Verse-38-39
Chapter 3 — Karma Yoga
Verse 38-39
🕉 Original Sanskrit Shloka
dhumenavriyate vahniry athadarso malena chayatholbenavṛto garbha-stha tenedamavrtamavrtam jnanameten jnanino nityavairinakamarupena kaunteya duspurenalanena cha
🕉 English Translation
📜 Translation
English
As the fire is covered by smoke and mirror by the dirt and embryo is enveloped by the womb so is this knowledge covered by desire. O son of Kunti! The knowledge of the knower is always covered by this eternal enemy in the form of desire which is like an insatiable fire and is never satiated.
In what form do desire and wrath act as our enemy? This has been illustrated with examples in these two verses. The first example is of fire and smoke. Fire and smoke are not separate from each other. Where there is fire there will be smoke. Similarly, desire is the basis of wrath. Without desire, wrath cannot exist independently. Seeing the fire through smoke is not easy. Similarly, desire is the veil of the knowledge of the Supreme. The second illustration is of the mirror. If the mirror is clean then the image in it will also be clean. If the mirror is covered with dirt then the reflection in it will also be blurred. Similarly the inner-self is the mirror of knowledge. The third illustration is of the embryo covered by the womb. In the same manner the knowledge of the Truth Principle is enveloped by desire. The knowledge is covered by this eternal enemy in the form of desire like an insatiable fire. However much fuel is put in the fire, it can never be satiated. Similarly the desire increases with every fulfilment. No amount of fulfilment can ever satiate desire. The knowledge of the wise is covered by this insatiable fire of desire. The uncovering of the knowledge is possible only by the removal of the veil of desire.