Chapter 3 · Verse 38

Path of Selfless Service

धूमेनाव्रियते वह्निर्यथाऽऽदर्शो मलेन च। यथोल्बेनावृतो गर्भस्तथा तेनेदमावृतम्
dhūmenāvriyate vahnir yathādarśho malena cha yatholbenāvṛito garbhas tathā tenedam āvṛitam

Word Meanings

dhūmena — by smoke; āvriyate — is covered; vahniḥ — fire; yathā — just as; ādarśhaḥ — mirror; malena — by dust; cha — also; yathā — just as; ulbena — by the womb; āvṛitaḥ — is covered; garbhaḥ — embryo; tathā — similarly; tena — by that (desire); idam — this; āvṛitam — is covered

Translation

As fire is covered by smoke, a mirror by dust, and an embryo by the womb, so is wisdom veiled by desire.

Commentary

धूमेन by smoke? आव्रियते is enveloped? वह्निः fire? यथा as? आदर्शः a mirror? मलेन by dust? च and? यथा as? उल्बेन by the amnion? आवृतः enveloped? गर्भः embryo? तथा so? तेन by it? इदम् this? आवृतम् enveloped.Commentary This means the universe. This also means knowledge. That means desire.