This Manthra accurately reflects the state in which most people find themselves, at least with respect to making progress on the spiritual path. Literally translated, the Manthra states:
“Steeped in deep ignorance, these people consider themselves to be scholars, therefore refuse to take guidance from a proper Guru (a Guru is here defined as one who has learnt the Scriptures – Vedas and Upanishads – from a learned Guru who in turn comes from a Traditional lineage of such Gurus (known as a Guru Paramparaa), who teaches strictly what the Scriptures – Vedas and Upanishads – teach and not teach something that he has himself invented)
“Not stopping with this, they go ahead and become teachers themselves and end up spreading their ignorance to a whole lot of others. All these people end up going in circles, stumbling from one Janmaa to the other and resemble a bunch of blind men who are in turn led by another blind man”
On this auspicious occasion of Guru Poornima, this Manthra from the Upanishad serves as a reminder as to the importance of a proper Guru and the necessity to follow this Guru closely in every step along the path of Spiritual Growth, otherwise we could end up suffering a set-back that can take a few more janmaas to set right.
In this context, it is worth remembering another Shloka from Viveka Choodamani.