Bhagavad Gita · Dhyana Yoga (Atma-samyama Yoga)Chapter 6, Shloka 18 (6.18)
Original Sanskrit · श्रीभगवान्
यदा विनियतं चित्तमात्मन्येवावतिष्ठते
निःस्पृहः सर्वकामेभ्यो युक्त इत्युच्यते तदा
॥ 6.18 ॥
yadā viniyataṃ cittamātmanyevāvatiṣṭhate
niḥspṛhaḥ sarvakāmebhyo yukta ityucyate tadā
Translation
"When the fully controlled mind settles in the self alone, and (the seeker) becomes free of longing for all desires — then they are called 'steadfast'."
Interpretation
Shankaracharya. Viśeṣeṇa niyataṃ saṃyatam ekāgratām āpannaṃ cittaṃ hitvā bāhyārtha-cintām ātmany eva kevale avatiṣṭhate — the one-pointed mind gives up thinking about outer objects and settles in the self alone; niḥspṛhaḥ … dṛṣṭādṛṣṭa-viṣayebhyaḥ spṛhā tṛṣṇā yasya is gone — one whose craving for the objects of both this world and the next has gone.
Acharya Ramanuja. Yadā prayojana-viṣayaṃ cittam ātmani eva viniyataṃ … niratiśaya-prayojanatayā tatraiva niyatam niścalam avatiṣṭhate — when the mind, regarding the self as the highest purpose, settles in it unmoving; tadā … yukta iti ucyate yogārha iti ucyate — then one is called "steadfast", that is, fit for yoga.
The difference: Ramanuja's argument: the mind settles only where it sees the greatest "purpose" — so regarding the self as supremely valuable is the key to steadiness.
AI-assisted draft translation — under review.