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Chapter 3 · Verse 38 · Karma Yoga

Bhagavad Gita 3.38

contemplative Attachment & Letting Go Jnana & Wisdom Karma & Action

Sanskrit

धूमेनाव्रियते वह्निर्यथाऽऽदर्शो मलेन च। यथोल्बेनावृतो गर्भस्तथा तेनेदमावृतम्।।3.38।।

Transliteration

dhūmenāvriyate vahnir yathādarśho malena cha yatholbenāvṛito garbhas tathā tenedam āvṛitam

Word by Word

dhūmena by smoke
āvriyate is covered
vahniḥ fire
yathā just as
ādarśhaḥ mirror
malena by dust
cha also
yathā just as
ulbena by the womb
āvṛitaḥ is covered
garbhaḥ embryo
tathā similarly
tena by that (desire)
idam this
āvṛitam is covered
Simplified Perspective

Just as smoke veils fire, dust clouds a mirror, and the womb conceals the growing child, so does desire obscure your true nature and the clarity of right action. The Self remains eternally pure, but the smoke of vasana—accumulated desires and conditioning—rises between you and direct seeing.

When you stop feeding the flames of craving, the smoke naturally clears, and what was always present becomes radiant again. Today, notice one desire that clouds your clarity, and simply observe it without judgment—this witnessing itself begins the clearing.

Listen

Bhagavad Gita 3.38 — BG 3.38

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Sanskrit text from the Bhagavad Gita (public domain). Commentary © Mahakatha.

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