Deluded by the modes, he thinks he is divinely inspired
Srila Prabhupada: “Therefore, it is a hazardous path of elevation that depends on personal characteristics within the jurisdiction of the three modes of
nature. Without transcending these three material modes, a person will find himself securely in their clutches, and thus deluded, he will think that all his activities are divinely inspired. He will then broadcast this false concept, considering himself an advanced devotee and everyone else inferior. Impressed with his own knowledge, he will try to see God by dint of this knowledge instead acting in such a way that God will want to see him. Intoxicated by false ego, he will see
his activities, which are motivated by passion, as divine. Those who are proud of their knowledge do not surrender to the Lord; instead,
they try to attain the Supreme Lord’s mercy by the inductive method and thus exhibit an obnoxious mentality. One should constantly remember the Lord and pray to Him for mercy. The Lord, situated in the devotee’s heart, responds to such a prayer and illumines his heart with knowledge, which dissipates the darkness of ignorance.