Bhagavad Gita · Dhyana Yoga (Atma-samyama Yoga)Chapter 6, Shloka 19 (6.19)
Original Sanskrit · श्रीभगवान्
यथा दीपो निवातस्थो नेङ्गते सोपमा स्मृता
योगिनो यतचित्तस्य युञ्जतो योगमात्मनः
॥ 6.19 ॥
yathā dīpo nivātastho neṅgate sopamā smṛtā
yogino yatacittasya yuñjato yogamātmanaḥ
Translation
"As a lamp placed in a windless spot does not flicker — that is the simile given for the yogi (or for the yogi's mind) whose mind is controlled and who practises yoga in the self."
Interpretation
A simile for what? The verse says "sā upamā" — there is a subtle difference over what the simile is for.
Shankaracharya — for the mind. Yathā dīpaḥ … nivāte vāta-varjite deśe sthitaḥ na iṅgate na calati — a lamp in a windless place does not move; sā upamā … yoga-jñaiḥ citta-pracāra-darśibhiḥ smṛtā — this simile was given by those who know yoga and who observe the movements of the mind; further on, ekāgrībhūtaṃ nivāta-pradīpa-kalpaṃ sat — the one-pointed mind becomes like a lamp in a windless place. That is, the simile is for the yogi's mind.
Acharya Ramanuja — for the nature of the self. Nivātastho dīpo yathā na iṅgate na calati acalaḥ saprabhaḥ tiṣṭhati — a lamp in a windless place stays unmoving and with its radiance; yatacittasya nivṛtta-sakaletara-mano-vṛtteḥ yoginaḥ ātmani yogaṃ yuñjataḥ ātma-svarūpasya sā upamā — this simile is for the nature of the self (of the yogi): niścalo jñāna-prabha ātmā tiṣṭhati — when all other movements of the mind have ceased, the self shines unmoving, with the radiance of knowledge.
The difference: Shankara — the lamp = the steady mind; Ramanuja — the lamp = the self, and its flame = knowledge (in keeping with the "sun and its radiance" simile of 5.16).
AI-assisted draft translation — under review.