Verse 9.12

Verse 9.12: “(They), of futile aspirations, of futile actions, of futile knowledge, void of wisdom, and partaking in the Demoniac or the Devilish nature that deludes (them). (172)

Commentary called Jnaneshwari by Jnaneshwar:

Utterly vain is the life of such persons that have such erroneous belief as to My Being; they resemble the clouds that spread in sky when there is no monsoon, or the glare of a mirage which could only be seen from a distance, or like the men on horse-back in the performances of mountebanks, or like the ornaments created by a juggler, or like townwalls of the towns in the clouds (gandharvanagarī), which though not actually existing appear to exist, or like the ‘Sabar’ tree, growing very tall but bearing no fruit and also hollow in the interior, or like the useless nipples hanging down from the neck of a she-goat. Futile indeed is the life of such persons, their actions being of no more use than the fruit of Sabar-tree, which can neither be given nor taken. All their learning is as worthless as a coconut plucked by a monkey, or a pearl falling in the hands of the blind. Their entire doctrine and lore is as worthless as weapons in the hands of a coy girl, or holy incantations recited before unholy persons.

In this way, Oh Dhananjaya, to one whose mind is not with real knowledge, neither learning nor his action is of any worth whatever. The sordid Prakriti—nature is verily the demon who eclipses the discerning power and leaves no trace of reason; always stalking in the darkness of ignorance, she has such souls in her tight grip, so their minds are torn to pieces and they fall into the jaws of this demon full of the evil quality. From the mouth of this Tamas-made monster, violence lolls out like a tongue, from which trickles down the saliva of hope, which keeps on chewing fleshy quid of discontent. The demon smacks the lips, pulling out the tongue that waves ruinously as far as the ears.

Thus the demon is verily the deep-mouthed den of the mountains of tempting error. Hate makes her jaws which crush down knowledge. To the minds of dull-witted fools, the demon lends a sheltering sheath as does the skin to the bones. Those that fall into the mouth of such a demon, like victims of ghosts, get drowned in the deep waters of delusion of ignorance. The helping hand of reason cannot reach such souls as have fallen into the pit of this sordid mass of ignorance. No trace of their whereabouts can be had. Enough of this fruitless tale of fools, as it would only tire out speech.” So said the Lord, to which the son of Pandu agreed. Thereon, the Lord said, “Hear now the story of saints which gives good relief to the tongue.”