BG Chap 16 - The evil tendencies and the conduct of the demons

Taking shelter of insatiable desire for sense objects and absorbed in the conceit of pride and false prestige, the demoniac, thus illusioned, are always sworn to unclean work, attracted by the impermanent. Although they are always full of anxieties on account of accepting nonpermanent things, they still continue to engage in such activities out of illusion. They become attracted to things like money, property, and women which are difficult to restrain like ferocious crocodiles, and which they hope to obtain by worshipping concocted devatās with concocted mantras. Practicing impure vows which include eating meat and taking liquor, they engage in activities out of illusion rather than from scriptural directions. They proclaim themselves as religious even though they are irreligious. They consider themselves to be worshipable, though they are not worthy of respect. They project themselves as the most elevated of all persons even though they have no good qualities.

Until death they take shelter of unlimited thoughts of objects they want to obtain, and thus their only goal in life is to immerse themselves in sense objects. They are convinced that the only purport of scripture is to let the senses enjoy the sense objects and why worry about it. They firmly believe there is no question of happiness in another life after death. Bound by a network of hundreds and thousands of desires and absorbed in lust and anger, they strive to amass wealth thru illegal means such as theft and false testimony, for sense gratification. They possess determination, but only for sense gratification.

They are respected by the unintelligent. They lack humility and filled with pride, they demand respectful treatment as a paramahaṁsa. They perform worship for show only. They make a show of performing sacrifices, or they worship the demigods, or manufacture their own God. Common men advertise them as God and worship them, and by the foolish they are considered advanced in the principles of religion, or in the principles of spiritual knowledge. They dress up as sannyāsīs, and pretend to be religious for the prosperity of their own house and family. All this is done without following the Vedic rules.