Chapter 6 · Dhyana Yoga - The Yoga of MeditationKrishna
Verse 5
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता अध्याय 6, श्लोक 5
Sanskrit Shloka (श्लोक)
उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत्।
आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः॥
Transliteration
Uddhared-Atmana-Atmanam Na-Atmanam-Avasadayet.
Atma-Iva Hy-Atmano Bandhur-Atma-Iva Ripur-Atmanah.
Word-by-Word Meaning (अन्वय)
उद्धरेत्uddharetshould uplift
आत्मनाatmanaby the self
आत्मानम्atmanamthe self
नnanot
आत्मानम्atmanamthe self
अवसादयेत्avasadayetshould degrade/let down
आत्माatmathe self
एवevaalone/indeed
हिhicertainly
आत्मनःatmanahof the self
बन्धुःbandhuhfriend
आत्माatmathe self
रिपुःripuhenemy
Hindi Translation (हिन्दी अर्थ)
मनुष्य को अपने आप को स्वयं ऊपर उठाना चाहिए, अपने आप को गिरने नहीं देना चाहिए। क्योंकि आत्मा ही आत्मा का बन्धु है और आत्मा ही आत्मा का शत्रु है।
English Translation
One should uplift oneself by one's own self and not degrade oneself. For the self alone is the friend of the self, and the self alone is the enemy of the self.
Commentary (टीका)
This is one of the most empowering verses in the Gita. Krishna places the responsibility and the power of spiritual evolution squarely on the individual. No external savior is needed — the self has the capacity to be its own greatest friend or its own worst enemy. This teaching emphasizes personal responsibility, self-effort, and the innate potential within every being for self-transformation.