Chapter 3, Verse 39
आवृतं ज्ञानमेतेन ज्ञानिनो नित्यवैरिणा | कामरूपेण कौन्तेय दुष्पूरेणानलेन च ||३-३९||
āvṛtaṃ jñānametena jñānino nityavairiṇā . kāmarūpeṇa kaunteya duṣpūreṇānalena ca ||3-39||
Meaning
3.39 O Arjuna, wisdom is enveloped by this constant enemy of the wise in the form of desire, which is unappeasable as fire.
Word-by-Word Meaning
Explanation & Commentary
Krishna deepens the diagnosis. Knowledge itself is veiled by this nityavairi — the eternal, ever-present enemy of even the wise — which takes the form of desire. He compares it to fire that is dushpura, impossible to satisfy: the more it is fed, the more fiercely it burns.
The insight into desire's insatiability is crucial. Many imagine that fulfilling a craving will bring peace, but like fuel poured on flames, satisfaction only stokes new wants. This is why desire is the enemy even of the jnani — no amount of accomplishment or indulgence ever quiets it through indulgence alone. Recognizing this hopeless arithmetic frees us from chasing the illusion that the next acquisition will finally bring contentment. True peace comes not from feeding the fire of desire but from withdrawing the fuel — from understanding its nature and refusing to be enslaved by its endless hunger.
💡 Key Takeaway
Desire is like fire that grows the more you feed it — lasting peace comes from understanding this, not from chasing one more fulfilment.
Related Verses
यस्त्वात्मरतिरेव स्यादात्मतृप्तश्च मानवः | आत्मन्येव च सन्तुष्टस्तस्य कार्यं न विद्यते ||३-१७||
yastvātmaratireva syādātmatṛptaśca mānavaḥ . ātmanyeva ca santuṣṭastasya kāryaṃ na vidyate ||3-17||
3.17 But for that man who rejoices only in the Self, who is satisfied with the Self and who is content in the Self alone, verily there is nothing to do.
सक्ताः कर्मण्यविद्वांसो यथा कुर्वन्ति भारत | कुर्याद्विद्वांस्तथासक्तश्चिकीर्षुर्लोकसंग्रहम् ||३-२५||
saktāḥ karmaṇyavidvāṃso yathā kurvanti bhārata . kuryādvidvāṃstathāsaktaścikīrṣurlokasaṃgraham ||3-25||
3.25 As the ignorant men act from attachment to action, O Bharata (Arjuna), so should the wise act without attachment, wishing the welfare of the world.
न बुद्धिभेदं जनयेदज्ञानां कर्मसङ्गिनाम् | जोषयेत्सर्वकर्माणि विद्वान्युक्तः समाचरन् ||३-२६||
na buddhibhedaṃ janayedajñānāṃ karmasaṅginām . joṣayetsarvakarmāṇi vidvānyuktaḥ samācaran ||3-26||
3.26 Let no wise man unsettle the mind of ignorant people who are attached to action; he should engage them in all actions, himself fulfilling them with devotion.