उद्धरेदात्मनाऽऽत्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत् ।
आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः ॥
आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
अपने द्वारा अपना उद्धार करे, अपना पतन न करे क्योंकि आप ही अपना मित्र है और आप ही अपना शत्रु है ॥
English
Lift yourself by yourself; do not let yourself fall. The true self is its own friend, and the true self is its own enemy.
What this verse means
Your own effort can raise you or ruin you. The same mind that helps you grow can also drag you down.
Context & commentary
On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Arjuna is frozen. Krishna begins to show him that the greatest struggle is not outside, but within. Before victory or defeat in war, a person must learn whether the self supports or sabotages itself.
Why this verse still matters
You are about to send the message, quit the habit, or tell the truth—and the old voice says to delay again. In that moment, your own inner handling decides whether you rise or shrink.
The takeaway
You are not helpless in your own life; the way you handle yourself changes everything.
Word-by-word translation
उद्धरेत् (should lift up) / आत्मना (by the self) / आत्मानम् (the self) / न (not) / आत्मानम् (the self) / अवसादयेत् (should let fall) / आत्मा (the self) / एव (indeed) / हि (for) / आत्मनः (of the self) / बन्धुः (friend) / आत्मा (the self) / एव (indeed) / रिपुः (enemy) / आत्मनः (of the self)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6: Dhyana Yoga — The Yoga of Meditation, which contains 47 verses.
Explore related themes: manas (49 verses), self mastery (16 verses), discipline (14 verses)