Bhagwadgita: Chapter-6, verse- 19

यथा दीपो निवातस्थो नेंगते सोपमा स्मृता ।
योगिनो यतचित्तस्य युञ्जतो योगमात्मनः ॥

Translation:
"Just as a lamp placed in a windless space does not flicker, so is the state of a Yogi, whose mind is under control, engaged in steady meditation upon the Self."

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Exegesis:

Just as the flame of a lamp in a perfectly still atmosphere remains steady and unwavering, so too is the state of a Yogi deeply absorbed in meditation, whose mind has been disciplined and brought under control. Such a Yogi remains unmoved by external disturbances, with their consciousness focused entirely upon the Supreme.

The analogy of the lamp is particularly significant. Why does the scripture not compare the unwavering mind to something inherently immovable, like a mountain? The answer lies in the nature of the mind and the flame. A mountain is naturally stationary and devoid of light, while a flame is inherently flickering yet luminous. Just as it takes effort to keep a flame steady in still air, it is far more challenging to steady the mind, which, by its very nature, is restless and ever-fluctuating.

The flame also symbolizes illumination. Just as the lamp sheds light with clarity when it remains motionless, the mind, when stilled in meditation, reveals the profound beauty of the Divine. In the steady glow of an unwavering mind, the Supreme Truth shines forth, dispelling the darkness of ignorance.

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Poetic Reflection:

Like a lamp in windless air aglow,
No flicker, no sway, serene in flow;
So sits the Yogi in deep meditation,
Silent mind, a beacon of illumination.

The restless mind, by nature swayed,
Is stilled by effort, silent, stayed;
Where fleeting thoughts are cast away,
Divine radiance lights the way.

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In this verse, the Gita profoundly underscores the essence of meditation: the disciplined stillness of the mind. The comparison to the flame, both subtle and profound, highlights the difficulty and beauty of the meditative state. Just as it takes mastery to hold a flame steady, it requires immense inner strength to still the mind and illuminate the Self. The Yogi, like the lamp, becomes a source of steady light — unwavering, resolute, and luminous in the pursuit of the Divine.