Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3, Verse 39

Chapter 3 – Karma Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

आवृतं ज्ञानमेतेन ज्ञानिनो नित्यवैरिणा ।
कामरूपेण कौन्तेय दुष्पूरेणानलेन च ॥

Transliteration

āvṛtaṃ jñānametena jñānino nityavairiṇā .
kāmarūpeṇa kaunteya duṣpūreṇānalena ca ॥

Meaning

O son of Kunti, knowledge is covered by this constant enemy of the wise, in the form of desire, insatiable like fire.

Word meanings

आवृतम् – is covered
ज्ञानम् – knowledge
एतेन – by this
ज्ञानिनः – of the wise
नित्यवैरिणा – by the constant enemy
कौन्तेय – O son of Kunti
कामरूपेण – in the form of desire
दुष्पूरेण – hard to fill
अनलेन – like fire
च – and

Anvaya (word order)

कौन्तेय, ज्ञानिनः नित्यवैरिणा एतेन कामरूपेण दुष्पूरेण अनलेन च ज्ञानम् आवृतम् ।

Explanation

The previous verse explained desire's covering by similes. Now the Lord states its nature more plainly. It is the wise man's ‘nitya-vairi’, constant foe. An ordinary enemy is recognised and one can be on guard; but desire comes disguised as a friend and is therefore more dangerous. At the start it promises pleasure, and at the end it gives pain.

‘Kama-rupena’ means in the form of wish. The very thing that seems most dear to us can be our greatest obstacle. By the simile of ‘anala’, fire, it is shown to be ‘dushpura’ — never fillable. As fire flares higher with more fuel, desire is not quenched by indulgence; it grows.

Shankara explains that the wise man knows the enemy and therefore it is his constant foe, whereas to the ignorant it appears as a friend, and he hopes for happiness with it. Thus to the ignorant, craving sometimes seems pleasant, but the wise see its truth.

The verse invites us to examine our desires with alertness: will this desire bring me peace, or merely one more unsatisfied craving?

Context

After the similes in 3.38, verse 3.39 clarifies the nature of desire. Verse 3.40 will tell where in the body this enemy dwells.

Life lesson

Test the desire that looks like a friend: does its fulfilment calm the mind or make it ask for more? Satisfaction comes not from outer things but from contentment.

Key terms

Nitya-vairi: the constant enemy
Dushpura: hard to fill, insatiable
Anala: fire