Bhagavad Gita BG 3.38
Chapter 3, Verse 38 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
धूमेनाव्रियते वह्निर्यथाऽऽदर्शो मलेन च । यथोल्बेनावृतो गर्भस्तथा तेनेदमावृतम् ॥ ३८ ॥
dhūmenāvriyate vahnir yathādarśo malena ca yatholbenāvṛto garbhas tathā tenedam āvṛtam
Meaning
As fire is covered by smoke, as a mirror is covered by dust, and as an embryo is enveloped in the womb — so is knowledge covered by this desire.
Understanding
Krishna uses three images of progressive concealment to describe how desire covers knowledge. Fire and smoke: the fire (truth/knowledge) is visible through smoke — knowledge is present but obscured, still accessible. Mirror and dust: the mirror (the mind as pure reflector of reality) is covered but can be cleaned — moderate obstruction. Embryo and womb: the embryo is completely hidden — total concealment. The three images suggest varying degrees of obstruction: from partial (smoke on fire) to heavy (dust on mirror) to total (embryo in womb). The practical implication: clearing desire is clearing the medium through which reality is seen. A clean mirror reflects perfectly; a smoke-obscured fire can be discovered.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| धूमेन | dhūmena | by smoke |
| वह्निः | vahniḥ | fire |
| मलेन | malena | by dust / dirt / impurity |
| उल्बेन | ulbena | by the womb / the amniotic sac |
| आवृतम् | āvṛtam | covered / veiled / hidden |
| आव्रियते | āvriyate | is covered / is enveloped / is obscured |
| यथा | yathā | just as / even as (simile) |
| आदर्शः | ādarśaḥ | a mirror |
| च | ca | and (conjunction) |
| गर्भः | garbhaḥ | the embryo / the foetus |
| तथा | tathā | similarly / in the same way |
| तेन | tena | by that (desire) |
| इदम् | idam | this (knowledge) |