Chapter 6 · Verse 19

Path of Meditation

यथा दीपो निवातस्थो नेङ्गते सोपमा स्मृता। योगिनो यतचित्तस्य युञ्जतो योगमात्मनः

yathā dīpo nivāta-stho neṅgate sopamā smṛitā yogino yata-chittasya yuñjato yogam ātmanaḥ

Word Meanings

yathā dīpaḥ nivāta-sthaḥ na iṅgate sā upamā smṛitā yoginaḥ yata-chittasya yuñjataḥ yogam ātmanaḥ

Translation

As a lamp in a windless place does not flicker—such is the simile for the disciplined mind of a yogi absorbed in meditation on the Self.

Commentary

यथा as? दीपः lamp? निवातस्थः placed in a windless place? न not? इङ्गते flicker? सा that? उपमा simile? स्मृता is thought? योगिनः of the Yogi? यतचित्तस्य of one with controlled mind? युञ्जतः of the practising? योगम् the Yoga? आत्मनः of the Self.Commentary This is a beautiful simile. Yogins ote this simile very often when they talk of concentration or steadiness or onepointedness of the mind. A steady mind will serve as a powerful searchlight to find out the hidden spiritual treasures of the Self.