Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3, Verse 39

English Translation

O son of Kunti, Knowledge is covered by this constant enemy of the wise in the form of desire, which is an insatiable fire.

Detailed Commentary

**।।3.39।। Explanation** 'एतेन' – In the thirty-seventh verse, Bhagavān stated that *kāma*, or desire, is the primary cause of sin. The term 'एतेन' (etena) here refers to that very *kāma*. 'दुष्पूरेणानलेन च' – Just as fire is never satisfied by offerings of ghee, but rather grows, so too, *kāma* is never satisfied by the enjoyment of desired objects; instead, it only increases. Whatever object comes before it, *kāma*, like fire, consumes it. The desire for enjoyment and accumulation is never fulfilled. The more objects of enjoyment one acquires, the greater their hunger becomes. *Kāma* always relates to the inert (jagat), and therefore, due to its connection with the inert, it can never be extinguished; rather, it grows. Sundardas-ji writes: "When one has ten, twenty, fifty thousand, one will desire a lakh. When one has crores, the greed for billions will awaken. Even after attaining the sovereignty of heaven and earth, the fire of *tṛṣṇā* (thirst) will remain ignited. Without contentment, your hunger will never be appeased." When one desires a thousand rupees upon receiving a hundred, there is a deficit of nine hundred. When one desires ten thousand upon receiving a thousand, there is a deficit of nine thousand. When one desires a lakh upon receiving ten thousand, there is a deficit of ninety thousand. It is an illusion to think that profit has increased, but in reality, only the deficit has grown. Poverty is eradicated for one who has no hunger for wealth. In truth, wealth is not as obstructive as the desire for it. The desire for wealth, whether in the rich or the poor, deprives both of the attainment of the Supreme Self. *Kāma* is never fulfilled for anyone, for it is not something that can ever be fulfilled. 'कामरूपेण' – The craving for happiness that arises from a connection with the inert is called *kāma*. The desire to attain the unattained is *kāma*. The desires that lie suppressed within the inner faculty (antaḥkaraṇa) are called *vāsanās*. The yearning for objects is *spṛhā*. Seeing desirability in an object is *āsakti*. And the desire for more objects is *lobha* or *tṛṣṇā*. All these are forms of *kāma*. 'ज्ञानिनो नित्यवैरिणा' – Here, the term 'ज्ञानिनः' (jñāninaḥ) refers to discerning seekers. Only a discerning seeker recognizes this enemy in the form of *kāma* and destroys it. Bhagavān says that this *kāma* is the eternal enemy of the discerning seeker. *Kāma* involves attaching importance to and taking refuge in the world, which is an impediment on the path to the Ultimate Reality. 'आवृतं ज्ञानम्' – Discrimination (viveka) is present in every living being. In animals and birds, it is not developed and is limited only to self-preservation. In humans, if there were no *kāma*, discrimination could develop; because due to *kāma*, human discrimination remains obscured. With discrimination obscured, humans cannot advance towards the attainment of the Supreme Self. *Kāma* keeps them engrossed in inert matter. **Special Note:** With the aim of making humanity eternally great, Bhagavān describes *kāma* as an eternal enemy and warns us to avoid it; because *kāma* is the cause of all sins and sorrows. Sorrows automatically come to those who desire the perishable pleasures of the world. Humans wish to avoid sorrows, but they do not abandon *kāma*, the cause of sorrow. As long as *kāma* exists, there is no happiness even in dreams. Bhagavān, with the words 'अनलेन दुष्पूरेण' (analena duṣpūreṇa – like an insatiable fire), says that *kāma* is never fulfilled by objects of enjoyment. The more objects of enjoyment one receives, the more *kāma* grows, leading to a feeling of lack. To alleviate this feeling of lack, humans engage in sinful actions. When there is a desire for wealth, one does not consider what is righteous or unrighteous. As *kāma* increases, one resorts to theft and robbery, and then, for wealth, one might even kill others. In this way, a human who craves happiness makes both their present life and the afterlife sorrowful. **Connection:** To eliminate an enemy, it is essential to know its hiding places. Therefore, in the subsequent verse, Bhagavān describes the abodes of *kāma*, the eternal enemy of the wise.