Bhagavad Gita — Sankhya Yoga, Shloka 63

Sankhya Yoga

Devanagari script

क्रोधाद्भवति संमोहः संमोहात्स्मृतिविभ्रमः । स्मृतिभ्रंशाद्बुद्धिनाशो बुद्धिनाशात्प्रणश्यति ॥ २.६३ ॥

Transliteration

krodhād bhavati saṃmohaḥ saṃmohāt smṛti-vibhramaḥ | smṛti-bhraṃśād buddhi-nāśo buddhi-nāśāt praṇaśyati || 2.63 ||

Translation

From anger arises delusion; from delusion, confusion of memory; from confusion of memory, the ruin of discernment; and from the ruin of discernment, one perishes.

Gita Press Meaning

क्रोध से सम्मोह (मूढ़ता) उत्पन्न होता है; सम्मोह से स्मृति में भ्रम होता है; स्मृति-भ्रंश से बुद्धि का नाश होता है और बुद्धि-नाश से मनुष्य का पतन हो जाता है।

Critical Edition Meaning

From anger arises delusion; from delusion, confusion of memory; from loss of memory, destruction of discernment; from destruction of discernment, one comes to ruin.

Comparative Note

‘Smṛti’ can mean moral recollection, learned teachings, or mindful remembrance. ‘Praṇaśyati’ is often interpreted as ethical/spiritual downfall—loss of self-governance—rather than physical destruction.

Word by Word

• क्रोधात्: from anger
• क्रोधात्: अपादान
• Root: क्रोध

• भवति: arises / comes to be
• Root: √भू

• संमोहः: delusion, bewilderment
• संमोहः: कर्ता
• Root: संमोह

• संमोहात्: from delusion
• संमोहात्: अपादान
• Root: संमोह

• स्मृतिविभ्रमः: confusion of memory
• स्मृतिविभ्रमः: कर्ता
• Root: स्मृति-विभ्रम

• स्मृतिभ्रंशात्: from the loss of memory
• स्मृतिभ्रंशात्: अपादान
• Root: स्मृति-भ्रंश

• बुद्धिनाशः: destruction of intellect (discriminative understanding)
• बुद्धिनाशः: कर्ता
• Root: बुद्धि-नाश

• बुद्धिनाशात्: from the destruction of intellect
• बुद्धिनाशात्: अपादान
• Root: बुद्धि-नाश

• प्रणश्यति: perishes / is ruined
• Root: √नश्

Speakers

• Krishna

Primary Concepts

• Saṃmoha (delusion)
• Smṛti (memory/remembering)
• Buddhi (discernment)
• Adharma (ethical deviation, implied)

Key Themes

• Cognitive collapse under anger
• Loss of ethical memory
• Need for discernment

FAQs

Psychological significance?

It presents anger as a trigger for impaired judgment: emotional flooding can distort recall, undermine decision-making, and lead to self-defeating actions.

Metaphysical meaning?

Discernment (buddhi) is central to liberation-oriented life; when it fails, one re-enters patterns of bondage through misidentification and reactive action.

Contextual relevance?

It completes the cautionary sequence (2.62–2.63), emphasizing why equanimity and restraint are not optional but structurally necessary.

Modern Application?

Anger-management, stress-reduction, and reflective practices help preserve ‘executive function’ (buddhi) under pressure.