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Chapter 6 · Verse 5 · Dhyana Yoga

Bhagavad Gita 6.5

empowering Mind & Meditation Self & Identity Karma & Action

Sanskrit

उद्धरेदात्मनाऽऽत्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत्। आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः।।6.5।।

Transliteration

uddhared ātmanātmānaṁ nātmānam avasādayet ātmaiva hyātmano bandhur ātmaiva ripur ātmanaḥ

Word by Word

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
Simplified Perspective

Krishna reveals the deepest truth of self-mastery: your own mind is either your greatest ally or your fiercest adversary — there is no neutral ground. The disciplined mind, turned inward through meditation and wisdom, becomes the ladder by which you ascend to your highest nature; the undisciplined mind becomes the pit into which you fall.

This is not punishment from outside, but the natural law of consciousness itself. In your daily struggles — whether with anger, doubt, or distraction — remember that the power to transform lies entirely within you; every moment offers a choice to elevate or degrade yourself.

Listen

Bhagavad Gita 6.5 — BG 6.5

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Sanskrit text from the Bhagavad Gita (public domain). Commentary © Mahakatha.

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