In Bhagavad Gita 2.63, Krishna continues the chain: anger leads to delusion, delusion to loss of memory, loss of memory to the destruction of reason, and with that a person is ruined.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
क्रोधाद्भवति सम्मोहः
सम्मोहात्स्मृतिविभ्रमः
स्मृतिभ्रंशाद् बुद्धिनाशो
बुद्धिनाशात्प्रणश्यति ॥ २-६३ ॥
krodhādbhavati sammohaḥ
sammohātsmṛtivibhramaḥ
smṛtibhraṃśād buddhināśo
buddhināśātpraṇaśyati
English transliteration krodhaadbhavati sammohah
sammohaatsmritivibhramah
smritibhramshaad buddhinaasho
buddhinaashaatpranashyati ॥ 2.63 ॥
Translation / Meaning
From anger comes delusion; from delusion, confusion of memory; from confusion of memory, the loss of reason; and when reason is lost, one perishes.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| क्रोधात् krodhāt | from anger |
| भवति bhavati | arises |
| सम्मोहः sammohaḥ | delusion |
| सम्मोहात् sammohāt | from delusion |
| स्मृतिविभ्रमः smṛtivibhramaḥ | confusion of memory smṛti (memory) + vibhramaḥ (confusion) |
| स्मृतिभ्रंशात् smṛtibhraṃśāt | from the loss of memory smṛti (memory) + bhraṃśāt (from loss) |
| बुद्धिनाशः buddhināśaḥ | loss of reason buddhi (reason) + nāśaḥ (destruction) |
| बुद्धिनाशात् buddhināśāt | from the loss of reason |
| प्रणश्यति praṇaśyati | one perishes |
Word-wise Chanting
- kro–dhād–bha–va–ti sam–mo–haḥ 8 syllables kro-dhaad-bha-va-ti sam-mo-hah
- sam–mo–hāt–smṛ–ti–vibh–ra–maḥ | 8 syllables sam-mo-haat-smri-ti-vibh-ra-mah
- smṛ–tibh–raṃ–śād bud–dhi–nā–śo 8 syllables smri-tibh-ram-shaad bud-dhi-naa-sho
- bud–dhi–nā–śāt–pra–ṇaś–ya–ti || 2-63 8 syllables bud-dhi-naa-shaat-pra-nash-ya-ti
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 63
Context
Krishna completes the chain begun in 2.62.
Meaning
Anger clouds judgement and produces sammoha, delusion. In this state we forget what we know: our values, lessons and wiser intentions. Smṛti, memory, here means the remembrance of what is right. When memory fails, buddhi, the discerning intellect, collapses. Without discernment a person acts destructively and is spiritually ruined.
The two verses (2.62–2.63) describe how a person can move from a passing thought to complete ruin. The practical lesson is to catch the process early, before anger turns into delusion. Remembering our deeper values in moments of agitation is one of the most powerful forms of self-protection.
In Practice
Write down three values that matter most to you. When you feel anger rising, recall them before you speak or act.
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.