Shloka 21
Sanatsujāta on the Imperceptible Eternal Light (यत्तच्छुक्रं महज्ज्योतिः)
गूहन्ति सर्पा इव गद्धराणि स्वशिक्षया स्वेन वृत्तेन मर्त्या: । तेषु प्रमुहान्ति जना विमूढा यथाध्वानं मोहयन्ते भयाय । योगिनस्तं प्रपश्यन्ति भगवन्तं सनातनम्,जैसे साँप बिलोंका आश्रय ले अपनेको छिपाये रहते हैं, उसी प्रकार दम्भी मनुष्य अपनी शिक्षा और व्यवहारकी आड़में अपने दोषोंको छिपाये रखते हैं। जैसे ठग रास्ता चलनेवालोंको भयमें डालनेके लिये दूसरा रास्ता बतलाकर मोहित कर देते हैं, मूर्ख मनुष्य उनपर विश्वास करके अत्यन्त मोहमें पड़ जाते हैं; इसी प्रकार जो परमात्माके मार्ममें चलनेवाले हैं, उन्हें भी दम्भी पुरुष भयमें डालनेके लिये मोहित करनेकी चेष्टा करते हैं, किंतु योगीजन भगवत्कृपासे उनके फंदेमें न आकर उस सनातन परमात्माका ही साक्षात्कार करते हैं
gūhanti sarpā iva gaddharāṇi svaśikṣayā svena vṛttena martyāḥ | teṣu pramuhyanti janā vimūḍhā yathādhvānaṃ mohayante bhayāya | yoginas taṃ prapaśyanti bhagavantaṃ sanātanam ||
Sanatsujāta said: “As serpents hide themselves in their holes, so do deceitful mortals conceal their faults behind the cover of their learning and outward conduct. Deluded people are bewildered by them, just as highway-robbers mislead travelers by pointing out a false route in order to frighten and ensnare them. In the same way, pretenders try to confuse and intimidate even those who are moving on the inner path toward the Supreme; but true yogins, not falling into such snares, behold that eternal Lord Himself.”
सनत्सुजात उवाच
Educational Q&A
Outer learning and respectable conduct can be used as a mask for inner faults; the wise must practice discernment. Those established in yoga are not trapped by intimidation or misleading guidance and instead attain direct vision of the eternal Lord.
In Sanatsujāta’s instruction (Sanatsujātīya) within Udyoga Parva, he warns against hypocritical, deceptive people who mislead others like robbers misdirecting travelers. He contrasts the deluded crowd with yogins who remain steady and perceive the Supreme Reality.