Gita map, what troubles us
मोह Delusion
Confusion about what is real. Linked to 9 of the core shlokas.
1. See how it works
- 2.63
क्रोधाद्भवति संमोहः संमोहात्स्मृतिविभ्रमः।
स्मृतिभ्रंशाद् बुद्धिनाशो बुद्धिनाशात्प्रणश्यति ॥krodhād bhavati sammohaḥ sammohāt smṛiti-vibhramaḥ
Anger leads to delusion, which causes loss of memory; this, in turn, leads to the destruction of discrimination, resulting in destruction.
smṛiti-bhranśhād buddhi-nāśho buddhi-nāśhāt praṇaśhyati - 14.8
तमस्त्वज्ञानजं विद्धि मोहनं सर्वदेहिनाम्।
प्रमादालस्यनिद्राभिस्तन्निबध्नाति भारत ॥tamas tv ajñāna-jaṁ viddhi mohanaṁ sarva-dehinām
But know thou Tamas to be born of ignorance, deluding all embodied beings; it binds fast, O Arjuna, through heedlessness, indolence, and sleep.
pramādālasya-nidrābhis tan nibadhnāti bhārata - 14.13
अप्रकाशोऽप्रवृत्तिश्च प्रमादो मोह एव च।
तमस्येतानि जायन्ते विवृद्धे कुरुनन्दन ॥aprakāśho ’pravṛittiśh cha pramādo moha eva cha
Darkness, inertia, carelessness, and delusion—these arise when Tamas is predominant, O Arjuna.
tamasy etāni jāyante vivṛiddhe kuru-nandana
2. What answers it
3. Verses to practise
- 10.11
तेषामेवानुकम्पार्थमहमज्ञानजं तमः।
नाशयाम्यात्मभावस्थो ज्ञानदीपेन भास्वता ॥teṣhām evānukampārtham aham ajñāna-jaṁ tamaḥ
Out of mere compassion for them, I, dwelling within their selves, destroy the darkness born of ignorance with the luminous lamp of knowledge.
nāśhayāmyātma-bhāva-stho jñāna-dīpena bhāsvatā - 3.42
इन्द्रियाणि पराण्याहुरिन्द्रियेभ्यः परं मनः।
मनसस्तु परा बुद्धिर्यो बुद्धेः परतस्तु सः ॥indriyāṇi parāṇyāhur indriyebhyaḥ paraṁ manaḥ
They say that the senses are superior to the body; the mind is superior to the senses; the intellect is superior to the mind; and He (the Self) is superior even to the intellect.
manasas tu parā buddhir yo buddheḥ paratas tu saḥ - 3.43
एवं बुद्धेः परं बुद्ध्वा संस्तभ्यात्मानमात्मना।
जहि शत्रुं महाबाहो कामरूपं दुरासदम् ॥evaṁ buddheḥ paraṁ buddhvā sanstabhyātmānam ātmanā
Thus, knowing Him who is superior to the intellect and restraining the self by the Self, slay thou, O mighty-armed Arjuna, the enemy in the form of desire, hard to conquer.
jahi śhatruṁ mahā-bāho kāma-rūpaṁ durāsadam - 7.4
भूमिरापोऽनलो वायुः खं मनो बुद्धिरेव च।
अहङ्कार इतीयं मे भिन्ना प्रकृतिरष्टधा ॥bhūmir-āpo ’nalo vāyuḥ khaṁ mano buddhir eva cha
Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intellect, and egoism—thus is My Nature divided eightfold.
ahankāra itīyaṁ me bhinnā prakṛitir aṣhṭadhā