jñāna-vijñāna-tṛptātmā kūṭa-stho vijitendriyaḥ yukta ity ucyate yogī sama-loṣṭāśma-kāñcanaḥ
"The yogi who is satisfied with knowledge and wisdom, who is unchanging, who has conquered the senses, and to whom a lump of earth, a stone, and gold are the same—such a one is said to be established in yoga."
What This Means:
A true yogi is content with inner wisdom, stable and unchanging, master of their senses. Most remarkably, they see equal value in dirt, stone, and gold—material worth has lost its power over them.
Going Deeper:
Jnana (theoretical knowledge) combined with vijnana (experiential wisdom) creates deep satisfaction. Kutastha means 'unchanging like an anvil'—experiences strike but don't alter the essence. The sama-loshta-ashma-kanchana (earth-stone-gold equality) is a radical test of non-attachment.
How To Apply This:
You don't need to literally treat gold like dirt. But notice your reactions—does expensive always seem 'better'? Does your heart rate change around wealth? The yogi's equanimity is the goal.
Key Sanskrit Terms: