Seeing danger where there is none, and not seeing danger where there is; embracing wrong views, beings go to misfortune.

Abhaye bhayadassino — seeing (dassino) danger (bhaya) where there is none (abhaye). Irrational fear paralyzes where there is no real threat, while blinding one to true moral and spiritual dangers.

This verse is nearly identical to the previous one in structure and conclusion (micchādiṭṭhisamādānā), but changes the focus: from verse 316 on inverted shame, to 317 on inverted fear. Both are manifestations of the same perceptual distortion — wrong view (micchādiṭṭhi) that inverts values.

In yogic practice, perceptual clarity (sammādiṭṭhi) is the first step of the path. Without seeing correctly, everything else deviates.