Bhagavad Gita BG 6.19
Chapter 6, Verse 19 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
यथा दीपो निवातस्थो नेङ्गते सोपमा स्मृता । योगिनो यतचित्तस्य युञ्जतो योगमात्मनः ॥
yatha dipo nivata-stho nengate sopama smrta yogino yata-cittasya yunjato yogam atmanah
Meaning
As a lamp standing in a windless place does not flicker — that simile is recalled for the yogi of restrained mind who practices yoga of the self.
Understanding
The most celebrated image of the Gita's meditation chapter: the lamp in a windless place. Dipa (a flame/lamp) nivata-stho (standing in a nivata — a place without wind). It na ingate — does not flicker, does not waver. This is the upama (simile) for the yogi's mind: yata-citta (restrained mind), yunjan yogam atmanah (practicing yoga of the self). The mind in deep meditation is like this flame — burning steadily, without the winds of desire, distraction, and emotional weather to make it flicker.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| दीपः | dipah | a lamp, a flame |
| निवातस्थः | nivata-sthah | standing in a windless place |
| नेङ्गते | nengate | does not flicker, does not waver |
| उपमा | upama | simile, comparison |
| स्मृता | smrta | is remembered, is recalled, is invoked |
| यथा | yathā | just as / even as (comparison) |
| सा | sā | that / this (comparison — so is the yogi's mind) |
| योगिनः | yoginaḥ | of the yogi / the yogi's |
| यतचित्तस्य | yata-cittasya | of one with controlled mind |
| युञ्जतः | yuñjataḥ | practicing / of one practicing yoga |
| योगम् | yogam | yoga / meditation |
| आत्मनः | ātmanaḥ | of the self / with the self |