View source for Sbg3.38


== Sloka 3.38 ==

=== Sloka (श्लोक) ===

<pre>
धूमेनाव्रियते वह्निर्यथाऽऽदर्शो मलेन च।
यथोल्बेनावृतो गर्भस्तथा तेनेदमावृतम्।।3.38।।
</pre>

=== पदच्छेद / Padaccheda ===
धूमेन आव्रियते वह्निः  
यथा आदर्शः मलेन च  
यथा उल्बेन आवृतः गर्भः  
तथा तेन इदम् आवृतम्   

=== Transliteration (लिप्यांतरण) ===
dhūmenāvriyate vahnir yathādarśo malena ca  
yatho`lbenāvṛto garbhaḥ tathā tenedamāvṛtam  

=== Translation (अनुवाद) ===
Just as fire (vahniḥ) is enveloped (āvriyate) by smoke (dhūmena), a mirror (adarśaḥ) is covered by dust (malena), and an embryo (garbhaḥ) is sheathed by the amnion (ulbena), similarly, this (idam) knowledge is covered (āvṛtam) by desire (tena).

=== Word-by-Word Meaning (अन्वय के साथ शब्दार्थ) ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Sanskrit (संस्कृत) !! English Meaning (अर्थ) !! Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)
|-
| धूमेन || by smoke || धुएँ से
|-
| आव्रियते || is enveloped || ढका रहता है
|-
| वह्निः || fire || अग्नि
|-
| यथा || as || जैसे
|-
| आदर्शः || mirror || दर्पण
|-
| मलेन || by dust || मैल से
|-
| च || and || और
|-
| उल्बेन || by the amnion || जेर से
|-
| आवृतः || enveloped || ढका हुआ
|-
| गर्भः || embryo || गर्भ
|-
| तथा || so || उसी प्रकार
|-
| तेन || by it (desire) || उससे (कामना से)
|-
| इदम् || this (knowledge) || यह (ज्ञान)
|-
| आवृतम् || is covered || ढका हुआ है
|}

=== कर्ता-क्रिया-विधान / S-V-O Tuples ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+ कर्ता-क्रिया-विधान / Subject-Verb-Object (S-V-O) Tuples
! कर्ता (Subject) !! क्रिया (Verb) !! विधान (Object) !! अंग्रेज़ी अनुवाद / English Translation !! हिंदी अनुवाद / Hindi Translation
|-
| धूम || आवृत || वह्नि || Smoke envelops fire || धुआँ अग्नि को ढकता है
|-
| मल || आवृत || आदर्श || Dust covers a mirror || मैल दर्पण को ढकता है
|-
| उल्ब || आवृत || गर्भ || Amnion envelops embryo || जेर गर्भ को ढकता है
|-
| तेन (काम) || आवृत || इदं (ज्ञान) || Desire covers this (knowledge) || काम इस (ज्ञान) को ढकता है
|}

=== Important Concepts (महत्वपूर्ण अवधारणाएँ) ===
* [[मल|mala (मल)]]
* [[काम|kāma (काम)]]
* [[विवेक|viveka (विवेक)]]
* [[आवरण|āvaraṇa (आवरण)]]

=== Categories (वर्गीकरण) ===
* Illustrations of ignorance
* Comparisons with tangible elements
* Impact of desires on wisdom

=== Commentary (टीका) ===
''This sloka'', from the Bhagavad Gita, metaphorically illustrates how kāma (desire) clouds the intellect (buddhi), much like how smoke veils fire, dust covers a mirror, and a fetus is sheathed by the amnion. The clouding of intellect by desire impedes clarity and differentiates right from wrong, thus obscuring one's true Self and impeding spiritual progress. This process is evident in worldly engagement, where the pursuit of ephemeral pleasures leads to a dulled sense of discrimination. Such desires generate conjunction with material elements which are transitory and subject to decay, drawing focus away from the eternal. Thus, philosophical teachings suggest minimizing desire to ensure that one's viveka (discrimination) shines through.  

The English and Hindi commentaries elaborate further: Swami Sivananda emphasizes that this paradigmatic interference with one's perception results from unfulfilled kāma resulting in mala (impurities) enveloping one's capacity to discern. Swami Ramsukhdas’ Hindi commentary explores how the desire-born mala covers the ability to distinguish duties (kartavya) from non-duties (akartavya) and stresses awakening the wisdom inherent in sāttvika buddhi while controlling rampant desires. In this regard, comparison to physical phenomena in this ''śloka'' illuminates the process wherein metaphysical obstacles block understanding and realization, highlighting how detachment and discernment may unveil inner wisdom.