Chapter 6 (Dhyana Yoga) • Verse 6
बन्धुरात्मात्मनस्तस्य येनात्मैवात्मना जितः।
अनात्मनस्तु शत्रुत्वे वर्तेतात्मैव शत्रुवत्॥
bandhur ātmātmanas tasya yenātmaivātmanā jitaḥ
anātmanas tu śatrutve vartetātmaiva śatru-vat
"For one who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends; but for one who has failed to do so, the mind will remain the greatest enemy."
This powerful verse appears in Chapter 6 (Dhyana Yoga), Krishna's detailed teaching on meditation and mental discipline. Arjuna stands on the literal battlefield of Kurukshetra, but Krishna draws his attention to an even more significant battle—the one within his own mind.
The verses immediately preceding this one (6.5) contain a warning: "Let a man lift himself by his own self; let him not degrade himself; for the self alone is the friend of the self, and the self alone is the enemy of the self." Verse 6.6 then clarifies what determines whether the mind serves as friend or enemy.
This teaching addresses a universal human struggle. We all know the experience of a mind that seems to work against us—keeping us awake at night with anxiety, sabotaging our goals with doubt, drowning out peace with restless chatter. Krishna's teaching reveals that this doesn't have to be our permanent condition—the mind can become our greatest ally.
| bandhur | friend, relative, well-wisher (from "bandh" - to bind, connect) |
| ātmā | the self, the mind (context determines meaning) |
| ātmanaḥ | of the self |
| tasya | of him, for that person |
| yena | by whom |
| ātmā eva | the very mind/self |
| ātmanā | by the self |
| jitaḥ | conquered, mastered |
| anātmanaḥ | of one who has not conquered the mind |
| śatrutve | in enmity |
| varteta | would remain, would act |
| śatru-vat | like an enemy |
The word "ātmā" appears multiple times in this verse, and its meaning shifts contextually. In the Gita, ātmā can refer to:
In this verse, the primary meaning is the mind, which can either serve or sabotage the spiritual aspirant. The teaching is that the higher self must master the lower self (mind) for spiritual progress.
What does it look like when the mind serves as a friend? Krishna's teaching implies several qualities:
A conquered mind becomes an instrument of tremendous power. Consider how much you could accomplish if your mind consistently supported rather than sabotaged your goals. The self-disciplined person experiences the mind as an asset—a reliable partner in the journey of life.
प्रशान्तमनसं ह्येनं योगिनं सुखमुत्तमम्।
उपैति शान्तरजसं ब्रह्मभूतमकल्मषम्॥
praśānta-manasaṁ hy enaṁ yoginaṁ sukham uttamam
upaiti śānta-rajasaṁ brahma-bhūtam akalmaṣam
"The yogi whose mind is peaceful, whose passions are stilled, who is free from sin—such a one attains the highest bliss."
This verse describes the reward of mental mastery: supreme happiness. When the mind is conquered, it becomes a doorway to transcendent peace rather than a prison of endless agitation.
Why does Krishna use such strong language—calling the mind an "enemy"? Because an uncontrolled mind causes us more harm than any external adversary.
1. Through Runaway Desire
The uncontrolled mind generates endless desires, creating a constant sense of lack. No matter how much we acquire, the mind wants more. This keeps us perpetually dissatisfied.
ध्यायतो विषयान्पुंसः सङ्गस्तेषूपजायते।
सङ्गात्सञ्जायते कामः कामात्क्रोधोऽभिजायते॥
dhyāyato viṣayān puṁsaḥ saṅgas teṣūpajāyate
saṅgāt sañjāyate kāmaḥ kāmāt krodho 'bhijāyate
"While contemplating sense objects, a person develops attachment for them. From attachment, desire is born; from desire, anger arises."
2. Through Fear and Anxiety
The enemy mind projects fear into the future, replays past regrets, and amplifies present worries. It can transform a peaceful moment into torment through imagination alone.
3. Through Self-Sabotage
How often do we know what's good for us yet fail to act? The undisciplined mind rationalizes procrastination, justifies harmful habits, and talks us out of positive changes.
4. Through Negative Self-Talk
The enemy mind criticizes, doubts, and diminishes. It rehearses failures and discounts successes. It can be crueler to us than any external critic.
The Sanskrit word "jitaḥ" means conquered or mastered. But what exactly does mental conquest involve? The Gita suggests several dimensions:
Conquering the mind doesn't mean forcibly suppressing thoughts or emotions. This approach typically backfires—what we resist persists. True mastery involves understanding and redirecting mental energy.
The first step to mastery is recognizing that you are not your thoughts. There is an awareness that observes thoughts. Cultivating this witness perspective creates space between stimulus and response.
अभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेय वैराग्येण च गृह्यते॥
abhyāsena tu kaunteya vairāgyeṇa ca gṛhyate
"But it can be controlled, O son of Kunti, through practice and detachment."
Krishna gives this instruction after Arjuna expresses concern about controlling the restless mind. The two keys are:
A conquered mind is one aligned with dharma—one's highest duty and purpose. When the mind serves spiritual goals rather than random desires, it becomes a friend.
The Gita, particularly Chapter 6, provides practical guidance for conquering the mind:
Daily meditation practice is the primary method for training the mind. Even short periods of sitting in stillness, observing thoughts without engagement, gradually build mental discipline.
The Gita recommends moderation in eating, sleeping, work, and recreation (6.17). An unregulated lifestyle creates an unregulated mind; discipline in outer life supports discipline within.
Training the mind to focus on one object—whether a mantra, the breath, or a divine form—strengthens concentration and reduces restlessness.
Mental mastery doesn't happen overnight. The Gita encourages persistent effort: "Whenever the restless mind wanders, one should bring it back under control within the self" (6.26). Progress is made through thousands of such redirections.
Spending time with those who have mastered their minds provides both inspiration and practical guidance. The guru tradition recognizes this power of positive association.
For many, devotion provides the most effective path to mental control. When the mind is absorbed in love for the Divine, it naturally becomes peaceful and focused.
This 5,000-year-old teaching has remarkable relevance for contemporary life:
Modern psychology confirms what the Gita teaches: our relationship with our thoughts determines our mental well-being. Cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based approaches, and other therapeutic modalities all work with the premise that we can change our relationship to mental content.
Peak performers in every field understand that mental mastery is essential. Athletes, artists, entrepreneurs—all recognize that a trained mind is their greatest asset, while an untrained mind sabotages potential.
In our era of constant stimulation, the challenge of mental control is more acute than ever. The mind is perpetually pulled by notifications, feeds, and digital distractions. The Gita's teachings on focus and discipline are more relevant than ever.
The epidemic of anxiety in modern society reflects millions of minds functioning as enemies rather than friends. The path Krishna outlines—practice and detachment—offers a proven approach to mental peace.
Bhagavad Gita 6.6 teaches that the mind is the best friend of one who has conquered it, but the worst enemy of one who has failed to do so. This verse emphasizes that our relationship with our own mind determines the quality of our life experience—a controlled mind serves us, while an uncontrolled mind works against us.
According to the Gita, the mind becomes a friend through practice (abhyasa) and detachment (vairagya). Regular meditation, discipline, self-awareness, and gradual training bring the mind under control. The key is persistent, patient effort—treating the mind like a wild horse being trained rather than forced into submission.
Krishna calls the uncontrolled mind an enemy because it creates suffering through restless desires, negative emotions, and harmful behaviors. An uncontrolled mind pulls us away from peace and wisdom, generates anxiety, fuels destructive habits, and keeps us trapped in cycles of craving and aversion that prevent spiritual progress.
Yes, though it requires consistent effort. In Verse 6.35, Krishna acknowledges the difficulty Arjuna raises but confirms that control is possible through practice and detachment. The Gita's realistic approach—acknowledging the challenge while affirming success is possible—has inspired countless practitioners over millennia.
Chapter 6 is called "Dhyana Yoga" (the Yoga of Meditation), and this verse appears within Krishna's extended teaching on meditative practice. Meditation is presented as the primary method for conquering the mind—through regular practice, the meditator gradually gains mastery over mental activity, transforming the mind from enemy to friend.
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