Chapter 3 · Karma Yoga - The Yoga of Selfless ActionKrishna
Verse 39
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता अध्याय 3, श्लोक 39
Sanskrit Shloka (श्लोक)
आवृतं ज्ञानमेतेन ज्ञानिनो नित्यवैरिणा।
कामरूपेण कौन्तेय दुष्पूरेणानलेन च॥३९॥
Transliteration
Avritam Jnanam-Etena Jnanino Nitya-Vairina.
Kama-Rupena Kaunteya Dushpurena-Analena Cha.||39||
Word-by-Word Meaning (अन्वय)
आवृतम्avritamis covered
ज्ञानम्jnanamknowledge
एतेनetenaby this
ज्ञानिनःjnaninahof the knower
नित्यवैरिणाnitya-vairinaeternal enemy
कामरूपेणkama-rupenain the form of desire
कौन्तेयkaunteyaO son of Kunti
दुष्पूरेणdushpurenainsatiable
अनलेनanalenalike fire
चchaand
Hindi Translation (हिन्दी अर्थ)
हे कौन्तेय! ज्ञानी के इस नित्य शत्रु (काम) द्वारा — जो कामना के रूप में है और जो अग्नि के समान कभी तृप्त नहीं होता — ज्ञान ढका हुआ है।
English Translation
O son of Kunti, the knowledge of even the wise is covered by this eternal enemy in the form of desire, which is insatiable like fire.
Commentary (टीका)
Desire is called the 'eternal enemy' (nitya-vairi) because it has accompanied the soul across countless lifetimes. It is compared to fire because, like fire that grows stronger with more fuel, desire grows stronger with more indulgence. No amount of gratification can satisfy it — this is the fundamental insight that drives the quest for spiritual liberation.