bhagavat-bhakti-hīnasya - of a person devoid of devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead; jātiḥ - birth in a high caste; śāstram - knowledge in the revealed scriptures; japaḥ - pronunciation of mantras; tapaḥ - austerities and penances; aprāṇasya - which is dead; iva - like; dehasya - of a body; maṇḍanam - decoration; loka - to the whims of people in general; rañjanam - simply pleasing.

“ ‘For a person devoid of devotional service, birth in a great family or nation, knowledge of the revealed scriptures, performance of austerities and penance, and chanting of Vedic mantras are all like ornaments on a dead body. Such ornaments simply serve the concocted pleasures of the general populace.’ ”