In Bhagavad Gita 6.6, Krishna says that for one who has conquered the self by the Self, the self is a friend; for one who has not, the self acts like an enemy.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
बन्धुरात्मात्मनस्तस्य
येनात्मैवात्मना जितः
अनात्मनस्तु शत्रुत्वे
वर्तेतात्मैव शत्रुवत् ॥ ६-६ ॥
bandhurātmātmanastasya
yenātmaivātmanā jitaḥ
anātmanastu śatrutve
vartetātmaiva śatruvat
English transliteration bandhuraatmaatmanastasya
yenaatmaivaatmanaa jitah
anaatmanastu shatrutve
vartetaatmaiva shatruvat ॥ 6.6 ॥
Translation / Meaning
For one who has conquered the self by the Self, the self is a friend. But for one who has not conquered the self, the self behaves like an enemy.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| बन्धुः bandhuḥ | friend |
| आत्मा ātmā | the self, mind |
| आत्मनः ātmanaḥ | of the self |
| तस्य tasya | for him |
| येन yena | by whom |
| आत्मा ātmā | the self |
| एव eva | indeed |
| आत्मना ātmanā | by the Self |
| जितः jitaḥ | is conquered |
| अनात्मनः anātmanaḥ | of one who has not conquered the self |
| तु tu | but |
| शत्रुत्वे śatrutve | in enmity |
| वर्तेत varteta | behaves |
| आत्मा ātmā | the self |
| एव eva | indeed |
| शत्रुवत् śatruvat | like an enemy |
Word-wise Chanting
- ban–dhu–rāt–māt–ma–nas–tas–ya 8 syllables ban-dhu-raat-maat-ma-nas-tas-ya
- ye–nāt–mai–vāt–ma–nā ji–taḥ | 8 syllables ye-naat-mai-vaat-ma-naa ji-tah
- a–nāt–ma–nas–tu śat–rut–ve 8 syllables a-naat-ma-nas-tu shat-rut-ve
- var–te–tāt–mai–va śat–ru–vat || 6-6 8 syllables var-te-taat-mai-va shat-ru-vat
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 6
Context
Krishna explains the teaching of 6.5 on the self as friend or enemy.
Meaning
The word ātman shifts meaning here: the lower self, mind and senses, and the higher Self. When the higher Self masters the lower, the mind becomes a loyal friend, supporting our highest aims. When it is not mastered, the same mind works against us like an enemy, sabotaging our intentions.
The verse places the key to inner peace within our own hands. The mind is not inherently good or bad; it depends on whether it is trained. A trained mind is the best friend we can have; an untrained one is the worst enemy.
In Practice
Notice today when your mind supports you and when it works against you. Strengthen one habit that makes it more of 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.