Universal
Uddhared Atmana — Gita 6.5
उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत् । आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः ॥
Simple reading
Ud-dha-red aat-ma-naat-maa-nam naat-maa-nam a-va-saa-da-yet, aat-mai-va hyaat-ma-no ban-dhur, aat-mai-va ri-pur aat-ma-nah
Uddhared ātmanātmānaṁ nātmānam avasādayet, ātmaiva hy ātmano bandhur ātmaiva ripur ātmanaḥ
About this mantra
The Gita's verse of self-responsibility: lift yourself by yourself; you are your own best friend, and can be your own enemy.
Meaning
Let one raise oneself by one's own self; let one not lower oneself. The self alone is one's friend, and the self alone one's enemy. The verse hands over the case file: no rescuer is coming who is not already you, and no saboteur either. Its double edge, friend and enemy, is a location rather than a threat: the entire battlefield of the Gita, folded into one person.
Learn it by heart
Say the first line until it comes without reading, then add the next line and say both, until the whole mantra comes on its own.
Line 1 of 2
उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत् ।
Uddhared ātmanātmānaṁ nātmānam avasādayet, ātmaiva hy ātmano bandhur ātmaiva ripur ātmanaḥ
0not said yet
Aim for eleven before the next line. Move on when the line comes without reading.
Progress stays on this device.
When to recite it
Morning resolve, recited at the start of self-improvement seasons, recoveries, and training; the verse for the day one begins again.
Word by word
- उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानंuddhared ātmanātmānaṁ
- raise yourself by your own self
- नात्मानमवसादयेत्nātmānam avasādayet
- do not let yourself sink
- आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुःātmaiva hy ātmano bandhuḥ
- the self alone is one's friend
- आत्मैव रिपुरात्मनःātmaiva ripur ātmanaḥ
- the self alone one's enemy
Source: Bhagavad Gītā 6.5