Verse 3.39

आवृतं ज्ञानमेतेन ज्ञानिनो नित्यवैरिणा ।

कामरूपेण कौन्तेय दुष्पूरेणानलेन च ॥

3.39

Transliteration

āvṛtaṃ jñānametena jñānino nityavairiṇā |

kāmarūpeṇa kaunteya duṣpūreṇānalena ca ||

By Sanskrit System · Machine draft · @indic-transliteration/sanscript 1.3.3

Translation

O Arjuna, wisdom is enveloped by this constant enemy of the wise in the form of desire, which is unappeasable as fire.

From the owner's sheet · +1 more

Word by word

covered
knowledge
by this
of the wise
by the eternal enemy

in the form of desire
O son of Kunti
insatiable
fire
and

By Sanskrit System · Machine draft · claude-opus-5-5 · 2026-11-08

Explanation

Krishna continues his description of desire (kāma). It covers knowledge (jñāna) and is the constant enemy even of the wise. It is likened to a fire that can never be filled: the more fuel it is given, the higher it burns. The image explains why satisfying desires does not end them. Each fulfilment feeds further craving. The verse warns that no one, however learned, is beyond the reach of this force, and so vigilance is needed by all who would keep their understanding clear.