Chapter 2, Verse 63

क्रोधाद्भवति संमोहः संमोहात्स्मृतिविभ्रमः।
स्मृतिभ्रंशाद् बुद्धिनाशो बुद्धिनाशात्प्रणश्यति।।2.63।।

krodhād bhavati sammohaḥ sammohāt smṛiti-vibhramaḥ
smṛiti-bhranśhād buddhi-nāśho buddhi-nāśhāt praṇaśhyati

krodhāt — from anger;
bhavati — comes;
sammohaḥ — clouding of judgement;
sammohāt — from clouding of judgement;
smṛiti — memory;
vibhramaḥ — bewilderment;
smṛiti-bhranśhāt — from bewilderment of memory;
buddhi-nāśhaḥ — destruction of intellect;
buddhi-nāśhāt — from destruction of intellect;
praṇaśhyati — one is ruined

This verse explains how anger can lead to confusion and poor decision-making in our lives. When someone gets angry, their clarity of thought is clouded. This means they can’t think straight, which in turn affects their memory and understanding. It's like when you are upset and can't remember why you were angry in the first place or what you wanted to achieve.

Here’s a breakdown:
1. **Anger Causes Confusion**: When we allow anger to take over, it clouds our judgment. Imagine you’re arguing with a friend; in anger, you might say things you don’t really mean or make decisions that you wouldn't normally consider. This confusion is what the verse refers to as 'delusion.'

2. **Confusion Affects Memory**: Once your judgment is clouded, your memory can get mixed up. This is like forgetting certain important facts during an argument or leaving out details that could help you resolve a misunderstanding. This creates a cycle where your memories and emotions are all tangled up, leading into dysfunctionality.

3. **Loss of Intelligence**: After your memory is confused, your ability to think clearly, often referred to as intelligence, slips away. When we’re confused and angry, it’s tough to make wise choices or come up with solutions to our problems. It is like being stuck in a fog—you can’t see where you are going.

4. **The ‘Material Pool’**: Lastly, the verse highlights that once someone loses their intelligence due to confusion and anger, they might end up making choices that plunge them back into negative situations or harmful behaviors. This is described as falling back into the ‘material pool.’ Think of it like getting stuck in a messy room. You try to clean it up, but as soon as you get angry and stop focusing, you end up making an even bigger mess instead.

The interpretation also touches on the idea that understanding a spiritual path, like Krsna consciousness, can help avoid these pitfalls. When you know how to use your emotions and experiences in service to a higher purpose, you can avoid being caught in a cycle of anger and confusion. For example, someone who is devoted to Krsna doesn’t just avoid enjoying nice food; instead, they will cook and share that food with love. By doing this, they turn a material experience into something meaningful, allowing them to feel joy without becoming lost in it. They can enjoy the food afterward (known as ‘prasadam’) because it’s offered with devotion. This keeps them grounded and prevents them from falling into the traps of material attachment.

In summary, the verse teaches us that anger can lead to confusion and poor judgment, causing us to repeat cycles of problematic behavior. By following a spiritual path, we can learn how to channel our emotions positively and make better decisions in life.