In Bhagavad Gita 6.8, Krishna describes the yogi who is satisfied with knowledge and realisation, unshaken, master of the senses, and sees a clod of earth, a stone and gold as equal.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
ज्ञानविज्ञानतृप्तात्मा
कूटस्थो विजितेन्द्रियः
युक्त इत्युच्यते योगी
समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनः ॥ ६-८ ॥
jñānavijñānatṛptātmā
kūṭastho vijitendriyaḥ
yukta ityucyate yogī
samaloṣṭāśmakāñcanaḥ
English transliteration jnaanavijnaanatriptaatmaa
kootastho vijitendriyah
yukta ityuchyate yogee
samaloshtaashmakaanchanah ॥ 6.8 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The yogi who is satisfied with knowledge and realisation, steady like an anvil, with senses conquered, and who sees a clod of earth, a stone and gold as the same, is said to be established in yoga.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ज्ञानविज्ञानतृप्तात्मा jñānavijñānatṛptātmā | satisfied with knowledge and realisation jñāna (knowledge) + vijñāna (realisation) + tṛpta (satisfied) + ātmā (self) |
| कूटस्थः kūṭasthaḥ | steady like an anvil, unchanging |
| विजितेन्द्रियः vijitendriyaḥ | with senses conquered |
| युक्तः yuktaḥ | established in yoga |
| इति iti | thus |
| उच्यते ucyate | is said |
| योगी yogī | the yogi |
| समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनः samaloṣṭāśmakāñcanaḥ | seeing earth, stone and gold as equal sama (equal) + loṣṭa (clod of earth) + aśma (stone) + kāñcanaḥ (gold) |
Word-wise Chanting
- jñā–na–vi–jñā–na–tṛp–tāt–mā 8 syllables jnaa-na-vi-jnaa-na-trip-taat-maa
- kū–ṭas–tho vi–ji–ten–dri–yaḥ | 8 syllables koo-tas-tho vi-ji-ten-dri-yah
- yuk–ta it–yuc–ya–te yo–gī 8 syllables yuk-ta it-yuch-ya-te yo-gee
- sa–ma–loṣ–ṭāś–ma–kāñ–ca–naḥ || 6-8 8 syllables sa-ma-losh-taash-ma-kaan-cha-nah
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 6 Verse 8
Context
Krishna continues to describe the yogi established in yoga (6.7–6.9).
Meaning
This yogi is fulfilled by jñāna, knowledge of the truth, and vijñāna, its direct realisation. They are kūṭastha, unchanging like the anvil on which everything is hammered but which itself is not moved. Gold and clay are equally valued because neither can add to their inner fullness.
Seeing gold and clay as equal does not mean ignoring practical value; it means that possessions no longer determine one’s peace. Inner satisfaction frees us from the endless pursuit of more.
In Practice
Look at something valuable you own and something ordinary. Remind yourself that neither defines your worth or happiness.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 6: Dhyana Yoga (The Yoga of Meditation). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.