Bhagavad Gita 3.38
Spoken by Krishna · Verse 38 of 43
धूमेनाव्रियते वह्निर्यथादर्शो मलेन च । यथोल्बेनावृतो गर्भस्तथा तेनेदमावृतम् ॥
dhūmenāvriyate vahnir yathādarśo malena ca | yatholbenāvṛto garbhas tathā tenedam āvṛtam ||
Fire covered by smoke, mirror by dust, embryo by womb — so is wisdom covered by desire. The cover varies in density.
Word by word (3)
- dhūmena āvriyate vahniḥ
- — fire is covered by smoke · Dhūma = smoke. Āvriyate = is covered, enveloped (from ā+vṛ). Vahni = fire. The first of three covering-analogies. Fire is inherently luminous but smoke (its own by-product) covers it. Similarly, the Self (pure knowledge) is covered by desire — which is actually produced by the same ignorance that created the ego.
- tena idam āvṛtam
- — by that (kāma), this (knowledge/world) is covered · Tena = by that (kāma). Idam = this — the entire world of experience, or specifically, jñāna (knowledge). Āvṛtam = covered. Just as fire, mirror, and embryo are covered by progressively more substantial veils, knowledge/wisdom is covered by desire with varying degrees of density.
- yathā ādarśaḥ malena / yathā ulbena āvṛtaḥ garbhaḥ
- — ādarśaḥ malena = a mirror by dust/dirt (ādarśa = mirror; mala = impurity/dirt — a dusty mirror that cannot reflect clearly); ulbena āvṛtaḥ garbhaḥ = embryo covered by the womb-membrane (ulba = the amnion/caul surrounding the embryo) — three analogies for how desire covers wisdom: fire/smoke (visible, constant), mirror/dust (surface, removable), embryo/womb (temporary, developmental); the three describe increasing intimacy of covering
As fire is covered by smoke, as a mirror by dust, as an embryo is covered by the womb — so is this (knowledge) covered by that (desire).
A modern analogy
You know you should rest, but something keeps you scrolling. The knowledge is there — it's just covered. Like a fogged mirror: the surface is still glass, it still reflects — but you can't see clearly. Desire is the fog, not a replacement for the mirror.
Take with you
- Knowledge (jñāna) is not destroyed by desire — it is covered. The cover can be removed.
- The three analogies suggest different densities of covering: smoke (thin, removable), dust (thicker), womb (complete, temporary).
- This teaching is hopeful: the Self/knowledge is always there, intact, beneath the veil of desire.
- The practice is not to create knowledge from scratch but to remove the veil (kāma) that covers what is already present.
Public-domain translations (5) compare all →
As fire is enveloped by smoke, as a mirror by dust, as an embryo by the womb, so is this enveloped by that. [1]
As fire is enveloped by smoke, as a mirror by dust, as an embryo by the womb, so is this enveloped by that. [4]
As fire is enveloped by smoke, as a mirror by dust, as the embryo by the womb, so is this covered by that. [6]
As fire is swathed in smoke, as mirror glass By dust, as embryo is wrapped in womb, So wisdom hid by this! [7]
As fire is enveloped by smoke, as a mirror by dust, as an embryo is enclosed in the womb, so is this enveloped by it. [9]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
Desire is the eternal enemy of the wise — insatiable as fire. Feeding it only makes it burn more.
The all-pervading Lord takes neither sin nor merit from anyone — ignorance veils knowledge and deludes all beings.
Steady wisdom begins here: when all desires fall away and the Self finds fullness in itself alone.
Brahman-become, serene, neither grieving nor desiring, equal to all beings — he attains supreme bhakti to Me.
Acting for reward is the lowest form of action. Seek the wisdom that transcends reward-seeking.
Desire operates at all three levels — senses, mind, intellect. It covers knowledge at each and deludes completely.
Verse 38 of 43 · back to Chapter 3