Just as salt dissolves completely in water, similarly when ātman and mind become unified, that is called samādhi.

This verse repeats a fundamental metaphor with variations:

Salile saindhavam — salt in the water.The image of the salt dissolving is perfect: the salt does not disappear, it integrates completely.It cannot be separated;cannot be distinguished;but it is totally present.

Sāmyaṃ bhajati yogataḥ — achieves equality through union.Sāmya is perfect equality, identity of nature.

Ātma-manasoḥ aikya — unity of Ātman and mind.The individual mind (manas) recognizes its identity with the universal Being (ātman).It is not that they become one;they always were.The illusion of separation dissolves.

Samādhir abhidhīyate — that is called samādhi.Direct definition of the technical term.

The Bihar School explains that the metaphor has multiple levels:

• Salt does not lose its salty nature
• Water is still water
• But there are no longer two

Similarly, in samādhi the individual consciousness is not annihilated;recognizes its universal nature.Apparent individuality is revealed as an expression of the universal, as waves are an expression of the ocean.