Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 Verse 38 Explanation by Swami Swarupananda
As fire is enveloped by smoke,
as a mirror by dust,
as an embryo by the placenta, so is
Knowledge covered by desire. (Bhagavad Gita 3.38)
as a mirror by dust,
as an embryo by the placenta, so is
Knowledge covered by desire. (Bhagavad Gita 3.38)
Swami Swarupananda Explains this as
Three states of the over-clouding of knowledge or Self by desire are described by the three illustrations here given.
The first stage is sattvika — ‘fire enveloped by smoke’—the rise of a slight wind of discrimination dispels the smoke of desire in a sattvika heart.
The second, the rajasika — the removal of ‘the dust on a mirror,’ requires some time and preparation.
While the third — the tamasika, takes a much longer time like the release of ‘the embryo’ from the placenta after birth.
The time taken to overcome desire depends on the nature of a person.
Source – Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Tr. and notes by Swami Swarupananda