Bhagavatgita a detailed study-chapter3-karmayoga

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38. Dhoomena aavriyathe vahnih yaThaa aadharSo malena cha

yaThaa ulbena avartho garbhaH thaThaa thena idham

aavrtham

This, idham, (true knowledge) is obscured by that, thena, (desire) as the smoke obscures the fire, Dhoomena aavriyathe vahniH, the dirt covers the mirror, aadharSaH malena, and the womb hides the embryo, ulbena aavrtho garbhaH.

 

39. aavrtham jnaanam ethena jnaaninaH nithyavairiNaa

kaamaroopeNa kountheya dhushoorEna analena cha

The wisdom, jnana, is enveloped by this perpetual enemy of the one who aspires for knowledge, jnaaninaH nithyavairiNaa, called desire, kaamaroopeNa, which is an unquenchable fire, dhushpooreNa analena..

He word alam means enough. The fire is called anala because it is never quenched by adding fuel.

Wisdom becomes obscured by desire as the fire is by the smoke, mirror by dirt and the embryo by the womb The desire is insatiable like fire. This is why it is termed as a formidable and perpetual enemy of man. Desire never becomes extinguished by fulfilling it. On the other hand it only increases like fire being fed with fuel.

 

The three analogies given to describe the obscuration of wisdom by desire are significant. First is the fire being obscured by smoke. This denotes a nature predominant of satthva where the wisdom is slightly obscured as the fire with smoke. Once the smoke clears of its own accord the fire becomes visible. Similarly a person who is of saathvik temperament needs only a little help from the sastras or his guru to clear his ignorance which is only slight like smoke that conceals the fire. The next example of mirror covered with dust refers to one who has more rajas and thamas due to karma accumulated in the past lives. It takes time for a mirror to become covered with dust. This can be removed only through persistent effort like cleaning a mirror with a cloth. That is, the wisdom can be acquired only through diligent spiritual discipline. The third example of the foetus being concealed in the womb is applicable to those whose nature is predominant of thamas. The ignorance is so great that it can be removed only in course of time just as the baby is born only at the appropriate time.

 

Jnaaninah nithyavairee- the perpetual enemy of a jnani. Here the word jnani does not mean the one who has acquired wisdom but the one who is striving for it., cultivating viveka and vairagya. Till he becomes fully detached the desire presents a hazard as it could overpower him any time if he is not alert. So it is termed as a permanent enemy always lurking in the shadow to pounce upon in a weak moment and has to be fought against. To the ignorant on the other hand, the desire is not recognized as an enemy but appears as a friend since the fulfilling of it is pleasurable.

 

Kama means only the sensual pleasures which takes one away from the spiritual progress. The desire for attaining the Lord and to serve Him etc. are not referred to as kama.