Bhakti ArohanBhakti Arohan

Bhagavad Gita — Chapter 3, Verse 38

धूमेनाव्रियते वह्निर्यथादर्शो मलेन च । यथोल्बेनावृतो गर्भस्तथा तेनेदमावृतम् ॥ ३८ ॥

dhūmenāvriyate vahnir yathādarśho malena cha yatholbenāvṛito garbhas tathā tenedam āvṛitam

Translation

As fire is covered by smoke, a mirror by dust, and an embryo by the womb, so is this (knowledge) covered by desire.

Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)

जैसे धुएँ से अग्नि और मैल से दर्पण ढक जाता है, तथा जैसे जेर से गर्भ ढका रहता है, वैसे ही उस काम के द्वारा यह ज्ञान ढका रहता है।

Commentary

Three images of increasing covering. Smoke only lightly hides fire; dust must be wiped from a mirror; the womb covers the embryo completely until birth. Commentators read these as degrees of how thickly desire can cloud a person's understanding.