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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 Verse 39 (3.39)

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 Verse 39 (3.39)

आवृतं ज्ञानमेतेन ज्ञानिनो नित्यवैरिणा । कामरूपेण कौन्तेय दुष्पूरेणानलेन च | | ३-३९ | |

āvṛitaṁ jñānametena jñānino nityavairiṇā kāmarūpeṇa kaunteya duṣhpūreṇānalena cha

Word-by-word guide:
Line 1:
  • अइत (avritam) — ज्ञान(knowledge is covered by this)
  • ज्ञानम् (jnanam) — ज्ञान(knowledge is covered by this)
  • एतेन (etena) — ज्ञान(knowledge is covered by this)
  • ज्ञइन (jnaninah) — ज्ञानी(the constant enemy of the wise)
  • इय-वइइन (nitya-vairina) — ज्ञानी(the constant enemy of the wise)
Line 2:
  • कम-उएन (kama-rupena) — कामना(in the form of desire)
  • कौन्तेय (Kaunteya) — हे कुन्तीपुत्र(son of Kunti)
  • उउएन (dushpurena) — उउएन(like an insatiable fire)
  • अनएन (analena) — अनएन(like an insatiable fire)
  • (cha) — और(like an insatiable fire)

English: It is wise people man's constant enemy; it tarnishes the face of wisdom. It is as insatiable as a flame of fire.

💡 Commentary Note

Wisdom is obscured by desire, the constant enemy of the seeker. It acts like an insatiable fire, which only burns hotter the more fuel (gratification) is thrown into it.

Learnings from Shloka 39:
  • Insatiable Fire:: Trying to satisfy desire by feeding it only increases its strength.
  • True Awareness:: Knowing that desire is a constant enemy helps us guard our thoughts and choices.

Gita/Sanskrit Language Quiz

Practice this shloka vocabulary

Match Sanskrit words from shloka 3.39 with their Hindi and English meanings.

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