prakṛteḥ-guṇa-sammūḍhāḥ–Persons bewildered by the modes; sajjante–are absorbed; guṇa-karmasu–in the functions of the modes (the engagement of the senses with their objects). kṛtsna-vit–Those possessing knowledge; na vichālayet–should not agitate (by trying to induce them to accept knowledge of self and non-self); tān–those; akṛtsna-vidaḥ–ignorant; mandān–unfortunate persons; (kintu guṇāveśanivartakaṁ niṣkāma karmaiva kārayet)–but should rather engage them in selfless action which frees them from absorption in the modes of nature. [29]

Persons bewildered by the modes of nature are absorbed in the functions of the modes (the engagement of the senses with their objects). Enlightened persons should not agitate such ignorant, unfortunate persons by trying to convince them of higher philosophical truths. (Rather, they should advise the conditioned souls to practise selfless action, which liberates them from absorption in the modes.)