ātmanaḥ

प्रजहाति यदा कामान् सर्वान् पार्थ मनोगतान्

ātmani — of the self

When a person lets go of every desire that has entered the mind, and is content within the self by the self — then that one is called steady in wisdom.

एवं बुद्धेः परं बुद्ध्वा संस्तभ्यात्मानमात्मना

ātmānam — the lower self (senses, mind, and intellect)

Knowing that which is beyond the understanding, steadying the lower self by the higher, strike down this enemy, mighty-armed one — desire, so hard to master.

तस्मादज्ञानसंभूतं हृत्स्थं ज्ञानासिनाऽऽत्मनः

ātmanaḥ — of the self

So with the sword of knowledge cut away this doubt, born of ignorance and lodged in the heart, and take your stand in yoga, Arjuna. Stand up.

ज्ञानेन तु तदज्ञानं येषां नाशितमात्मनः

ātmanaḥ — of the self

But for those in whom that ignorance of the self has been destroyed by knowledge, knowledge lights up the highest as the sun lights up everything.

उद्धरेदात्मनाऽऽत्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत्

ātmanā — through the mind

Lift yourself by yourself; do not let yourself sink. For the self alone is the self's friend, and the self alone is the self's enemy.

बन्धुरात्माऽऽत्मनस्तस्य येनात्मैवात्मना जितः

ātmā — the mind

The self is a friend to the one who has mastered it; but for one who has not, the self remains hostile, like an enemy.

शुचौ देशे प्रतिष्ठाप्य स्थिरमासनमात्मनः

ātmanaḥ — his own

Having set a firm seat in a clean place, neither too high nor too low, spread with cloth, deerskin and kusha grass,

यथा दीपो निवातस्थो नेङ्गते सोपमा स्मृता

ātmanaḥ — on the Supreme

As a lamp in a windless place does not flicker — that is the image held for one whose mind is disciplined, practising yoga of the self.

यत्रोपरमते चित्तं निरुद्धं योगसेवया

ātmanā — through the purified mind

Where the mind, restrained by the practice of yoga, comes to rest; where, seeing the self by the self, one is content in the self;

योगिनामपि सर्वेषां मद्गतेनान्तरात्मना

ātmanā — with the mind

And of all who practise, the one who is turned inwardly to me with faith and worships me — that one I hold to be most joined of all.

सर्वद्वाराणि संयम्य मनो हृदि निरुध्य च

ātmanaḥ — of the self

Holding all the gates closed, the mind confined in the heart, the breath established in the head, settled in the practice of yoga,

स्वयमेवात्मनाऽत्मानं वेत्थ त्वं पुरुषोत्तम

ātmanā — by yourself

You alone know yourself by yourself, highest person, source of beings, lord of beings, god of gods, ruler of the world.

विस्तरेणात्मनो योगं विभूतिं च जनार्दन

ātmanaḥ — your

Tell me again, and in detail, of your power and your glories. I am not sated by hearing them; your words are nectar to me.

ध्यानेनात्मनि पश्यन्ति केचिदात्मानमात्मना

ātmani — within one’s heart

Some see the self in the self by meditation; some by the way of reasoning; and some by the way of action.

समं पश्यन्हि सर्वत्र समवस्थितमीश्वरम्

ātmanā — by one’s mind

For seeing the lord present equally everywhere, one does not harm oneself by oneself, and so reaches the highest.

त्रिविधं नरकस्येदं द्वारं नाशनमात्मनः

ātmanaḥ — self

Desire, anger and greed — these are the three gates to what destroys the self. Give them up.

एतैर्विमुक्तः कौन्तेय तमोद्वारैस्त्रिभिर्नरः

ātmanaḥ — soul

A person freed from these three gates of darkness, son of Kunti, does what is good for the self, and so goes to the highest.

मूढग्राहेणात्मनो यत्पीडया क्रियते तपः

ātmanaḥ — one’s own self

Austerity performed out of confused notions, with self-torture, or in order to ruin another, is said to be of inertia.

यदग्रे चानुबन्धे च सुखं मोहनमात्मनः

ātmanaḥ — of the self

And that happiness which deludes the self from beginning to end, arising from sleep, idleness and heedlessness, is said to be of inertia.