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Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 6.19
यथा दीपो निवातस्थो नेङ्गते सोपमा स्मृता ।
योगिनो यतचित्तस्य युञ्जतो योगमात्मन: ॥ १९ ॥
yathā dīpo nivāta-stho
neṅgate sopamā smṛtā
yogino yata-cittasya
yuñjato yogam ātmanaḥ
As a lamp in a windless place does not waver, so the transcendentalist, whose mind is controlled, remains always steady in his meditation on the transcendent Self.
Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.ioWhat this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.
3 study points
A person with a controlled mind stays steady in meditation on the transcendent Self, like a lamp in a windless place.
Prabhupāda explains that a truly Kṛṣṇa conscious person remains in constant, undisturbed meditation on his worshipable Lord.
Practice keeping your mind steady in meditation on Kṛṣṇa.
Krishna gives an Analogy to explain Text 6.18 i.e. perfection of yoga practice
Just like a lamp in windless place – does not waver; similarly steady mind in samadhi does not waver
This ‘Perfection of yoga’ exhibited in Krishna consciousness – Truly Krishna conscious person practices constant undisturbed meditation on Supreme Lord. SUMMARISED THEME 6C REALIZATIONS/VISIONS/ACTIONS OF A YOGI IN PERFECTION (STAGE OF SAMADHI) A) Realizations in stage of samadhi (6.20 – 6.23) – Status of actual freedom from all miseries arising from material contact
Happiness – One experiences boundless transcendental happiness by direct experience of Soul and Supersoul within the heart
Fixed up – One’s focus never departs from truth
Highest gain – One thinks no greater gain is possible
Unshaken – One remains unshaken even amidst greatest difficulties
Freedom – Free from all miseries arising from material contact B) Vision of a perfect yogi (6.29 – 6.30)
Sees Supersoul in everyone’s heart and everyone being supported by Supersoul (6.29)
Never loses sight of Supreme Lord and thus never falls from the path of Yoga (6.30) C) Actions of a perfect yogi (6.31 – 6.32)
Realizes Krishna as origin of Supersoul – worships and serves Him in all circumstances (6.31)
Sees equality of all beings – tries to help everyone (no enemy/friend distinction) by turning their consciousness to Krishna (6.32)
Texts 6.19 & 6.20
This example illustrates the perfect stage of yoga. As a flame in a windless place does not waver, so the mind of a yogi in samadhi is perfectly steady.
Krishna describes the practices of astanga-yoga
The result are ‘Yogarudha (the perfectional stage)’ and ultimately ‘the vision of the Supersoul’.
Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.
The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.
Key ideas: manas, indriya, yoga.
Take one thing from this verse into your day.
What does BG 6.19 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to mind & yoga?
Sit quietly for ten minutes and gently return the mind.
Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.
Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.