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Bhagavad-gītā 3.38

धूमेनाव्रियते वह्निर्यथादर्शो मलेन च । यथोल्बेनावृतो गर्भस्तथा तेनेदमावृत्तम् ॥ ३८ ॥
dhūmenāvriyate vahnir
[dhoomenaavriyate vahnir]
yathādarśo malena ca
[yathaadarsho malena cha]
yatholbenāvṛto garbhas
[yatholbenaavrito garbhas]
tathā tenedam āvṛtam
[tathaa tenedam aavritam]
Word-for-word
dhūmena — by smoke āvriyate — is covered vahniḥ — fire yathā — just as ādarśaḥ — mirror malena — by dust ca — also yathā — just as ulbena — by the womb āvṛtaḥ — is covered garbhaḥ — embryo tathā — so tena — by that lust idam — this āvṛtam — is covered .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
dhūmenāvriyate vahnir
dhūmena
by smoke
āvriyate
is covered
vahniḥ
fire
yathādarśo malena ca
yathā
just as
ādarśaḥ
mirror
malena
by dust
ca
also
yatholbenāvṛto garbhas
yathā
just as
ulbena
by the womb
āvṛtaḥ
is covered
garbhaḥ
embryo
tathā tenedam āvṛtam
tathā
so
tena
by that lust
idam
this
āvṛtam
is covered .
Important Words
  • dhūmena — by smoke
    Instrumental of dhūma. Smoke is the *lightest* covering — sattvic-leaning, easily blown away. Fire still gives light; the smoke only obscures. The first analogy is hopeful.
  • vahniḥ — fire
    The first of three uncovered things. The soul's natural state is luminous; the chapter is reminding us what is being hidden, not what we lack.
  • ādarśaḥ — mirror
    From ā-√dṛś, to look-toward. A mirror is the rājasic image — clear when clean, but dust accumulates with use. Sense-engagement is the dust. The second analogy is more sober than the first.
  • malena — by dust
    Instrumental of mala — dirt, taint. The same word used in Vaiṣṇava theology for the contaminations of the heart. Dust *settles*; smoke *blows*. The remedies differ.
  • ulbena — by the womb
    Instrumental of ulba — the amniotic sac. The tāmasic image: the embryo is *completely* enclosed, cannot remove its own covering, must wait for birth. The deepest grade of kāma's covering is total.
  • garbhaḥ — embryo
    The third uncovered thing. The verse climbs in severity — smoke, dust, womb. The reader is meant to feel which grade currently grips them, and apply accordingly.
As fire is covered by smoke, as a mirror is covered by dust, or as the embryo is covered by the womb, the living entity is similarly covered by different degrees of this lust.
Classical Sanskrit analysis शास्त्रीय विश्लेषण
How Sanskrit scholars read this verse — split, rearranged, grammar-tagged. For the plain English distilled meaning, jump to Plain meaning below.
Auto-generated study layers — original analysis of the public-domain śloka. Review against a published edition for academic work.
Plain meaning (तात्पर्य · Tātparya)
Three graded similes show how kāma occludes knowledge. Smoke veils fire lightly (sāttvic stage); dust veils a mirror moderately (rājasic); the womb-membrane envelops the embryo totally (tāmasic). Inner clarity persists beneath the veil — but is hidden.
Further notes (विवरण · Vivaraṇa)
The three similes are calibrated to three guṇa-levels of kāma's grip. Importantly, none destroys the underlying thing: fire still burns, the mirror still reflects, the embryo still grows. So jñāna is never lost, only screened. This grounds the optimism of verse 41–43: the cover can be removed.
Prose order (अन्वय · Anvaya)
यथा वह्निः धूमेन आव्रियते, यथा च आदर्शः मलेन, यथा गर्भः उल्बेन आवृतः, तथा इदम् तेन आवृतम्।
yathā vahniḥ dhūmena āvriyate, yathā ca ādarśaḥ malena, yathā garbhaḥ ulbena āvṛtaḥ, tathā idam tena āvṛtam|
As fire is veiled by smoke, as a mirror by dust, and as an embryo by the membrane, so is this (knowledge) veiled by that (kāma).
Word split (पदच्छेद · Padaccheda)
धूमेन आव्रियते वह्निः यथा आदर्शः मलेन च । यथा उल्बेन आवृतः गर्भः तथा तेन इदम् आवृतम् ॥
dhūmena āvriyate vahniḥ yathā ādarśaḥ malena ca | yathā ulbena āvṛtaḥ garbhaḥ tathā tena idam āvṛtam ||
Grammar (व्याकरण · Vyākaraṇa)
SanskritIASTGrammarMeaning
धूमेन dhūmena धूम (m.) ins.sg. (instrumental singular) by smoke
आव्रियते āvriyate आ+√वृ pass. (passive) pres. (present) 3sg. is covered, veiled
वह्निः vahniḥ वह्नि (m.) nom.sg. (nominative singular) fire
यथा yathā ind. (indeclinable), correlative as
आदर्शः ādarśaḥ आदर्श (m.) nom.sg. (nominative singular) mirror
मलेन malena मल (n.) ins.sg. (instrumental singular) by dust / dirt
च ca ind. (indeclinable), conj. and
उल्बेन ulbena उल्ब (n.) ins.sg. (instrumental singular) by the membrane
आवृतः āvṛtaḥ आ+√वृ p.p.p. (past passive participle) nom.sg. (nominative singular)m. covered, enveloped
गर्भः garbhaḥ गर्भ (m.) nom.sg. (nominative singular) embryo, fetus
तथा tathā ind. (indeclinable), correlative so
तेन tena dem. (demonstrative) pron. (pronoun) ins.sg. (instrumental singular)m. by that (kāma)
इदम् idam dem. (demonstrative) pron. (pronoun) nom.sg. (nominative singular)n. this (knowledge)
आवृतम् āvṛtam आ+√वृ p.p.p. (past passive participle) nom.sg. (nominative singular)n. covered, veiled
Purport

There are three degrees of covering of the living entity by which his pure consciousness is obscured. This covering is but lust under different manifestations like smoke in the fire, dust on the mirror, and the womb about the embryo. When lust is compared to smoke, it is understood that the fire of the living spark can be a little perceived. In other words, when the living entity exhibits his Kṛṣṇa consciousness slightly, he may be likened to the fire covered by smoke. Although fire is necessary where there is smoke, there is no overt manifestation of fire in the early stage. This stage is like the beginning of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The dust on the mirror refers to a cleansing process of the mirror of the mind by so many spiritual methods. The best process is to chant the holy names of the Lord. The embryo covered by the womb is an analogy illustrating a helpless position, for the child in the womb is so helpless that he cannot even move. This stage of living condition can be compared to that of the trees. The trees are also living entities, but they have been put in such a condition of life by such a great exhibition of lust that they are almost void of all consciousness. The covered mirror is compared to the birds and beasts, and the smoke-covered fire is compared to the human being. In the form of a human being, the living entity may revive a little Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and, if he makes further development, the fire of spiritual life can be kindled in the human form of life. By careful handling of the smoke in the fire, fire can be made to blaze. Therefore the human form of life is a chance for the living entity to escape the entanglement of material existence. In the human form of life, one can conquer the enemy, lust, by cultivation of Kṛṣṇa consciousness under able guidance.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
38. As fire is covered by smoke, the mirror by dust, or embryo by the womb, so the universe is covered by lust.
Commentary

Lust is not just an enemy for some, but an enemy for all. This is explained with examples. The examples illustrate various degrees of lust: shallow, deep and very deep. The fire, though covered by smoke, still performs its function of burning. Because of the disappearance of its natural clarity, the mirror covered by dust does not carry out its function of reflecting images properly, though it is known as a mirror by its form (in spite of the dust covering it). The fetus covered by the womb cannot perform its functions of stretching its hands and feet. Its true form cannot be understood within that covering. When lust is shallow, it is possible to remember the spiritual goals. When lust is deep, it is not possible. When it is very deep, one becomes unconscious. In this way, the universe (idam) is covered by lust.

Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa Gauḍīya
Translation
38. As fire is covered by smoke, the mirror by dust, or embryo by the womb, so knowledge is covered by lust.
Commentary

Examples of smoke, dust and womb are given to illustrate three stages of kāma’s influence: slight, medium and intense. The fire covered by smoke is not bright, but is able to perform its function of heating to some degree. The mirror covered with dust cannot receive the reflection because of the disappearance of its clean surface. The embryo covered by the womb cannot stretch its legs, nor can it be perceived. In the same way, knowledge covered slightly by kāma can grasp something of truth. Knowledge covered moderately however cannot grasp the truth. Knowledge intensely covered by kāma cannot even function and cannot even be perceived (as knowledge).

Bhūrijana Dāsa Gauḍīya
Commentary

These three examples given are all in increasing order of heaviness of the covering. "As fire is covered by smoke". When fire is there but is covered by smoke one still can use the fire. This type of covering is not very thick because the fire can still be used. And heat and light are still coming from it. It still does its work. But, "when the mirror is covered by dust" it is more thick because one can't see himself. The work of the mirror can't be done because of the covering and one can't see himself in it. But one can at least see the mirror. And the most thick is "the embryo covered by womb" because the child in the womb cannot move or function, he can't do anything, and also one cannot even see it, because it is within the womb.

Study Notes — Gauranga Priya Dāsa
Gauranga Priya Dāsa Study
Bhakti-śāstrī Notes, ISKCON Chowpatty (2009)
Theme

Lust covers the living entity – 3 different degrees of covering

Fire covered by smoke
Mirror covered by dust
Embryo covered by womb

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Classical Ācāryas
Śrī Śaṅkarācārya Classical
Translation
3.38 Yatha, as; vahnih, fire, which is naturally bright; avriyate, is enveloped; dhumena, by smoke, which is born concomitantly (with fire) and is naturally dark; or as adarsah, a mirror; is covered malena, by dirt; ca, and; garbhah, a foetus; is avrtah, enclosed; ulbena, in the womb by the amnion; tatha, so; is idam, this; avrtam, shrouded; tena, by that. Again, what is that which is indicated by the word idam (this), and which is covered by desire? The answer is:
Śrī Rāmānujācārya Classical
Translation
3.38 As a fire is enveloped by smoke, as a mirror by dust and as an embryo by the membrance, so are the embodied beings covered by this desire. Sri Krsna teaches the mode of this envelopement:
Śrī Abhinavagupta Classical
Translation
3.38 Dhumena etc. [The foe's tripple nature viz.] being a mischivous appendage, himself creating mischieves, and being an object of disgust, is explained by the triad of these similes. He : the Self.
Swami Sivananda Classical
Translation
3.38 As fire is enveloped by smoke, as a mirror by dust, and as an embryo by the amnion, so is this enveloped by that.
Commentary

3.38 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.

Swami Gambhīrānanda Classical
Translation
3.38 As fire is enveloped by smoke, as a mirror by dirt, and as a foetus remains enclosed in the womb, so in this shrouded by that.
Shri Purohit Swami Classical
Translation
3.38 As fire is shrouded in smoke, a mirror by dust and a child by the womb, so is the universe enveloped in desire.
Related values & verses
Related values
Tyaga (Renunciation / Letting Go)Ahimsa (Non-violence / Compassion)Atma Nigraha (Self-control)Daksya (Resourcefulness / Skill)Abhaya (Fearlessness)
Related verses
BG 3.39 BG 2.62 BG 13.8 SB 11.26.3 SB 5.11.3 SB 3.31.5 CC Madhya 22.147 CC Madhya 19.151 CC Antya 20.12 Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 3.1.5Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad 4.6
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
As fire is covered by smoke, a mirror by dust, an embryo by the womb — so consciousness is covered by lust.
Practical Applications
  • Don't expect clear vision while craving is active; wait for the smoke to clear.
  • Pause important decisions when desire is lit.
  • Use chanting to clear the dust from the mirror.
Reflection Questions
  • When I look back, which decisions were made through smoke?
  • What practice clears the mirror most reliably for me?
Analogy

Three coverings hide three lights — smoke hides fire, dust hides the mirror, the womb hides the embryo. Each covering is removable in its own way. Kāma is a single covering with three thicknesses; choose the right cleaning method for the right layer.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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