Bhagavad Gita 6.5 meaningTaming the mind
In simple wordsSo simple a child gets it
“Lift yourself up. Be your own best friend, not your own worst enemy.” — words to hold on a hard day.
What it means
“Lift yourself up by your own effort; don't drag yourself down. You can be your own best friend — or your own worst enemy.”
The original Sanskrit · known as “Uddhared Atmanatmanam”
उ द्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत् । आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः ॥
uddharedātmanātmānaṃ nātmānamavasādayet ātmaiva hyātmano bandhurātmaiva ripurātmanaḥ
Translations
Literal translation
One should save oneself by oneself; one should not lower oneself. For oneself is verily one's onw friend; oneself is verily one's own enemy.
Swami Gambhirananda
हिंदी अनुवाद
मनुष्य को अपने द्वारा अपना उद्धार करना चाहिये और अपना अध: पतन नहीं करना चाहिये; क्योंकि आत्मा ही आत्मा का मित्र है और आत्मा (मनुष्य स्वयं) ही आत्मा का (अपना) शत्रु है।
Swami Tejomayananda
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Commentaries
How great teachers across 1,200 years have explained this verse.
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Keep reading · 6.6“If you've mastered yourself, you are your own friend. If you haven't, your own mind works against you like an enemy.”