6.5 udhdharEth AthmanAthmAnam

SrI:  SrImathE SatakOpAya nama:  SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama:  SrImath varavaramunayE nama:

Chapter 6

<< Chapter 6 verse 4

SlOkam – Original

udhdharEth AthmanAthmAnam nAthmAnamavasAdhayEth |
Athmaiva hyAthmano bandhur Athmaiva ripur Athmana: ||

word-by-word meaning

AthmanA – with the mind (which is detached from worldly pleasures)
AthmAnam – oneself
udhdharEtha – elevate;
[AthmaNA – mind with attachments to worldly pleasures] AthmAnam – oneself
na avasAdhayEth – cannot push oneself down;
AthmA Eva – mind (which is detached from worldly pleasures) only
Athmana: – for oneself
bandhu: – relative/friend;
AthmA Eva – mind (which is attached to worldly pleasures) only
Athmana: – oneself
ripu – enemy.

Simple Translation

Let one elevate oneself with the mind (which is detached from worldly pleasures);  let one not push oneself down with the mind which is attached to worldly pleasures; mind alone is one’s relative/friend (when detached from worldly pleasures) and enemy (when attached to worldly pleasures) as well.

Rendering based on ALkoNdavilli gOvindhAchArya swAmy’s English translation of gIthA bhAshyam

‘Let one elevate his ātma by his mind, and let not ātma be molested. The mind verily is ātma’s friend, as well, indeed, its foe.’

Ātmanā means : by the mind. Through the mind, detached from sense-pleasures, ātma shall be lifted (i.e., elevated to noble thoughts and spiritual heights). But let not, —through the mind being employed in a reverse direction to that above stated (i.e., by attachment to objects)—, ātma be harassed. For, mind is really both the friend, and the foe of ātma (according to the use it is made of).

>> Chapter 6 verse 6

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