BG 6.5
One should seek liberation by one's own mind, and not allow the mind to degrade. For the mind alone is the friend of the self, and the mind alone is its foe.
आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः
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uddhared — elevate
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ātmanātmānaṁ — the self through the mind
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ātmanā — through the mind
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ātmānam — the self
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nātmānam — the self should not
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na — not
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ātmānam — the self
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avasādayet — degrade
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ātmaiva — the mind indeed
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ātmā — the mind
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eva — certainly
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hyātmano — of the self
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bandhur — friend
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ātmaiva — the mind indeed
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ripur — enemy
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ātmanaḥ — of the self
One should seek liberation by one's own mind, and not allow the mind to degrade. For the mind alone is the friend of the self, and the mind alone is its foe. To one who has conquered the self, the self is a friend, but to one who has not done so, it remains a hostile enemy. One who is self-controlled and has attained peace is equally unmoved by heat or cold, pleasure or pain, and in honor and dishonor. One who desires nothing but wisdom and spiritual realization, who has conquered the senses, and looks the same way upon a stone as a piece of gold, is a true saint. To excel, one must look impartially on all - friends, foes, enemies, the indifferent, hostile, virtuous, and sinful.
Similar verses
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By always keeping the mind balanced, one attains peace and everlasting liberation.
- Verse 6.15
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... one should slowly withdraw oneself from objects other than the self, with an intellect held in strong determination. Fixing the mind in the self, one should not think of anything at all.
- Verse 6.25
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Wherever the restless and unsteady mind wanders, one should subdue it and bring it back under control of the self alone.
- Verse 6.26
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...that sage who has controlled the senses, mind, and intellect, and is free from desire, fear, and anger, attains eternal liberation.
- Verse 5.28
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When the mind is subdued and remains centered in the self, one attains freedom from cravings and desire.
- Verse 6.18