ye tv etad abhyasūyanto nānutiṣṭhanti me matam sarva-jñāna-vimūḍhāṁs tān viddhi naṣṭān acetasaḥ
"But those who criticize and do not follow this teaching—know them to be deluded, devoid of all wisdom, and lost."
What This Means:
On the other hand, those who criticize this teaching without practicing it are completely lost. They're confused about everything, not just this. They've closed the door to wisdom by refusing to even try.
Going Deeper:
'Abhyasuyanta' (finding fault, criticizing) combined with 'na anutishtanti' (not practicing) describes the worst combination: rejection without experimentation. Such people are 'sarva-jnana-vimudha' (deluded about all knowledge)—if they reject this fundamental truth about action and freedom, their entire understanding is compromised. 'Nashtan' (lost) is a strong word: they've forfeited the opportunity for liberation.
How To Apply This:
Don't criticize what you haven't tried. If you dismiss detachment as impossible without genuinely practicing it, you're not being wise—you're being closed-minded. The only fair criticism comes after sincere effort. Have you actually tried acting without attachment, or just decided it won't work?
Key Sanskrit Terms: