The Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 2 · verse 2.62

When a person dwells on the objects of the senses, attachment to them is born. From attachment, desire arises. From desire, anger is born.

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

ध्यायतो विषयान्पुंसः सङ्गस्तेषूपजायते। सङ्गात्संजायते कामः कामात्क्रोधोऽभिजायते॥

Transliteration

dhyāyato viṣayān puṁsaḥ saṅgas teṣūpajāyate; saṅgāt sañjāyate kāmaḥ kāmāt krodho 'bhijāyate

English translation

When a person dwells on the objects of the senses, attachment to them is born. From attachment, desire arises. From desire, anger is born.

Meaning — what the verse is actually saying

The Gita maps the chain of falling: dwelling on objects becomes attachment; attachment becomes craving; craving frustrated becomes anger. Verse 63 continues: anger becomes delusion; delusion becomes loss of memory; loss of memory becomes destruction of intellect; destruction of intellect is the end.

Modern practice — what to do today because of this

The Gita's practical advice is to intervene early. Not at anger (too late) but at "dwelling." When the mind starts cycling on something you want, notice it and gently turn it. You cannot stop the chain at link six; you can almost always stop it at link one.

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