Bhagavad Gita 6.5 · Krishna
Lift yourself by yourself
उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत्।
आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः॥
uddharedātmanātmānaṃ nātmānamavasādayetātmaiva hyātmano bandhurātmaiva ripurātmanaḥ
Lift yourself by your own self. Do not let yourself sink. The self alone is your friend, and the self alone is your enemy.
Words
- ātman
What it means
This is one of the Gita's most quoted lines. The Sanskrit word atman means self, and Krishna plays on it. Your own mind can raise you or drag you down. No one else can do your inner climbing for you. Help from others matters, but the decision to rise is yours.
The story
Arjuna has sunk into his chariot seat, bow dropped, tears falling. Krishna does not lift him bodily. He speaks, and waits. The teacher can offer the hand. Arjuna himself has to choose to stand.
In your life
Three weeks after losing his job, Marcus is still in bed at noon. Nobody is coming to rescue him. This morning he gets up, makes the bed, and sends one email. It is small. It is his own hand lifting him.
Be your own friend. Lift yourself.