Bhagavad-gītā 2.63

Explain simply

Speaker: Śrī Kṛṣṇa

क्रोधाद्भवति सम्मोहः सम्मोहात्स्मृतिविभ्रमः ।
स्मृतिभ्रंशाद् बुद्धिनाशो बुद्धिनाशात्प्रणश्यति ॥६३॥

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

Word for word (synonyms)

krodhāt
from anger
bhavati
takes place
saṁmohaḥ
perfect illusion
saṁmohāt
from illusion
smṛti
of memory
vibhramaḥ
bewilderment
smṛti-bhraṁśāt
after bewilderment of memory
buddhi-nāśaḥ
loss of intelligence
buddhi-nāśāt
and from loss of intelligence
praṇaśyati
falls down

Translation

From anger, delusion arises, and from delusion bewilderment of memory. When memory is bewildered, intelligence is lost, and when intelligence is lost, one falls down again into the material pool.

Purport

By development of Kṛṣṇa consciousness one can know that everything has its use in the service of the Lord. Those who are without knowledge of Kṛṣṇa consciousness artificially try to avoid material objects, and as a result, although they desire liberation from material bondage, they do not attain to the perfect stage of renunciation. On the other hand, a person in Kṛṣṇa consciousness knows how to use everything in the service of the Lord; therefore he does not become a victim of material consciousness. For example, for an impersonalist, the Lord, or the Absolute, being impersonal, cannot eat. Whereas an impersonalist tries to avoid good eatables, a devotee knows that Kṛṣṇa is the supreme enjoyer and that He eats all that is offered to Him in devotion. So, after offering good eatables to the Lord, the devotee takes the remnants, called prasādam. Thus everything becomes spiritualized and there is no danger of a downfall. The devotee takes prasādam in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, whereas the nondevotee rejects it as material. The impersonalist, therefore, cannot enjoy life due to his artificial renunciation; and for this reason, a slight agitation of the mind pulls him down again into the pool of material existence. It is said that such a soul, even though rising up to the point of liberation, falls down again due to his not having support in devotional service.

What this verse teaches

[A3] Sthita-prajña’s sense control (sitting) – He withdraws senses like a tortoise. Sense control is difficult even for the wise, and is possible only by kṛṣṇa-bhakti. One falls down in eight stages due to uncontrolled mind.

This verse in a ladder 1
The ladder of fall Bhagavad-gītā 2.62–63
  1. contemplating the objects of the senses 2.62
  2. attachment 2.62
  3. lust 2.62
  4. anger 2.62
  5. delusion 2.63
  6. bewilderment of memory 2.63
  7. intelligence is lost 2.63
  8. one falls down again into the material pool 2.63

All ladders of the Gītā

In thematic compilations 1

Self-control

  • Uncontrolled senses cause fall down (2.62-63 dhyāyato viṣayān pumsaḥ...). Even in regulated sense enjoyment there is a chance of fall down (3.34 P)
Śrīla Prabhupāda lectures 2
Articles on this verse 1

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda © The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.