3.38 — How desire veils knowing

Sanskrit · Teaching film · Everyday practice

Speaker: Krishna, addressing Arjuna.

The shloka

धूमेनाव्रियते वह्निर्यथादर्शो मलेन च ।
यथोल्बेनावृतो गर्भस्तथा तेनेदमावृतम् ॥ ३८ ॥

Brief meaning

As fire is covered by smoke, a mirror by dust, and an unborn child by the womb, so understanding is covered by desire.

In the conversation

Krishna offers three images: fire hidden by smoke, a mirror covered by dust, a child concealed in the womb. Desire covers understanding in the same way, sometimes lightly, sometimes deeply. It dwells in the senses, the mind and the intellect, and from there bewilders the embodied self. Knowing where it lives is the first step in loosening its hold.

Word by word

धूमेन आव्रियते वह्निः

As fire is covered by smoke,

यथा आदर्शः मलेन च

and a mirror by dust,

यथा उल्बेन आवृतः गर्भः

as an unborn child is covered by the womb,

तथा तेन इदम् आवृतम्

so this understanding is covered by desire.

Going deeper

Krishna gives three images: dhūma, smoke over fire, ādarśa, dust on a mirror, and ulba, the womb covering an unborn child. Many commentators read them as three depths of covering, from light to deep. Duṣpūra means hard to fill. Adhiṣṭhāna means seat or dwelling. Desire works through the senses, the mind and the intellect, so understanding must begin with knowing where it hides.

Everyday reflection

You set out to buy one thing online and find yourself, an hour later, comparing products you never needed. Desire moved through the senses with images, the mind with imagined pleasure, and even reasoning with convincing arguments. Next time, pause and ask where the wanting is speaking from. Naming it can let a little light through the smoke. Which of these three dwellings does desire use most often in you?

Consider today: Clear one small thing that is clouding your judgement.