karmendriyāṇi sanyamya ya āste manasā smaran
indriyārthān vimūḍhātmā mithyāchāraḥ sa uchyate
karma-indriyāṇi — the organs of action;
sanyamya — restrain;
yaḥ — who;
āste — remain;
manasā — in the mind;
smaran — to remember;
indriya-arthān — sense objects;
vimūḍha-ātmā — the deluded;
mithyā-āchāraḥ — hypocrite;
saḥ — they;
uchyate — are called
This verse talks about the difference between someone who truly practices self-control and someone who is just pretending. Imagine a person who looks calm and collected on the outside, maybe even sitting quietly and meditating, but inside, their mind is racing with thoughts about what they want, like food, entertainment, or other pleasures. This person seems to be focused on a spiritual path, but in reality, they are not. They are being dishonest with themselves because, while they are not acting on their desires, they are still thinking about them.
These individuals can sometimes discuss deep topics or philosophies, trying to sound wise or enlightened. However, just because they can talk about these ideas doesn't mean they truly understand or practice them. They are often pretending to be something they are not—like a teacher who doesn’t believe in what they preach.
It’s important to realize that anyone can enjoy life and still follow the rules of their responsibilities, such as being a good parent, worker, or friend. By doing so, they can slowly improve their character and purify their mind. On the other hand, someone who calls themselves a yogi but constantly thinks about satisfying their senses, even when they sit in meditation, is misleading themselves and everyone around them. They may seem spiritual, but their real focus is on their own pleasures.
This type of pretender is compared to the greatest deceivers because their actions and thoughts don’t match. Even if they sometimes discuss spiritual or philosophical ideas, if their heart isn’t in the right place, it all becomes meaningless. The confusion caused by wrong desires makes their spiritual journey ineffective.
In summary, true meditation and spiritual practice involve honesty and purity of mind. If someone is only going through the motions and not genuinely working to clear their mind of unworthy thoughts, their practice is empty and lacks real value. So, this verse encourages us to be truly sincere in our pursuit of higher consciousness rather than merely pretending to be engaged in it.