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← Chapter 2: The Yoga of Knowledge

Verse 2.63

Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit

क्रोधाद्भवति सम्मोहः सम्मोहात्स्मृतिविभ्रमः। स्मृतिभ्रंशाद्बुद्धिनाशो बुद्धिनाशात्प्रणश्यति॥

Transliteration (IAST)

krodhād bhavati sammohaḥ sammohāt smṛti-vibhramaḥ smṛti-bhraṁśād buddhi-nāśo buddhi-nāśāt praṇaśyati

Word-by-Word Meanings

krodhāt-from anger
sammohaḥ-delusion
smṛti-vibhramaḥ-confusion of memory
buddhi-nāśaḥ-destruction of intelligence
praṇaśyati-one is ruined

Translation

From anger arises delusion; from delusion, confusion of memory; from confusion of memory, destruction of intelligence; and from destruction of intelligence, one perishes.

Commentary

The chain continues: anger → delusion → loss of memory (of one's true nature and values) → destruction of discriminative intelligence → complete ruin. This downward spiral shows how a single unguarded thought can lead to total spiritual destruction. The chain is both a warning and a diagnostic tool for self-examination.

Themes

yogajnanakarma