Chapter VI · Śloka 8
ज्ञानविज्ञानतृप्तात्मा कूटस्थो विजितेन्द्रियः |
युक्त इत्युच्यते योगी समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनः ||
युक्त इत्युच्यते योगी समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनः ||
jñāna-vijñāna-tṛptātmā kūṭa-stho vijitendriyaḥ |
yukta ity ucyate yogī sama-loṣṭāśma-kāñcanaḥ ||
yukta ity ucyate yogī sama-loṣṭāśma-kāñcanaḥ ||
A person is said to be established in yoga when, fully satisfied by knowledge and direct experience, he stands unshaken with conquered senses — and regards a clod of earth, a stone, and gold as the same.
Jñāna is scriptural knowledge; vijñāna is the direct inner realization that confirms it. Together they produce a satisfaction that no external acquisition can disturb. The image of equating gold with a pebble is not poverty but freedom — the yogi is not unaware of value but untouched by it.