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## The Nature of Maya and Simplicity
**Chapter Four, Light of Yoga, Verses 15-16**
Abandoning one's pride, one serves for a long time. Thus, by considering the mental defects, practicing humility gives rise to many virtues. Knowing this, one should abandon pride and, being absorbed in the unique virtue of *mardava* (gentleness) of the righteous path, immediately take refuge in it. ||14||
Now, the nature of the *maya* (illusion) *kṣaya* (passion) is explained. ||341||
The mother of untruth, the axe to the tree of good character, the birthplace of ignorance, *maya* is the cause of misery. ||15||
**Meaning:** *Maya* is the mother of falsehood, it is the axe that cuts down the tree of good character, it is the birthplace of ignorance (falsehood and lack of knowledge), and it is the cause of misery. ||15||
**Implication:** In reality, without *maya*, falsehood cannot stand. The meaning of *maya* is the result of deceiving others. One who practices *maya* to deceive others, deceives himself in the ultimate sense. ||15||
Therefore, the fruit of *maya* is indicated. ||342||
Cunning and deceitful, like a heron, they deceive the world with *maya*, but in reality, they deceive themselves. ||16||
**Meaning:** Skilled in cunning, the sinful, like herons, with hypocritical behavior, deceive the world with *maya*, but in reality, they deceive themselves. ||16||
**Explanation:** The third *kṣaya* is *maya*; one who deceives the world with it, deceives his own soul. He practices the sinful act of *maya*, like a heron, with the intention of hiding his sinful deeds. Just as a heron slowly maneuvers to deceive fish, so too does a deceiver maneuver like a heron to deceive the world. Here, the question arises: if a deceiver deceives the world and hides his *maya*, how does he bear the burden of accumulated *maya*? In response, it is said: without skill in deception, one can never deceive another, nor can one hide his *maya*. One who is adept in cunning is able to deceive others and keep it hidden.
Here, the implication of some inner verses is presented: Kings, through cunning strategies, conspiracies, espionage, and secret operations, deceitfully kill trustworthy individuals for the sake of wealth, deceiving others. Brahmins, with tilak on their foreheads, displaying various hand gestures, chanting mantras, and taking advantage of others' weaknesses, deceive people with their outward show while being devoid of heart. Merchants, by creating false weights and measures, deceive innocent people through deceitful actions. Many people, by wearing matted hair, shaving their heads, or keeping long braids, applying ashes, wearing saffron robes, or remaining naked, while being atheists in their hearts and outwardly pretending to be devout, deceive good and faithful patrons. Emotionless courtesans, through their gestures, luxury, and seductive gait, or by casting glances, or through various dances, songs, and other forms of entertainment, attract lustful men in an instant and deceive them. Gamblers, by taking false oaths, creating false coins and dice, extort money from the wealthy. Husbands, wives, parents, siblings, friends, relatives, employers, employees, and others do not hesitate to deceive each other. A greedy man is always wary of a flattering thief, but he is deceived by the careless. Craftsmen and Chandals, through their ancestral trades, make a living, but they deceive good people by taking false oaths. Cruel *Vyantardev* and other *kuyoni* (low caste) ghosts, spirits, *pishachas*, and demons, knowing that humans and animals are careless, often harass them in various ways. Fish and other aquatic creatures, through trickery, swallow their own young. Fishermen, through deceit, catch them with nets. Skilled hunters, through various means, trap and bind foolish land animals, and then kill them. Cruel hunters, for the sake of a little meat, cruelly bind innocent birds, parrots, mynas, partridges, quails, and other aerial creatures. Thus, in the whole world, self-deceivers are engaged in deceiving each other, neglecting their own dharma and...