Shloka 38
Karma-Saṃnyāsa–Karma-Yoga Saṃvāda
Renunciation and the Discipline of Action
सम्बन्ध-- यहाँ जिज्ञासा होती है कि यह काम मनुष्यको किस प्रकार पापोंगें प्रवृत्त करता है। अत: तीन श्लोकोद्वार इयका समाधान करते हैं-- धूमेनाव्रियते वल्निर्यथादर्शो मलेन च | यथोल्बेनावृतो गर्भस्तथा तेनेदमावृतम्
dhūmenāvriyate vahnir yathādarśo malena ca | yatholbenāvṛto garbhas tathā tenedam āvṛtam ||
Just as fire is veiled by smoke, a mirror is obscured by grime, and an embryo is enclosed by the womb, so too this knowledge is covered over by that desire (kāma).
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Desire (kāma) does not annihilate wisdom; it veils it. Like smoke over fire or grime on a mirror, the obstruction is removable—ethical effort and self-control aim at clearing the covering so knowledge can shine.
In the Bhīṣma Parva dialogue (Bhagavad Gītā context), Arjuna is learning why people are driven toward wrongdoing. This verse answers by illustrating how desire obscures discernment, preparing the ground for guidance on overcoming that inner enemy.