Shloka 7
Umā–Maheśvara-saṃvāda: Varṇa-bhraṃśa, Ācāra (Vṛtta), and Karmic Ascent/Decline
अन्यथा हि वृथा मर्त्या: पूजयन्त्यल्पबुद्धयः,अल्पबुद्धि मानव अन्य प्रकारसे मेरी व्यर्थ पूजा करते हैं। मैं उसे ग्रहण नहीं करता हूँ। वह पूजा मुझे संतोष प्रदान करनेवाली नहीं हैं
anyathā hi vṛthā martyāḥ pūjayanty alpabuddhayaḥ |
अन्यथा हि वृथा मर्त्याः पूजयन्त्यल्पबुद्धयः। तादृशी पूजा न ममोपगच्छति; नाहं तां प्रतिगृह्णामि, न सा मम तुष्टिकरी॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Worship must be offered with right understanding and proper intent; otherwise it becomes futile and fails to please or be accepted by the worthy recipient.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma, he criticizes misguided, unintelligent forms of honoring/worship, stating that such offerings are not accepted and do not bring true satisfaction.