In Bhagavad Gita 3.38, Krishna compares how desire covers wisdom: as smoke covers fire, dust a mirror, and the womb an embryo.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
धूमेनाव्रियते वह्निर्
यथादर्शो मलेन च
यथोल्बेनावृतो गर्भस्
तथा तेनेदमावृतम् ॥ ३-३८ ॥
dhūmenāvriyate vahnir
yathādarśo malena ca
yatholbenāvṛto garbhas
tathā tenedamāvṛtam
English transliteration dhoomenaavriyate vahnir
yathaadarsho malena cha
yatholbenaavrito garbhas
tathaa tenedamaavritam ॥ 3.38 ॥
Translation / Meaning
As fire is covered by smoke, as a mirror by dust, and as an embryo by the womb, so is this knowledge covered by desire.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| धूमेन dhūmena | by smoke |
| आव्रियते āvriyate | is covered |
| वह्निः vahniḥ | fire |
| यथा yathā | as |
| आदर्शः ādarśaḥ | a mirror |
| मलेन malena | by dust |
| च ca | and |
| यथा yathā | as |
| उल्बेन ulbena | by the womb |
| आवृतः āvṛtaḥ | covered |
| गर्भः garbhaḥ | embryo |
| तथा tathā | so |
| तेन tena | by that |
| इदम् idam | this |
| आवृतम् āvṛtam | is covered |
Word-wise Chanting
- dhū–me–nāv–ri–ya–te vah–nir– 8 syllables dhoo-me-naav-ri-ya-te vah-nir-
- ya–thā–dar–śo ma–le–na ca | 8 syllables ya-thaa-dar-sho ma-le-na cha
- ya–thol–be–nā–vṛ–to gar–bhas– 8 syllables ya-thol-be-naa-vri-to gar-bhas-
- ta–thā te–ne–da–mā–vṛ–tam || 3-38 8 syllables ta-thaa te-ne-da-maa-vri-tam
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 3 Verse 38
Context
Krishna illustrates how desire hides wisdom, continuing from 3.37.
Meaning
Three images show three degrees of covering. Smoke lightly covers fire; a little wind clears it. Dust covers a mirror more thickly; it must be wiped away. The womb completely encloses the embryo; only time and growth reveal it. Likewise, desire may cover our inner knowledge lightly, moderately or deeply.
The images are hopeful: in every case, what is covered remains intact. The fire still burns, the mirror still reflects, the child still grows. Our inner wisdom is never destroyed by desire, only hidden. Spiritual practice is the gradual uncovering of what is already there.
In Practice
Think of one area where your judgement feels clouded. Ask which image fits: smoke, dust or womb? Choose a practice suited to clearing it.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 3: Karma Yoga (The Yoga of Action). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.