Chapter 3 · Karma Yoga - The Yoga of Selfless ActionKrishna
Verse 38
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता अध्याय 3, श्लोक 38
Sanskrit Shloka (श्लोक)
धूमेनाव्रियते वह्निर्यथादर्शो मलेन च।
यथोल्बेनावृतो गर्भस्तथा तेनेदमावृतम्॥३८॥
Transliteration
Dhumena-Avriyate Vahnir-Yatha-Adarsho Malena Cha.
Yatholbena-Avrito Garbhas-Tatha Tenedam-Avritam.||38||
Word-by-Word Meaning (अन्वय)
धूमेनdhumenaby smoke
आव्रियतेavriyateis covered
वह्निःvahnihfire
यथाyathajust as
आदर्शःadarshaha mirror
मलेनmalenaby dust
चchaand
यथाyathajust as
उल्बेनulbenaby the womb/membrane
आवृतःavritahis covered
गर्भःgarbhahthe embryo
तथाtathaso
तेनtenaby that (desire)
इदम्idamthis (knowledge)
आवृतम्avritamis covered
Hindi Translation (हिन्दी अर्थ)
जैसे धुएँ से अग्नि, मैल से दर्पण और जेर (गर्भ-आवरण) से गर्भ ढका रहता है — वैसे ही उस (काम) से यह (ज्ञान) ढका रहता है।
English Translation
As fire is covered by smoke, as a mirror is covered by dust, and as an embryo is covered by the womb — so is knowledge covered by desire.
Commentary (टीका)
Krishna uses three vivid metaphors showing varying degrees of concealment. Smoke over fire is thin and easily dispersed (mild desire). Dust on a mirror requires more effort to clean (moderate desire). The womb around an embryo is a complete enclosure (deep-seated desire). These correspond to the sattvik, rajasik, and tamasik levels of desire's obscuring power.