Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 49
योगप्रकारनिर्णयः
Classification and Definition of Yoga
कालं कंचावधीकृत्य स्थाने ऽवस्थापितं मनः । न तु प्रच्यवते लक्ष्याद्धारणा स्यान्न चान्यथा
kālaṃ kaṃcāvadhīkṛtya sthāne 'vasthāpitaṃ manaḥ | na tu pracyavate lakṣyāddhāraṇā syānna cānyathā
Hat man den Strom der Zeit (das heißt das schwankende Bewegen des Geistes) gezügelt und den Geist fest an seinem rechten Ort aufgerichtet, und weicht er nicht vom gewählten Ziel der Betrachtung ab—das allein ist Dhāraṇā, nicht anders.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
FAQs
It defines dhāraṇā as unwavering steadiness of mind on a single aim, a key yogic discipline that prepares the seeker for deeper Shaiva realization of Pati (Shiva) beyond mental fluctuation.
Dharana can be practiced by fixing the mind on a Saguna support such as the Shiva-linga, Shiva’s form, or the Panchakshara; the verse emphasizes not letting attention slip from that chosen lakṣya.
A practical takeaway is one-pointed japa and inner fixation—e.g., steady repetition of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while holding attention on the linga or on Shiva in the heart—without drifting to other thoughts.