Verse 6.19
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
यथा दीपो निवातस्थो नेङ्गते सोपमा स्मृता। योगिनो यतचित्तस्य युञ्जतो योगमात्मनः॥
Transliteration (IAST)
yathā dīpo nivāta-stho neṅgate sopamā smṛtā yogino yata-cittasya yuñjato yogam ātmanaḥ
Word-by-Word Meanings
yathā-as
dīpaḥ-lamp
nivāta-sthaḥ-in a windless place
na iṅgate-does not flicker
upamā-simile
yoginaḥ-of the yogi
yata-cittasya-whose mind is controlled
Translation
As a lamp in a windless place does not flicker - such is the simile used for the yogi of controlled mind, practicing meditation on the Self.
Commentary
One of the Gita's most celebrated metaphors. The unwavering lamp represents the perfectly still mind in deep meditation. Just as wind disturbs a flame, sense objects and desires disturb the mind. In the windless shelter of yoga, consciousness becomes steady and luminous.
Themes
yogaatman