Bhagavad Gita BG 2.63
Chapter 2, Verse 63 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
क्रोधाद्भवति सम्मोहः सम्मोहात्स्मृतिविभ्रमः । स्मृतिभ्रंशाद्बुद्धिनाशो बुद्धिनाशात्प्रणश्यति ॥ ६३ ॥
krodhād bhavati sammohaḥ sammohāt smṛti-vibhramaḥ smṛti-bhraṃśād buddhi-nāśo buddhi-nāśāt praṇaśyati
Meaning
From anger arises delusion, and from delusion the loss of memory. When memory is lost, the intellect is destroyed, and when the intellect is destroyed, one is ruined.
Understanding
The chain continues from the previous verse: Anger (krodha) → Complete delusion (sammoha) → Bewilderment of memory (smṛti-vibhrama) → Loss of intelligence (buddhi-nāśa) → Complete ruin (praṇaśyati). This is the anatomy of a human downfall — not from outside forces but from one's own mind. The loss of 'smṛti' (memory of one's true nature and values) leads to the loss of 'buddhi' (discriminating intelligence). Without discrimination, a person is ruined. The entire chain was set in motion by a single sustained thought about sense objects.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| सम्मोहः | sammohaḥ | complete delusion / total confusion |
| स्मृतिविभ्रमः | smṛti-vibhramaḥ | bewilderment of memory / confusion of values and identity |
| बुद्धिनाशः | buddhi-nāśaḥ | destruction of intelligence / loss of discrimination |
| प्रणश्यति | praṇaśyati | is completely ruined / utterly falls |
| क्रोधात् | krodhāt | from anger (the causal chain begins) |
| भवति | bhavati | arises / comes / develops |
| सम्मोहात् | sammohāt | from delusion / from complete bewilderment |
| स्मृतिभ्रंशात् | smṛti-bhraṃśāt | from loss of memory / bewilderment of memory |