yathā - as; adṛḍhaiḥ - which are inadequate; karma-mayaiḥ - based on fruitive activity; kratubhiḥ - by ritual sacrifices; nāma - in name only; nau-nibhaiḥ - which serve as boats; vidyām - knowledge; ānvīkṣikīm - spiritual; hitvā - abandoning; titīrṣanti - they try to cross beyond; bhava-arṇavam - the ocean of material existence.

Their taking shelter of Kṛṣṇa is just like the foolish attempt of men who abandon transcendental knowledge of the self and instead try to cross over the great ocean of material existence in the false boats of fruitive, ritual sacrifices.