In Bhagavad Gita 6.5, Krishna teaches self-reliance on the spiritual path: lift yourself up by your own mind and never degrade yourself, for the mind can be your best friend or your worst enemy.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं
नात्मानमवसादयेत्
आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुर्
आत्मैव रिपुरात्मनः ॥ ६-५ ॥
uddharedātmanātmānaṃ
nātmānamavasādayet
ātmaiva hyātmano bandhur
ātmaiva ripurātmanaḥ
English transliteration uddharedaatmanaatmaanam
naatmaanamavasaadayet
aatmaiva hyaatmano bandhur
aatmaiva ripuraatmanah ॥ 6.5 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Let a person lift oneself up by one’s own self; let one not degrade oneself. For the self alone is the friend of the self, and the self alone is the enemy of the self.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| उद्धरेत् uddharet | should lift up |
| आत्मना ātmanā | by the self, by the mind |
| आत्मानम् ātmānam | oneself |
| न na | not |
| आत्मानम् ātmānam | oneself |
| अवसादयेत् avasādayet | should degrade, let sink |
| आत्मा ātmā | the self, the mind |
| एव eva | alone |
| हि hi | indeed |
| आत्मनः ātmanaḥ | of the self |
| बन्धुः bandhuḥ | friend |
| आत्मा ātmā | the self |
| एव eva | alone |
| रिपुः ripuḥ | enemy |
| आत्मनः ātmanaḥ | of the self |
Word-wise Chanting
- ud–dha–re–dāt–ma–nāt–mā–naṃ 8 syllables ud-dha-re-daat-ma-naat-maa-nam
- nāt–mā–na–ma–va–sā–da–yet | 8 syllables naat-maa-na-ma-va-saa-da-yet
- āt–mai–va hyāt–ma–no ban–dhur– 8 syllables aat-mai-va hyaat-ma-no ban-dhur-
- āt–mai–va ri–pu–rāt–ma–naḥ || 6-5 8 syllables aat-mai-va ri-pu-raat-ma-nah
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 6 Verse 5
Context
Chapter 6 is Krishna’s teaching on meditation. Having described the yogi as one who acts without depending on the fruits of action (6.1–6.4), He now places the work of rising in each person’s own hands. Verse 6.6 explains when the mind is a friend and when it is an enemy.
Meaning
The word ātman appears again and again in this verse, and its meaning shifts from line to line: the lower, restless mind and the higher, aware Self. Krishna places responsibility for inner growth where it belongs. No teacher, circumstance or ritual can do the lifting for us. The same mind that drags us into habit, fear and self-contempt can, when trained, become the steady support that carries us toward freedom.
This is not a call to harsh self-discipline. To “not degrade oneself” also means refusing the voice of constant self-criticism that keeps a person small. Meditation, the subject of this chapter, is the practical method: by watching the mind without being ruled by it, one slowly turns an enemy into a friend. The verse offers dignity and hope together. Whatever our past, the power to rise is already within us.
In Practice
Notice one habitual thought today that pulls you down. Without fighting it, answer it with one supportive sentence you would say to a friend.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 6: Dhyana Yoga (The Yoga of Meditation). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.