dhyānayogaḥ · 6.19
The restrained mind of a yogī practicing ātma-dhyānam is compared to a lamp flame in a windless place — steady, protected, and free from flickering.
यथा दीपो निवातस्थः(स्थो) नेङ्गते सोपमा स्मृता ।
योगिनो यतचित्तस्य युञ्जतो योगमात्मनः ॥६.१९॥
yathā dīpo nivātasthaḥ(stho) neṅgate sopamā smṛtā ।
yogino yatacittasya yuñjato yogamātmanaḥ ॥
🎧 Listen to the shloka
💡 How to understand this
Krishna is teaching Arjuna with the example of a lamp.
If you light a candle outside on a windy day, the flame shakes. It may bend this way and that way. It may even go out.
But if you keep the candle in a quiet place where there is no wind, the flame becomes steady.
Our mind is like that flame. If we keep looking at screens, running around, talking, worrying, and thinking of many things, the mind shakes like a candle in the wind.
When we sit quietly, keep the body still, close the eyes gently, and think of Bhagavān, the mind slowly becomes steady.
A steady mind is bright and peaceful, like a lamp in a quiet room.
📖 A story to remember — Mira wanted to light a small lamp for evening prayer. She took the lamp near the open window. The flame jumped and shook.
“Why is it moving so much?” she asked.
Her grandfather said, “Because the wind is coming in.”
Mira moved the lamp to the prayer shelf, but the fan was still on. The flame kept dancing.
Grandfather smiled. “Try again.”
Mira switched off the fan and closed the window a little. Now the flame became quiet. It stood still and bright.
Grandfather said, “Your mind is like this lamp. If you bring toys, screens, noise, and worries into prayer, the mind will shake. If you make the place quiet and bring the mind gently to Bhagavān, it becomes steady.”
Mira sat near the lamp and folded her hands. A thought about her toy came. She brought the mind back to the lamp and Krishna’s picture. Another thought came. She brought it back again.
After some time, her mind felt a little quieter.
That is Krishna’s teaching. Protect the mind from too much wind, and it can become steady.
🤔 Think about it
◈What makes my mind shake during prayer — toys, screen, sounds, or thoughts?
◈Can I sit quietly like a steady lamp for a few breaths?
⭐ Remember this
The restrained mind of a yogī practicing ātma-dhyānam is compared to a lamp flame in a windless place — steady, protected, and free from flickering.
🎯 Challenge!
Can you explain this shloka to a friend in your own words? Try telling the story to someone in your family!