112. Beware Of The Enemy Within

After declaring that one is responsible for lifting or degrading oneself (6.5), Krishna gives a path to discharge this responsibility when he says, “For him who has conquered his self, the self is his bandhu (friend/relative) but for him who has not conquered his self, the self is verily hostile like the enemy” (6.6). The key is conquering self. The word ‘atma’ meaning ‘self’ appears twelve times (6.5, 6.6) allowing multiple interpretations. But, for a practitioner, the context set in the following verses provide clarity regarding the core aspect of conquering the ‘self’.

Krishna says, “For one who is self-controlled, Paramatma (Supersoul) is already reached, for he has attained tranquility. He is balanced in cold and heat, pleasure and pain (seetoshna-sukh-dukh), as also in honour and dishonour (maana-apamaana)” (6.7). Criticism and insult, whether conveyed through words or deeds, are among the most difficult experiences to handle. The key lies in developing inner balance and self-control. This balance emerges from awareness and compassion towards others as well as oneself. For the self-controlled, Paramatma is already attained.

Arjuna had won many battles that gave him pleasure. But in the battle of Kurukshetra, his teachers, friends and relatives were his opponents, and thus it brought him the fear and pain of losing his own people. Krishna immediately told him that when senses meet sense-objects, they create polarities of heat-cold, pleasure-pain which are transient and we should learn to tolerate them (2.14). Tolerating these transients is nothing but self-control.

We get deeply affected by polarities of praise and criticism daily. There is no way to control these external polarities. Hence, Krishna repeatedly emphasizes transcending them rather than identifying with them.

Our general understanding of success is getting what we want. But for Krishna, it is attaining the tranquility and self-control that aligns us with Paramatma. This yardstick can be used to measure our progress in the spiritual journey.