Chapter 6, Verse 5 (Bhagavad Gita 6.5)
Chapter 6: Dhyān Yog – Path of Meditation
Sanskrit Shloka
उद्धरेदात्मनाऽऽत्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत्। आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः
Transliteration
uddhared ātmanātmānaṁ nātmānam avasādayet ātmaiva hyātmano bandhur ātmaiva ripur ātmanaḥ
Word Meanings
uddharet—elevate; ātmanā—through the mind; ātmānam—the self; na—not; ātmānam—the self; avasādayet—degrade; ātmā—the mind; eva—certainly; hi—indeed; ātmanaḥ—of the self; bandhuḥ—friend; ātmā—the mind; eva—certainly; ripuḥ—enemy; ātmanaḥ—of the self
Translation
One should elevate oneself by one's own self; let not one degrade oneself. For the self is the friend of the self, and the self is the enemy of the self.
Meaning & Commentary
This verse emphasizes the absolute power of individual agency and personal responsibility in spiritual evolution. It teaches that we are the architects of our own destiny, as our mind acts either as a supportive bridge to higher consciousness or as a barricade of self-sabotage. True transformation requires the discipline to master the lower, impulsive nature so that it serves the higher, divine potential within. By recognizing that no external force can grant salvation unless we cooperate, we stop blaming circumstances and start cultivating internal mastery. Ultimately, self-conquest is the highest victory, turning one's own identity into an instrument of profound liberation.