risheh -- of the sage (Vyasadeva); bhagavatah -- the incarnation of Godhead; bhutva -- becoming; sishyah -- a disciple; adhitya -- studying; bahuni -- many; ca -- and; sa -- together with; itihasa -- epic histories; puranani -- and Puranas; dharma-sastrani -- the scriptures describing the religious duties of man; sarvasah -- fully; adantasya -- for him who is not self-controlled; avinitasya -- not humble; vritha -- vainly; pandita -- a scholarly authority; maninah -- thinking himself; na gunaya -- not leading to good qualities; bhavanti sma -- they have become; natasya -- of a stage performer; iva -- like; ajita -- unconquered; atmanah -- whose mind.

Although he is a disciple of the divine sage Vyasa and has thoroughly learned many scriptures from him, including the lawbooks of religious duties and the epic histories and Puranas, all this study has not produced good qualities in him. Rather, his study of the scriptures is like an actor's studying his part, for he is not self-controlled or humble and vainly presumes himself a scholarly authority, though he has failed to conquer his own mind.