The works of Ādi Śaṅkarācārya

Praśnottararatnamālikā

Verse 51

कस्य क्रिया हि सफला यः पुनराचारवां शिष्टः ।कः शिष्टो यो वेदप्रमाणवां को हतः क्रियाभ्रष्टः ॥ ५० ॥

In plain words

Whose action actually bears fruit? The one whose conduct is in order — the cultivated person. And who is cultivated? The one who takes the Veda as his measure of what is true. Who is finished? The one who has let his practice slip away.

Close to the Sanskrit

Of whom indeed is action fruitful? He who, for his part, is possessed of right conduct — the cultivated one. Who is the cultivated one? He who holds the Veda as his authority. Who is destroyed? He who has fallen away from practice.