Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6, Verse 5

उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत् | आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः ||

uddhared ātmanātmānaṁ nātmānam avasādayet ātmaiva hyātmano bandhur ātmaiva ripur ātmanaḥ

One should uplift oneself by one's own self, and not degrade oneself. For the self alone is the friend of the self, and the self alone is the enemy of the self.

Krishna teaches about self-responsibility and the dual nature of the mind. 'Uddhared ātmanātmānaṁ'—one should uplift (uddharet) oneself (ātmānam) by one's own self (ātmanā). This means: you have the power to elevate yourself—through your own mind, your own choices, your own discipline. 'Nātmānam avasādayet'—one should not degrade (avasādayet) oneself (ātmānam). This means: you also have the power to degrade yourself—through negative thinking, self-doubt, destructive patterns. 'Ātmaiva hyātmano bandhuḥ'—the self alone is the friend of the self. When your mind is disciplined, focused, positive, it becomes your friend—it uplifts you. 'Ātmaiva ripur ātmanaḥ'—the self alone is the enemy of the self. When your mind is undisciplined, scattered, negative, it becomes your enemy—it degrades you. The same mind can be your greatest friend or your worst enemy, depending on how you use it. This verse emphasizes personal responsibility: no one else can save you or destroy you—it's your own mind that determines your fate.