The Yoga of Action

Krishna reveals how desire operates: it covers wisdom like smoke covers fire. The wisdom is still there—you know what's right—but you can't access it. 'Āvṛtaṁ jñānam' means knowledge is covered, not destroyed. 'Nitya-vairiṇā'—the eternal enemy, because kāma is always trying to cloud your clarity. The verse uses a powerful image: 'duṣpūreṇānalena'—insatiable fire. Feed fire and it grows bigger, never satisfied. Same with desire. Get what you want, feel good briefly, then want more. That's why you do things you know are wrong—in that moment, wisdom is covered by desire's smoke.