Chapter 3 Shloka 38

धूमेनाव्रियते वह्निर्यथादर्शो मलेन च।

यथोल्बेनावृतो गर्भस्तथा तेनेदमावृतम्।।३८।।

Just as fire is hidden by smoke,

a mirror is covered by dust

and a foetus concealed by the amnion,

so also is wisdom covered by desire and anger.

Chapter 3 Shloka 38

धूमेनाव्रियते वह्निर्यथादर्शो मलेन च।

यथोल्बेनावृतो गर्भस्तथा तेनेदमावृतम्।।३८।।

Just as fire is hidden by smoke, a mirror is covered by dust and a foetus concealed by the amnion, so also is wisdom covered by desire and anger.

Now, by giving similes, Bhagwan illustrates how desire and anger conceal knowledge. “Just as smoke conceals the fire, so also desire is a smoke screen which prevents a person from seeing:

a) any other objects around him. All that remains is desire and the wish to partake of the object one craves.

b) Truth which should have been self evident.

c) the reality of manifest objects. The individual, enveloped by the smoke of desire, cannot see any object clearly.”

Then the Lord says that just as a mirror is hidden under cover of dust, so also are the discriminatory powers of a person with desire, covered up. When a mirror becomes dusty, one cannot see the reflected image clearly; in the same way, the vision of a person full of desires becomes dim.

1. Thus when the dust of desire covers the mirror of the intellect, it becomes difficult to see the Truth.

2. When that mental dust of desire obliterates the vision of the intellect, it cannot know the Truth.

3. It can no longer perceive the good or bad qualities of others.

4. Desire is that fearful mental grime which covers the discriminatory powers of the intellect. Then whatever one sees is unclear. The individual’s whole personality is ensnared by desire.

5. Thus enfolded, the jiva becomes as oblivious to his true being as is a foetus in the amniotic sac.

6. He becomes forgetful of the family honour.

7. He forgets even his own self respect. In fact, inspite of having eyes, he becomes foolish and blind.

Little one!

a) Desire is the quest to fulfil one’s likes.

b) It becomes irrelevant then whether one’s wishes will be harmful or beneficial to others.

c) There is no question of even considering whether one’s desire is good for oneself or not!

d) Extreme likes and dislikes are inherent in desire.

e) Desire is oblivious to right or wrong.

f) A mind impelled by desire endeavours only to make new and novel schemes for ego fulfilment.

g) Pride and the longing for revenge predominate in the mind of one who seeks desire satiation.

h) Where desire abides, there jealousy, opposition and enmity will co-exist.

i)  If any obstruction hinders the path of desire fulfillment, such people become merciless, cruel and evil doers.

Little one! The Lord says, likes and dislikes imbued with desire, smolder upon meeting with any obstacles. The frustration of one’s craving and thirst set the mind on fire. All mental traits produce immense clouds of smoke to hide one’s own deficiencies. This is why the intellect loses track of its duties. The person whose desires have been frustrated, forgetting in his agitation his own capacity or incapacity, becomes a monster of rage. Blinded by this fire, the ensuing madness of anger instigates him to perform shameful and wicked acts. Truth and untruth, right and wrong, duty and compassion – all are forgotten. His intellect has become dependent on the mind, and the mind, subservient to desires, only perpetrates injustice.

As long as he carries on satisfying his desires, the rajoguna will continue to increase. His dependence on his likes and his inhuman attitudes will also grow. If one does not control this fiend of desire immediately it will take one to complete destruction.