing constructive, dharmic actions rather than remaining indifferent or wavering in matters of virtue.