Chapter 3 - Verse 38

धूमेनात्रियते वह्निर्यथाऽऽदर्शो मलेन च ।
यथोरुबेनावृतो गर्भस्तथा तेनेदमावृतम् ॥ ३८ ॥

dhūmenātriyate vahniryathā’‘darśo malena ca .
yathorubenāvṛto garbhastathā tenedamāvṛtam .. 38 ..


As fire is surrounded by smoke, as a mirror by rust, as the foetus is enclosed in the womb, so is this covered by it.
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As a bright fire is surrounded by dark smoke co-existent with it…so this is covered with desire.

What is the thing referred to by ’this’ and which is covered with desire?—The answer follows :