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Study a Verse
Pick any verse to see what it means and how to use it in your life.
Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 3.38
धूमेनाव्रियते वह्निर्यथादर्शो मलेन च ।
यथोल्बेनावृतो गर्भस्तथा तेनेदमावृत्तम् ॥ ३८ ॥
dhūmenāvriyate vahnir
yathādarśo malena ca
yatholbenāvṛto garbhas
tathā tenedam āvṛtam
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.
Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.ioWhat this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.
3 study points
Lust covers the living being in different degrees, like smoke over fire, dust on a mirror, and the womb around an embryo.
Prabhupāda explains that lust hides pure consciousness. Human life offers a chance to conquer lust by developing Kṛṣṇa consciousness under able guidance.
Chant the holy names of the Lord—the best process for cleansing the mirror of the mind.
Lust covers the living entity — 3 different degrees of covering
Fire covered by smoke
Mirror covered by dust
Embryo covered by womb
Comparisons of 3 levels of covering:
Smoke/fire – beginning of Krishna consciousness
Mirror/dust – cleansing by spiritual methods
Embryo/womb – knowledge completely covered
Also another category of comparison:
Smoke/fire – consciousness of human beings
Mirror/dust – consciousness of birds and beasts
Embryo/womb – helpless like trees
Human life is an opportunity
A chance to kindle fire of Krishna consciousness by careful handling of smoke
One can conquer lust, by cultivation of Krishna consciousness under proper guidance \
They foil one’s performance of duty, and incur sin
Regulate senses and strengthen intelligence to control lust
Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.
The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.
Key ideas: manas, indriya, yoga.
Take one thing from this verse into your day.
What does BG 3.38 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to mind & yoga?
Sit quietly for ten minutes and gently return the mind.
Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.
Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.
Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.