Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 2/Verse 63

क्रोधाद्भवति संमोहः संमोहात्स्मृतिविभ्रमः ।
स्मृतिभ्रंशाद्बुद्धिनाशो बुद्धिनाशात्प्रणश्यति ॥२- ६३॥

krodhādbhavati saṃmohaḥ saṃmohātsmṛtivibhramaḥ ।
smṛtibhraṃśādbuddhināśo buddhināśātpraṇaśyati ॥2- 63॥

From anger arises insensibility; from insensibility, perseveration of memory; from perseveration of memory, loss of discernment; from loss of discernment, one is vanquished. 


Word-for-word translations

krodhāt (masculine, ablative, singular) = from anger

bhavati (present indicative, 3rd person, singular) = it arises

saṃmohas (masculine, nominative, singular) = insensibility

saṃmohāt (masculine, ablative, singular) = from insensibility

smṛtivibhramas (smṛti + vibhramas) (compound) (masculine, nominative, singular) = perseveration of memory 


smṛtibhraṃśāt (masculine, ablative, singular) = from perseveration of memory

buddhināśas (masculine, nominative, singular) = loss of discernment

buddhināśāt (masculine, ablative, singular) = from loss of discernment

praṇaśyati (present indicative, 3rd person, singular) = one is vanquished  


Commentary


This verse continues from the previous verse in describing the chain of psychological events that occur when someone is attached to objects that grasp the senses. I decided to use the word "perseveration of memory" for "smṛtivibhramas" because "smṛti" means "memory" and "vibhrama" means "perturbation" or "rolling or whirling about". This verse really hits home for me with my own life circumstances that angered me and hearing of others people's life circumstances that angered them. We talk about these memories like a "broken record" causing a "perseveration of memory". I really love the wisdom of the previous verse and this verse.