Path of Meditation
Verse 6.19
यथा दीपो निवातस्थो नेङ्गते सोपमा स्मृता। योगिनो यतचित्तस्य युञ्जतो योगमात्मनः।।6.19।।
yathā dīpo nivāta-stho neṅgate sopamā smṛitā yogino yata-chittasya yuñjato yogam ātmanaḥ
Word Meanings
yathā—as; dīpaḥ—a lamp; nivāta-sthaḥ—in a windless place; na—does not; iṅgate—flickers; sā—this; upamā—analogy; smṛitā—is considered; yoginaḥ—of a yogi; yata-chittasya—whose mind is disciplined; yuñjataḥ—steadily practicing; yogam—in meditation; ātmanaḥ—on the Supreme
Translation · English
As a lamp placed in a windless spot does not flicker, so is the Yogi of a controlled mind, who practices Yoga in the Self, compared.
Deep Meaning · English
This verse serves as the gold standard for the state of dhyana-yoga, illustrating the transition from a turbulent, sensory-driven existence to the stillness of the Atman. By comparing the yogi to a lamp in a windless place, Krishna highlights that the primary obstacle to self-realization is the 'wind' of desire, anxiety, and external stimuli that perpetually disturbs the flame of consciousness. When the mind is withdrawn from these agitated currents, the consciousness becomes steady, upright, and luminous, allowing the seeker to perceive the reflection of the Divine within.
True meditation is the state where the consciousness, shielded from the turbulence of ego and desire, burns with an unwavering and luminous stillness.
Connected Verses
Directly follows the analogy by describing the internal experience of the yogi when the mind is finally restrained.
Emphasizes the necessity of a 'quiet mind' as the prerequisite for reaching the ultimate state of absorption.
Describes how peace comes to one who remains unmoved by desires, mirroring the lamp protected from the wind.
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