B.G 6.05 and 06

उद्धरेदात्मनाऽत्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत्। आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः ॥५॥

uddharedātmanā'tmānaṁ nātmānamavasādayet। ātmaiva hyātmano bandhurātmaiva ripurātmanaḥ ॥5॥

[उद्धरेत् आत्मना आत्मानं न आत्मानम् अवसादयेत्। आत्मा एव हि आत्मनो बन्धुः आत्मा एव रिपुः आत्मनः॥
उद्धरेत् (uddharet) - One should uplift; आत्मना (ātmanā) - with the mind; आत्मानं (ātmānaṁ) - the oneself; न (na) - not; आत्मानम् (ātmānam) - oneself; अवसादयेत् (avasādayet) - degrade; आत्मा (ātmā) - the mind; एव (eva) - indeed; हि (hi) - certainly; आत्मनः (ātmanaḥ) - of oneself; बन्धुः (bandhuḥ) - is the friend; आत्मा (ātmā) - the mind; एव (eva) - indeed; रिपुः (ripuḥ) - is the enemy; आत्मनः (ātmanaḥ) - of oneself;]

One should uplift himself with the help of mind and should not degrade. Certainly, the mind alone is the friend of oneself, and also the enemy.

बन्धुरात्माऽत्मनस्तस्य येनात्मैवाऽत्मना जितः। अनात्मनस्तु शत्रुत्वे वर्तेताऽत्मैव शत्रुवत् ॥६॥

bandhurātmā'tmanastasya yenātmaivā'tmanā jitaḥ। anātmanastu śatrutve vartetā'tmaiva śatruvat ॥6॥

[बन्धुः आत्मा आत्मनः तस्य येन आत्मा एव आत्मना जितः। अनात्मनः तु शत्रुत्वे वर्तेत आत्म एव शत्रुवत्॥
बन्धुः (bandhuḥ) - Friend; आत्मा (ātmā) - the mind; आत्मनः (ātmanaḥ) - of oneself; तस्य (tasya) - of that; येन (yena) - by whom; आत्मा (ātmā) - the mind; एव (eva) - indeed; आत्मना (ātmanā) - with the lord; जितः (jitaḥ) - is conquered; अनात्मनः (anātmanaḥ) - unconquered mind; तु (tu) - but; शत्रुत्वे (śatrutve) - in enmity; वर्तेत (varteta) - acts; आत्म (ātma) - the mind; एव (eva) - indeed; शत्रुवत् (śatruvat) - like an enemy;]

The mind becomes the friend of oneself, by whom indeed the mind is conquered with the help of the lord. But the unconquered mind turns hostile. Indeed, such a mind acts like an enemy.

Gīta Bhāshya 6.05 and 06

Striving is necessary to ascend to the summit of Yoga. 'ātmā' - mind; 'ātmanaḥ' - of the living being; 'ātmanā' - with the mind; 'ātmānaṁ' - the individual being; 'ātmaiva' - the mind; 'anātmanaḥ' - the unconquered mind of the individual.

स च योगारोहः प्रयत्नेन कर्तव्यः इत्याह - उद्धरेदित्यादिना।

sa ca yogārohaḥ prayatnena kartavyaḥ ityāha - uddharedityādinā।

[स (sa) - He; च (ca) - and; योगारोहः (yogārohaḥ) - the ascent in yoga; प्रयत्नेन (prayatnena) - with effort and striving; कर्तव्यः (kartavyaḥ) - should be done; इति (iti) - thus; आह (āha) - said; उद्धरेत् (uddharet) - one should uplift; इति (iti) - thus; आदिना (ādinā) - by such statements;]

The practitioner can ascent to the summit of Yoga only through striving, is stated by 'uddharet' verse.

कस्य बन्धुः आत्मा इत्यत आह - बन्धुरात्मेति।

kasya bandhuḥ ātmā ityata āha - bandhurātmeti।

[कस्य (kasya) - Whose; बन्धुः (bandhuḥ) - friend; आत्मा (ātmā) - the self; इति (iti) - thus; अत (ata) - now; आह (āha) - says; बन्धुः (bandhuḥ) - the friend; आत्मा (ātmā) - the self; इति (iti) - thus;]

Whose friend is the self? Now, the friend says, "The self is the friend."

आत्मा मनः। आत्मनः जीवस्य। आत्मना मनसा। आत्मानं जीवम्। आत्मैव मनः। आत्मना बुद्ध्या, जीवेनैव वा। स हि बुद्ध्या विजयति। उक्तं च -

ātmā manaḥ। ātmanaḥ jīvasya। ātmanā manasā। ātmānaṁ jīvam। ātmaiva manaḥ। ātmanā buddhyā, jīvenaiva vā। sa hi buddhyā vijayati। uktaṁ ca -

[आत्मा (ātmā) - the word 'ātmā' refers to; मनः (manaḥ) - mind; आत्मनः (ātmanaḥ) - the word 'ātmanaḥ' refers to; जीवस्य (jīvasya) - of the living being; आत्मना (ātmanā) - the word 'ātmanā' refers to; मनसा (manasā) - with the mind; आत्मानं (ātmānaṁ) - the word 'ātmānaṁ' refers to; जीवम् (jīvam) - the individual soul; आत्मैव (ātmaiva) - the word 'ātmaiva' refers to; मनः (manaḥ) - mind; आत्मना (ātmanā) - So, having the mind; बुद्ध्या (buddhyā) - with intellect; जीवेन (jīvena) - by the living being; एव (eva) - indeed; वा (vā) - or; स (sa) - he; हि (hi) - indeed; बुद्ध्या (buddhyā) - with intellect; विजयति (vijayati) - conquers; उक्तं (uktaṁ) - it is said; च (ca) - and;]

The word 'ātmā' refers to 'mind'; the word 'ātmanaḥ' refers to 'of the living being'; the word 'ātmanā' refers to 'with the mind'; the word 'ātmānaṁ' refers to 'the individual being'; the word 'ātmaiva' refers to 'the mind'; So, indeed, the living being conquers the mind, by stationing the mind in the intellect. It is also said:

"मनः परं कारणमामनन्ति।"

"manaḥ paraṁ kāraṇamāmananti।"

[मनः (manaḥ) - The mind; परं (paraṁ) - supreme; कारणम् (kāraṇam) - cause; आमनन्ति (āmananti) - they declare;]

"The wise declare that the mind is the supreme cause."

"मन एव मनुष्याणां कारणं बन्धमोक्षयोः।"

"mana eva manuṣyāṇāṁ kāraṇaṁ bandhamokṣayoḥ।"

[मन् (man) - Mind; एव (eva) - indeed; मनुष्याणां (manuṣyāṇāṁ) - of humans; कारणं (kāraṇaṁ) - the cause; बन्धमोक्षयोः (bandhamokṣayoḥ) - of bondage and liberation;]

"The mind alone causes bondage and liberation for humans."

"उद्धरेन्मनसा जीवं न जीवम् अवसादयेत्। जीवस्य बन्धुः शत्रुश्च मन एव न संशयः॥"

"uddharenmanasā jīvaṁ na jīvam avasādayet। jīvasya bandhuḥ śatruśca mana eva na saṁśayaḥ॥"

[उद्धरेन्मनसा (uddharenmanasā) - Lift by the mind; जीवं (jīvaṁ) - the soul; न (na) - not; जीवम् (jīvam) - the living being; अवसादयेत् (avasādayet) - degrade; जीवस्य (jīvasya) - of the living being; बन्धुः (bandhuḥ) - friend; शत्रुः (śatruḥ) - enemy; च (ca) - and; मन (mana) - mind; एव (eva) - indeed; न (na) - not; संशयः (saṁśayaḥ) - doubt;]

"One should uplift the living being by the mind, not degrade it. The mind is both the friend and the enemy of the living being; there is no doubt."

"जीवेन बुद्ध्या हि यदा मनो जितं तदा बन्धुः शत्रुरन्यत्र चास्य। ततो जयेद्बुद्धिबलो नरस्तद्देवे च भक्त्या मधुकैटभारौ॥"

"jīvena buddhyā hi yadā mano jitaṁ tadā bandhuḥ śatruranyatra cāsya। tato jayedbuddhibalo narastaddeve ca bhaktyā madhukaiṭabhārau॥"

[जीवेन (jīvena) - By the living being; बुद्ध्या (buddhyā) - with intellect; हि (hi) - indeed; यदा (yadā) - when; मनो (mano) - mind; जितं (jitaṁ) - conquered; तदा (tadā) - then; बन्धुः (bandhuḥ) - friend; शत्रुः (śatruḥ) - enemy; अन्यत्र (anyatra) - elsewhere; च (ca) - and; अस्य (asya) - of this; ततो (tato) - then; जयेत् (jayet) - conquers; बुद्धिबलो (buddhibalo) - with the strength of intellect; नरः (naraḥ) - a person; तत् (tat) - then; देवे (deve) - towards the divine; च (ca) - and; भक्त्या (bhaktyā) - with devotion; मधुकैटभारौ (madhukaiṭabhārau) - the demon Madhu and Kaiṭabha;]

"When the mind is conquered by the intellect of the living being, then the mind becomes a friend, elsewhere it becomes an enemy. Therefore, a person conquers with the strength of intellect, and then, with devotion towards the divine, thus he overcomes the demons Madhu and Kaiṭabha."

इत्यादि ब्रह्मवैवर्ते।

ityādi brahmavaivarte।

["इत्यादि (ityādi) - and so on; ब्रह्मवैवर्ते (brahmavaivarte) - in the Brahmavaivarta Purana."]

- stated thus in Brahmavaivarta Purana.

अनात्मनः अजितात्मनः पुरुषस्य, अजितमनस्कस्य। सदपि मनः अनुपकारि इत्यनात्मा। सन्नपि भृत्यो न यस्य भृत्यपदे वर्तते स हि अभृत्यः। तस्य आत्मा मन एव शत्रुवत् शत्रुत्वे वर्तते ॥६॥

anātmanaḥ ajitātmanaḥ puruṣasya, ajitamanaskasya। sadapi manaḥ anupakāri ityanātmā। sannapi bhr̥tyo na yasya bhr̥tyapade vartate sa hi abhr̥tyaḥ। tasya ātmā mana eva śatruvat śatrutve vartate ॥6॥

[अनात्मनः (anātmanaḥ) - The word 'anātmanaḥ' refers to; अजितात्मनः (ajitātmanaḥ) - the unconquered mind; पुरुषस्य (puruṣasya) - of the individual; अजितमनस्कस्य (ajitamanaskasya) - of one whose mind is unconquered; सदपि (sadapi) - even though; मनः (manaḥ) - the mind; अनुपकारि (anupakāri) - not helpful; इति (iti) - thus; अनात्मा (anātmā) - non existent; सन्नपि (sannapi) - even when existent; भृत्यो (bhṛtyo) - servant; न (na) - not; यस्य (yasya) - of whom; भृत्यपदे (bhṛtyapade) - in the position of a servant; वर्तते (vartate) - conducts; स (sa) - he; हि (hi) - indeed; अभृत्यः (abhṛtyaḥ) - not a servant; तस्य (tasya) - of him; आत्मा (ātmā) - the self; मन (mana) - mind; एव (eva) - indeed; शत्रुवत् (śatruvat) - like an enemy; शत्रुत्वे (śatrutve) - in enmity; वर्तते (vartate) - behaves;]

The word 'anātmanaḥ' refers to the unconquered mind of the individual, i.e. to one whose mind is unconquered. If the mind is not helpful, it is the same as non-existent. If a servant exists, but does not conduct himself as a servant, then he is as good as non-existent for a master, and the master becomes a non-master. Similarly, the mind becomes an enemy for one whose mind behaves like an enemy (and thus, he is termed as 'anātmanaḥ').

Gīta Tātparya 6.05 and 06

As there are testimonials to say one must uplift oneself with the help of the supreme being, the word 'atma' could refer to 'paramatma', the supreme being, as well. This aligns well with the next verse, which states 'paramātmā samāhitaḥ' , i.e. 'he is stationed with equanimity in the supreme personality'.

"उद्धरेतैव संसारात् जीवात्मानं परात्मना। विष्णुः बन्धुः सतां नित्यं परात्मा ह्यसतामरिः। तत्प्रसादजया भक्तया जितो यस्य वशे त्विव। वर्तते तस्य मित्रं स तदन्यस्य च शत्रुवत्॥"

"uddharetaiva saṁsārāt jīvātmānaṁ parātmanā। viṣṇuḥ bandhuḥ satāṁ nityaṁ parātmā hyasatāmariḥ। tatprasādajayā bhaktayā jito yasya vaśe tviva। vartate tasya mitraṁ sa tadanyasya ca śatruvat॥"

[उद्धरेतैव (uddharetaiṣa) - Should uplift indeed; संसारात् (saṁsārāt) - from the cycle of birth and death; जीवात्मानं (jīvātmānaṁ) - the individual soul; परात्मना (parātmanā) - by the Supreme Lord; विष्णुः (viṣṇuḥ) - Vishnu; बन्धुः (bandhuḥ) - friend; सतां (satāṁ) - of the virtuous; नित्यं (nityaṁ) - eternal; परात्मा (parātmā) - the Supreme Soul; हि (hi) - indeed; असताम् (asatām) - of the non-virtuous; अरिः (ariḥ) - enemy; तत्प्रसादजया (tatprasādajayā) - by victory through His grace; भक्तया (bhaktayā) - by devotion; जितो (jito) - conquered; यस्य (yasya) - of whom; वशे (vaśe) - under control; तु (tu) - but; वर्तते (vartate) - remains; तस्य (tasya) - of him; मित्रं (mitraṁ) - friend; स (sa) - he; तदन्यस्य (tadanyasya) - of others; च (ca) - and; शत्रुवत् (śatruvat) - like an enemy;]

"Indeed, one should uplift the individual soul from the cycle of birth and death with the help of the Supreme Lord. Lord Vishnu is the eternal friend of the virtuous, and indeed, the Supreme personality is the eternal enemy of the non-virtuous. Conquered by devotion, through His grace, He comes under control and remains a friend. To others, He behaves like an enemy."

इति च।

iti ca।

[iti ca।]

- such testimonials as well.

परमात्मा समाहितः इति वाक्यशेषाच्च ॥५,६॥

paramātmā samāhitaḥ iti vākyaśeṣācca ॥5,6॥

[परमात्मा (paramātmā) - The Supreme Soul; समाहितः (samāhitaḥ) - is stationed with equanimity; इति (iti) - thus; वाक्यशेषात् (vākyaśeṣāt) - from the remaining portion of the sentence;]

The next sentence concludes by stating 'paramātmā samāhitaḥ' (Gita 6.7), i.e. 'he is stationed with equanimity in the supreme personality'. (Thus 'atma' can refer to 'paramatma' as well.)