Shloka 9
नारद–शुक संवादः (Nārada–Śuka Dialogue): Tyāga, Saṃyama, and Vyakta–Avyakta Viveka
धारणं चैव मनस: प्राणायामश्न् पार्थिव । एकाग्रता च मनस: प्राणायामस्तथैव च,पृथ्वीनाथ! किसी विशेष देशमें चित्तको स्थापित करनेका नाम “धारणा” है। मनकी धारणाके साथ किया जानेवाला प्राणायाम सगुण है और देश-विशेषका आश्रय न लेकर मनको निर्बीज समाधिमें एकाग्र करना निर्गुण प्राणायाम कहलाता है
yājñavalkya uvāca | dhāraṇaṃ caiva manasaḥ prāṇāyāmaś ca pārthiva | ekāgratā ca manasaḥ prāṇāyāmas tathaiva ca ||
Yājñavalkya said: “O king, ‘dhāraṇā’ is the fixing of the mind upon a particular locus. When breath-discipline (prāṇāyāma) is practiced together with such mental fixation, it is regarded as the ‘with-attributes’ (saguṇa) form. But when, without taking support of any specific place or object, the mind is gathered into seedless absorption (nirbīja samādhi), that is called the ‘without-attributes’ (nirguṇa) prāṇāyāma.”
याज़्ञवल्क्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse distinguishes two modes of yogic practice: (1) dhāraṇā—fixing the mind on a specific locus/object—paired with prāṇāyāma as a supported, ‘saguṇa’ discipline; and (2) an unsupported, objectless gathering of the mind into nirbīja samādhi, described as ‘nirguṇa’ prāṇāyāma.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on peace and liberation, the sage Yājñavalkya addresses a king and explains technical distinctions in yogic concentration and breath-discipline, guiding the ruler toward inner mastery rather than outward power.