Bhagavad Gita · Dhyana Yoga — The Yoga of Meditation
Chapter 6, Verse 6
"Bhagavad Gita 6.6" — meaning and explanation.
बन्धुरात्मात्मनस्तस्य येनात्मैवात्मना जितः | अनात्मनस्तु शत्रुत्वे वर्तेतात्मैव शत्रुवत्
bandhurātmātmanastasya yenātmaivātmanā jitaḥ . anātmanastu śatrutve vartetātmaiva śatruvat
Meaning
6.6 The Self is the friend of the self of him by whom the self has been conered by the Self, but to the unconered self, this Self stands in the position of an enemy, like an (external) foe.
।।6.6।। जिसने आत्मा (इंद्रियों,आदि) को आत्मा के द्वारा जीत लिया है, उस पुरुष का आत्मा उसका मित्र होता है, परन्तु अजितेन्द्रिय के लिए आत्मा शत्रु के समान स्थित होता है।।
Explanation
6.6 बन्धुः friend? आत्मा the Self? आत्मनः of the self? तस्य his? येन by whom? आत्मा the self? एव even? आत्मना by the Self? जितः is conered? अनात्मनः of unconered self? तु but? शत्रुत्वे in the place of an enemy? वर्तेत would remain? आत्मा the Self? एव even? शत्रुवत् like an enemy.Commentary Coner the lower mind through the higher mind. The lower mind is your enemy. The higher mind is your friend. If you make friendship with the higher mind you can subdue the lower mind ite easily. The lower mind is filled with Rajas and Tamas (passion and darkness). The higher mind is filled with Sattva or purity.The Self is the friend of one who is selfcontrolled? and who has subjugated the lower mind and the senses. But the Self is an enemy of one who has no selfrestraint? and who has not subdued the lower mind and the senses. Just as an external enemy does harm to him? so also his own (lower) self (mind) does harm to him. The lower mind injures him severely. The highest Self or Atman is the primary Self. Mind also is self. This is the secondary self.
Life Lesson
Study Bhagavad Gita 6.6 slowly, then express its central teaching through one thoughtful action in daily life.
Context
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6, verse 6, from Krishna's dialogue with Arjuna at Kurukshetra.
Bhagavad Gita 6.6
This page presents the Sanskrit verse, transliteration, Hindi meaning, English meaning, and a simple explanation for study. For a fuller understanding, read this shloka in sequence with the rest of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 6.6 mean?
6.6 The Self is the friend of the self of him by whom the self has been conered by the Self, but to the unconered self, this Self stands in the position of an enemy, like an (external) foe.
What is the life lesson of this verse?
Study Bhagavad Gita 6.6 slowly, then express its central teaching through one thoughtful action in daily life.
What is the context of this verse?
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6, verse 6, from Krishna's dialogue with Arjuna at Kurukshetra.