Verse 3.39
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
आवृतं ज्ञानमेतेन ज्ञानिनो नित्यवैरिणा। कामरूपेण कौन्तेय दुष्पूरेणानलेन च।।
Transliteration (IAST)
āvṛtaṁ jñānam etena jñānino nitya-vairiṇā | kāma-rūpeṇa kaunteya duṣpūreṇānalena ca ||
Word-by-Word Meanings
आवृतम्-covered
ज्ञानम्-knowledge
नित्यवैरिणा-eternal enemy
कामरूपेण-in the form of desire
दुष्पूरेण-insatiable
अनलेन-like fire
Translation
O son of Kunti, knowledge is covered by this eternal enemy of the wise in the form of insatiable desire, which burns like fire.
Commentary
Desire is called the eternal enemy because it perpetually opposes wisdom. Like fire that grows with fuel rather than being satisfied, desire increases with indulgence rather than diminishing. This psychological insight explains why mere gratification never leads to peace - only transcendence of desire can.
Themes
jnanakarmayoga