āvṛitaṁ jñānam etena jñānino nitya-vairiṇā
kāma-rūpeṇa kaunteya duṣhpūreṇānalena cha
āvṛitam — covered;
jñānam — knowledge;
etena — by this;
jñāninaḥ — of the wise;
nitya-vairiṇā — by the perpetual enemy;
kāma-rūpeṇa — in the form of desires;
kaunteya — Arjun the son of Kunti;
duṣhpūreṇa — insatiable;
analena — like fire;
cha — and
In this verse, we learn that our deepest, pure thoughts and understanding can be clouded by something very powerful called lust. Lust is a strong desire, often linked to physical pleasures, like those we feel in romantic or sexual situations. The verse compares this lust to a fire that never gets enough fuel; no matter how much you feed it, it just keeps getting bigger. This means that the more we try to satisfy our desires or indulge in what we want, the more those desires grow and control us, rather than us controlling them.
To understand this better, think about how sometimes when we really want something, it feels like we need it to be happy. For example, some people might chase after having a lot of fun, going to parties, or being with many partners, believing that these things will make them feel fulfilled. But like a fire, once they get what they want, there’s always a craving for more. It's like trying to quench a thirst with saltwater – it just makes you thirstier.
This verse suggests that this endless chasing of pleasures is actually an enemy to us. It keeps us trapped in a cycle of wanting and not being satisfied, similar to a prison where our freedoms are limited by our desires. In this so-called prison of desires, we become limited by what we seek, not able to see the bigger picture of life or our true potential. Instead of finding real joy or peace, we just find ourselves wanting even more, which can lead to frustration and sadness.
The interpretation also mentions a condition called 'maithunya-agara,' which means being caught in the 'prison of sexual life.' This refers to how many people base their happiness and life decisions around physical relationships. While these activities may seem enjoyable at first, they often keep us from reaching our higher goals or understanding ourselves better.
The overall message is that while it’s human to have desires, when we let them control our lives, we lose sight of our true self and our ability to be truly happy. Lust, while natural, can become a barrier to experiencing deeper contentment in life. This verse encourages us to recognize the hold that such desires can have on us and to seek a path that frees us from just chasing after fleeting pleasures.