Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 13
The Forest of Material Existence (Saṁsāra-vana) and the Delivering Path of Bharata’s Teachings
एकदासत्प्रसङ्गान्निकृतमतिर्व्युदकस्रोत:स्खलनवद् उभयतोऽपि दु:खदं पाखण्डमभियाति ॥ १३ ॥
ekadāsat-prasaṅgān nikṛta-matir vyudaka-srotaḥ-skhalanavad ubhayato ’pi duḥkhadaṁ pākhaṇḍam abhiyāti.
Đôi khi để giảm khổ trong khu rừng của thế giới vật chất, linh hồn bị trói buộc nhận những “phúc lành” rẻ tiền từ kẻ vô thần. Giao du với họ, trí tuệ tiêu tan; như nhảy xuống dòng sông cạn rồi vỡ đầu. Vì thế khổ cả hai đường, hiện đời và đời sau. Lại còn tìm đến những “sādhu–svami” giả dối, giảng trái Veda, nhưng cũng chẳng được lợi ích nào.
Cheaters are always there to manufacture their own way of spiritual realization. To get some material benefit, the conditioned soul approaches these pseudo sannyāsīs and yogīs for cheap blessings, but he does not receive any benefit from them, either spiritual or material. In this age there are many cheaters who show some jugglery and magic. They even create gold to amaze their followers, and their followers accept them as God. This type of cheating is very prominent in Kali-yuga. Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura describes the real guru in this way.
FAQs
This verse warns that abandoning saintly association causes one’s intelligence to become deceived, leading to painful hypocrisy and spiritual decline.
Because pākhaṇḍa harms a person whether he tries to maintain a false religious show or later struggles with the consequences and inner conflict it creates—either way it yields suffering.
Stay connected to sincere devotees, regularly hear and discuss Bhāgavatam, and keep practices aligned with genuine humility and service rather than external display.