अविद्यायामन्तरे वर्तमानाः स्वयं धीराः पण्डितं मन्यमानाः । जङ्घन्यमानाः परियन्ति मूढा अन्धेनैव नीयमाना यथान्धाः ॥
avidyāyāmantare vartamānāḥ svayaṃ dhīrāḥ paṇḍitaṃ manyamānāḥ | jaṅghanyamānāḥ pariyanti mūḍhā andhenaiva nīyamānā yathāndhāḥ ||
Living in the midst of ignorance, wise in their own eyes and thinking themselves learned, the fools go round and round, stumbling and hurt, like the blind led by one who is blind.
अविद्या के बीच रहते हुए, स्वयं को धीर और पंडित मानते हुए, वे मूढ़ ठोकरें खाते हुए भटकते रहते हैं, जैसे अंधे के पीछे चलते अंधे।
Meaning today and contextआज के लिए अर्थ और संदर्भ
The most dangerous ignorance is the kind that is sure of itself. Following confident people who have not seen for themselves only spreads the confusion; humility is the beginning of real knowing.
सबसे खतरनाक अज्ञान वह है जो अपने आप पर पूरा भरोसा रखता है। ऐसे आत्मविश्वासी लोगों के पीछे चलना जिन्होंने स्वयं नहीं देखा, उलझन ही फैलाता है; विनम्रता से ही सच्चे ज्ञान की शुरुआत होती है।
Aṅgiras describes those who live in ignorance yet think themselves wise (Mundaka 1.2.8); the image of the blind leading the blind also appears in the Katha Upanishad.