Chapter XVI · Śloka 15
आढ्योऽभिजनवानस्मि कोऽन्योऽस्ति सदृशो मया ।
यक्ष्ये दास्यामि मोदिष्य इत्यज्ञानविमोहिताः ॥
यक्ष्ये दास्यामि मोदिष्य इत्यज्ञानविमोहिताः ॥
āḍhyo 'bhijanavān asmi ko 'nyo 'sti sadṛśo mayā |
yakṣye dāsyāmi modiṣya ity ajñāna-vimohitāḥ ||
yakṣye dāsyāmi modiṣya ity ajñāna-vimohitāḥ ||
'I am wealthy, of noble birth — who is equal to me? I shall sacrifice, I shall give, I shall rejoice' — thus deluded by ignorance —
Even acts that look virtuous — sacrifice (yakṣye) and charity (dāsyāmi) — are here motivated by pride of birth and wealth rather than devotion or compassion. Ignorance (ajñāna) is the deluding force that inverts these acts from worship to self-aggrandisement.