Chapter 3, Verse 39 (Bhagavad Gita 3.39)
Chapter 3: Karm Yog – Path of Selfless Service
Sanskrit Shloka
आवृतं ज्ञानमेतेन ज्ञानिनो नित्यवैरिणा। कामरूपेण कौन्तेय दुष्पूरेणानलेन च
Transliteration
āvṛitaṁ jñānam etena jñānino nitya-vairiṇā kāma-rūpeṇa kaunteya duṣhpūreṇānalena cha
Word Meanings
āvṛitam—covered; jñānam—knowledge; etena—by this; jñāninaḥ—of the wise; nitya-vairiṇā—by the perpetual enemy; kāma-rūpeṇa—in the form of desires; kaunteya—Arjun the son of Kunti; duṣhpūreṇa—insatiable; analena—like fire; cha—and
Translation
O Arjuna, wisdom is covered by this constant enemy of the wise, in the form of desire, which is like an insatiable fire.
Meaning & Commentary
This verse reveals that human suffering is rooted in the subtle, consuming nature of desire, which acts as a veil over our true consciousness. Like fire, desire grows stronger the more it is fed, blinding the intellect to the reality of the self and trapping the soul in a cycle of craving. To overcome this, one must recognize desire not as an external force but as an internal enemy that requires constant vigilance and detachment. True spiritual progress begins when one stops fueling this internal fire, allowing the inner light of wisdom to illuminate the path to tranquility. Mastering this impulse is the ultimate victory, transforming a life of agitation into one of profound, lasting peace.