Shloka 7
Ādi-parva, Adhyāya 73: Devayānī–Śarmiṣṭhā Dispute, Confinement in the Well, and Yayāti’s Rescue
आत्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव गतिरात्मैव चात्मन: । आत्मनो मित्रमात्मैव तथा55त्मा चात्मन: पिता | आत्मनैवात्मनो दानं कर्तुमरहसि धर्मत:,आत्मा ही अपना बन्धु है। आत्मा ही अपना आश्रय है। आत्मा ही अपना मित्र है और वही अपना पिता है, अतः तुम स्वयं ही धर्मपूर्वक आत्मसमर्पण करनेयोग्य हो
ātmano bandhur ātmaiva gatir ātmaiva cātmanaḥ | ātmano mitram ātmaiva tathātmā cātmanaḥ pitā || ātmanaivātmano dānaṃ kartum arhasi dharmataḥ | ātmā hi ātmanaḥ bandhuḥ ||
Wika ni Duṣyanta: “Para sa tao, ang sarili lamang ang kanyang kamag-anak; ang sarili lamang ang kanyang kanlungan at huling hantungan. Ang sarili lamang ang kanyang kaibigan, at ang sarili ay tila ama rin ng sarili. Kaya, ayon sa dharma, maaari mong ihandog ang iyong sarili—ibig sabihi’y italaga ang iyong sarili sa sariling pasya—sapagkat ang sarili ang tunay na sandigan ng sarili.”
दुष्यन्त उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse stresses moral agency: one’s own self is the primary support—friend, refuge, and guide—so righteous action ultimately depends on one’s own deliberate commitment. Hence, ‘giving oneself’ means consenting and taking responsibility in a dharmic way rather than relying on external compulsion.
Duṣyanta is persuading the listener by appealing to dharma and inner autonomy: since the self is one’s closest ally and refuge, the person should, by their own will, undertake the rightful commitment being asked of them.