Remaining in the darkness of ignorance, themselves believing they are learned scholars, they wander errantly like the blind led by the blind.

Vivid description of those who confuse erudition with wisdom.

Avidyāyāṃ antare — in the inner darkness. Ignorance is not absence of knowledge but incorrect knowledge, mistaken identification.

Svayaṃ dhīrāḥ — themselves believing they are firm, serene. Self-esteem based on erudition, not on realization.

Paṇḍitaṃ-manyamānāḥ — considering themselves learned. The intellect proud of its own conclusions.

Jaṅghanyamānāḥ pariyanti — wandering, roaming. Without fixed direction, without clear goal, circling without progressing.

Andhenaiva nīyamānāḥ yathāndhāḥ — like the blind led by the blind. The classic metaphor: without inner vision, all external knowledge is defective guidance.

Erudition without realization is worse than humble ignorance; it deceives with its apparent authority.

For the yogī, this is a warning: humility before the mystery is the only appropriate attitude.