उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत् । आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः ॥ ५ ॥
uddhared ātmanātmānaṁ nātmānam avasādayet ātmaiva hyātmano bandhur ātmaiva ripur ātmanaḥ
Translation
One must elevate oneself through the mind, not degrade oneself; for the mind alone is one's friend, and the mind alone is one's enemy.
Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)
मनुष्य को अपने मन के द्वारा स्वयं का उत्थान करना चाहिए, पतन नहीं; क्योंकि मन ही अपना मित्र है, और मन ही अपना शत्रु है।
Commentary
Addressed to those beginning the discipline of meditation, this verse places responsibility for spiritual progress squarely on the individual's own mind, rather than on external circumstances or other people. The same mind that can anchor a person in steady practice can just as easily pull them away from it — the difference lies in how it's trained and directed, not in some separate force acting on a person from outside.