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Chapter 2 · Contents of the Gītā Summarized · 72 verses

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
  2. 2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
  3. 3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
  4. 4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
  5. 5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
  6. 6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.
Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›
Mind & yogaChapter 2 · Contents of the Gītā Summarized

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 2.63

How desire and the senses disturb the mind

Prakṛti · Material nature

क्रोधाद्भ‍वति सम्मोहः सम्मोहात्स्मृतिविभ्रमः ।

स्मृतिभ्रंशाद्बुद्धिनाशो बुद्धिनाशात्प्रणश्यति ॥ ६३ ॥

krodhād bhavati sammohaḥ

sammohāt smṛti-vibhramaḥ

smṛti-bhraṁśād buddhi-nāśo

buddhi-nāśāt praṇaśyati

Translation

From anger, complete 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.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

3 study points

Devotional Service Prevents Downfall

  1. 1

    Anger leads to delusion, confused memory, and lost intelligence. Then one falls back into material existence.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa consciousness teaches us to use everything in the Lord’s service, rather than artificially rejecting material things.

  3. 3

    A devotee offers food to Kṛṣṇa with devotion and accepts the remnants as prasādam. Such devotional service protects one from falling down.

Key points from the purport

These notes cover verses 2.60–63

Explains how one who is not Krishna Consciousness may easily falldown, It implies the dangers of Arjuna’s plan to go to the forest, to practice Jnana & meditation, trying to avoid fighting and its apparent sinful reaction.

Further reading

Sthita–Prajna / Samadhi — Fight!

Become fixed in Krishna Consciousness

By working in Buddhi-yoga one attains ‘material detachment’ and the ‘equipoised platform of liberation’ called Samadhi

Chapter 2, section V: Sthita–Prajna / Samadhi — Fight!
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. krodhātfrom anger
  2. bhavatitakes place
  3. sammohaḥperfect illusion
  4. sammohātfrom illusion
  5. smṛtiof memory
  6. vibhramaḥbewilderment
  7. smṛti-bhraṁśātafter bewilderment of memory
  8. buddhi-nāśaḥloss of intelligence
  9. buddhi-nāśātand from loss of intelligence
  10. praṇaśyatione falls down
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: manas, indriya, yoga.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 2.63 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to mind & yoga?

Practice

Sit quietly for ten minutes and gently return the mind.

5

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 2 ›
6

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

Live this todayUsing What We Have in ServiceOne practice from this verse

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.