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
Tendo contido o fluxo do tempo (isto é, o vacilar da mente) e estabelecido a mente firmemente em seu devido lugar, quando ela não se desvia do objeto escolhido de contemplação—isso, e só isso, é dhāraṇā, e não de outro modo.
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.