Bhagavad Gita — Dhyana Yoga, Shloka 6
Atma Samyama Yoga
बन्धुरात्मात्मनस्तस्य येनात्मैवात्मना जितः । अनात्मनस्तु शत्रुत्वे वर्तेतात्मैव शत्रुवत् ॥ ६.६ ॥
bandhur ātmātmanas tasya yenātmaivātmanā jitaḥ | anātmanas tu śatrutve vartetātmaiva śatruvat || 6.6 ||
For one who has conquered oneself by oneself, the Self is a friend; but for one who has not conquered oneself, the Self remains in enmity, like an enemy.
जिसने अपने द्वारा अपने मन को जीत लिया है, उसके लिए आत्मा (मन) मित्र है; परन्तु जिसने (मन को) नहीं जीता, उसके लिए आत्मा (मन) शत्रु के समान शत्रुता में रहता है।
For one by whom the self has been conquered by the self, the self is a friend; but for one who lacks self-mastery, the self behaves in hostility, like an enemy.
The ‘enemy’ language is typically interpreted metaphorically as inner obstruction (untrained mind, compulsions). Some translations explicitly gloss ātman here as ‘mind’ to avoid confusion with the metaphysical Self.
FAQs
It describes how an untrained mind can sabotage goals through impulsivity and rumination, whereas a trained mind supports well-being and stable decision-making.
The verse supports the broader Gita view that liberation requires mastery over the psycho-mental apparatus, allowing discernment (viveka) and steadiness in knowledge.
It extends 6.5 by clarifying the mechanism: the same inner faculty can be supportive or obstructive depending on whether it is disciplined.
Use meditation, cognitive reframing, and ethical commitments to reduce self-sabotaging patterns; treat ‘enemy’ as a metaphor for unmanaged impulses.