Neuroscience in Bhagavad Gita: Scientific Analysis of Anger
We have seen that attachment to sense objects is the root cause of downfall. Attachment leads to Anger or Greed and Anger leads to downfall.
Anger leads to clouding of judgment, which results in bewilderment of memory. When memory is bewildered, the intellect gets destroyed; and when the intellect is destroyed, one is ruined. (Bhagavad Gita 2.63)
Anger -> Delusion -> Loss of memory -> loss of intelligence -> Ruin
The frustration of desire gives rise to anger. Anger is like potent alcohol. The human being is transformed into a wild animal, deprived of a piece of flesh when hungry. He/She behaves like possessed by an evil spirit. It is said here that delusion (sammoha) overpowers anger (Krodha).
Delusion causes loss of memory. The deluded man, fired with anger, forgets the people he is dealing with. For the time being, He/She forgets the status of the other party, the honour of the father, the reverence for the Guru, and the affection for the friend. This is a loss of memory (smritivibramah) of one’s Self. So long as a man holds on to the Self, anger cannot overpower him. But the moment that memory of his true Self is lost, man becomes a beast.
From the loss of memory, the discrimination of right and wrong is lost. By the destruction of the grinding intellect, man perishes.
The sequence described in the verse (anger → delusion → memory loss → loss of intelligence → ruin) maps well to modern neurobiological understandings of emotional regulation and cognitive function. How?
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The Spark: Anger and the Brain
The process of downfall starts with a tightening in the chest, a rush of heat, and a narrowing of focus. Neuroscience has a name for this moment: the Amygdala Hijack.
The amygdala is our brain’s threat detector. When it senses danger—or even the possibility of disrespect or frustration—it takes over. Stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol flood the system. The body gets prepared to fight.
This stage is called krodhaḥ (anger). Modern science calls it Survival Circuitry. Either way, it feels the same: sharp, reactive, and fast.
Delusion: When Clarity Fades
In the next stage, anger leads to judgment clouding. We see everything through the lens of threat.
The Gita calls this sammohaḥ (delusion). Neuroscience explains it as the Prefrontal Cortex shutting down. This is the part of the brain responsible for reasoning, planning, and perspective. When the amygdala is in charge, logic takes a back seat.
Collapse of Intelligence: The Danger Zone
By this point, intelligence—the ability to discriminate wisely—collapses.
The Gita calls this buddhi-nāśaḥ (destruction of intelligence). Neuroscience describes it as the breakdown of executive function. With judgment gone and memory offline, only impulse remains. This is the danger zone. One rash word, one reckless choice, and relationships or peace can be damaged in an instant.
The Turning Point at this stage is a Simple Pause. Pause ensures oxygen flow to prefrontal cortex and calms down amygdala. Memory returns back and rational and logical intelligence is restored.
Ancient Wisdom, Modern Science
It is fascinating to note that the Gita and neuroscience mirror each other. Both give the answer to prevent the downfall which is to BREAK THE CYCLE somewhere.
- Gita: Anger → Delusion → Memory Loss → Destruction of Intelligence → Downfall
- Neuroscience: Amygdala Hijack → Prefrontal Cortex Shutdown → Hippocampal Dysfunction → Executive Collapse → Reactive Damage
Different languages. Same truth. Both point to one critical fact: the downfall doesn’t start outside—it starts inside, with a single unchecked spark of anger.
Freedom is not in avoiding anger altogether—it’s in mastering the first step.
Try a straightforward intervention when you get angry: a single deep breath, a pause, or even stepping back. Notice how it changes what comes next. Because once the chain begins, it’s much harder to stop. But if you interrupt it at the start, you reclaim your freedom.
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