In Bhagavad Gita 2.62, Krishna describes the chain of inner downfall: thinking of sense objects breeds attachment, attachment breeds desire, and desire gives rise to anger.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
ध्यायतो विषयान्पुंसः
सङ्गस्तेषूपजायते
सङ्गात्सञ्जायते कामः
कामात्क्रोधोऽभिजायते ॥ २-६२ ॥
dhyāyato viṣayānpuṃsaḥ
saṅgasteṣūpajāyate
saṅgātsañjāyate kāmaḥ
kāmātkrodho’bhijāyate
English transliteration dhyaayato vishayaanpumsah
sangasteshoopajaayate
sangaatsanjaayate kaamah
kaamaatkrodho’bhijaayate ॥ 2.62 ॥
Translation / Meaning
When a person dwells on the objects of the senses, attachment to them arises; from attachment comes desire, and from desire, anger is born.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ध्यायतः dhyāyataḥ | of one who dwells upon |
| विषयान् viṣayān | sense objects |
| पुंसः puṃsaḥ | of a person |
| सङ्गः saṅgaḥ | attachment |
| तेषु teṣu | to them |
| उपजायते upajāyate | arises |
| सङ्गात् saṅgāt | from attachment |
| सञ्जायते sañjāyate | is born |
| कामः kāmaḥ | desire |
| कामात् kāmāt | from desire |
| क्रोधः krodhaḥ | anger |
| अभिजायते abhijāyate | arises |
Word-wise Chanting
- dhyā–ya–to vi–ṣa–yān–puṃ–saḥ 8 syllables dhyaa-ya-to vi-sha-yaan-pum-sah
- saṅ–gas–te–ṣū–pa–jā–ya–te | 8 syllables san-gas-te-shoo-pa-jaa-ya-te
- saṅ–gāt–sañ–jā–ya–te kā–maḥ 8 syllables san-gaat-san-jaa-ya-te kaa-mah
- kā–māt–kro–dho–‘bhi–jā–ya–te || 2-62 8 syllables kaa-maat-kro-dho-‘bhi-jaa-ya-te
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 2 Verse 62
Context
Krishna explains why sense control matters by tracing the process by which the mind falls (2.62–2.63).
Meaning
This is one of the most precise psychological teachings in the Gita. It begins with something small: dwelling on an object in thought. Repeated attention creates saṅga, attachment. Attachment grows into kāma, desire. When desire is blocked or threatened, it turns into krodha, anger.
The chain shows that anger does not appear from nowhere; it has a history in our attention. The best place to stop the chain is at the beginning, in what we allow ourselves to dwell on. Watching our thoughts is not a small thing: it is the root of our emotional life.
In Practice
When you notice anger today, trace it back: what desire was blocked, and what thought had you been dwelling on before that?
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 2: Sankhya Yoga (The Yoga of Knowledge). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.