The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
उद्धरेत्should lift upआत्मनाby the selfआत्मानम्the selfनnotआत्मानम्the selfअवसादयेत्should let fallआत्माthe selfएवindeedहिforआत्मनःof the selfबन्धुःfriendआत्माthe selfएवindeedरिपुःenemyआत्मनःof the self
Read literallyshould lift up · by the self · the self · not · the self · should let fall · the self · indeed · for · of the self · friend · the self · indeed · enemy · of the self
Understanding the verse
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Lift yourself by yourself, Krishna says, because the self is its own friend and its own enemy.
Your own effort can raise you or ruin you. The same mind that helps you grow can also drag you down.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Krishna begins to show the frozen Arjuna that the greatest struggle lies within. Before victory or defeat in war, a person must learn whether the self supports or sabotages itself.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
A man laid off at fifty spends weeks blaming his old boss. Krishna's line hands the work back to him: get up, learn the new skills, and stop being his own enemy.
The takeaway
“You are not helpless in your own life; the way you handle yourself changes everything.”
Your own effort can raise you or ruin you. The same mind that helps you grow can also drag you down.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 6.5?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Dhyana Yoga" (The Yoga of Meditation).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 6.5?
Verse 5 sits in Chapter 6 of the Bhagavad Gita — Dhyana Yoga, "The Yoga of Meditation". The chapter has 47 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 6.5 matter today?
A man laid off at fifty spends weeks blaming his old boss. Krishna's line hands the work back to him: get up, learn the new skills, and stop being his own enemy.
Lift yourself by yourself, Krishna says, because the self is its own friend and 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
Krishna begins to show the frozen Arjuna that the greatest struggle lies within. Before victory or defeat in war, a person must learn whether the self supports or sabotages itself.
What it looks like today
A man laid off at fifty spends weeks blaming his old boss. Krishna's line hands the work back to him: get up, learn the new skills, and stop being his own enemy.
“You are not helpless in your own life; the way you handle yourself changes everything.”
Explore related themes: manas (49 verses), self mastery (16 verses), discipline (14 verses)