ध्यानाच्च ।
dhyānāc ca |
(Vedānta-sūtra: 4.1.8)
“And [one should be seated] because of meditation.”
Commentary
“te dhyāna-yogānugatā apaśyan” ity ādibhis tal-lipsor dhyānaṁ taiḥ paṭhyate | tac ca kṛtāsanasya sambhavati nānyasyety āha—“dhyānāc ca |” vijātīya-pratyayāntarāvyavahitam eka-cintanaṁ dhyānam | tac ca svāpādimato na sambhaved ataḥ kṛtāsana iti |
(Govinda-bhāṣya on Vedānta-sūtra: 4.1.8)
“Meditation of one who has yearning for that [i.e., for Śrī Hari] is stated by these [statements] such as (Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad, 1.3), ‘They who are followers [i.e., practitioners] of meditation (dhyāna) and yoga have seen [the inherent potency of Brahman].’ That [i.e., meditation] is possible for one who has sat in an āsana [i.e., in a posture that facilitates meditation], and not for another [i.e., someone who has not]. Thus, the he [i.e., the author] says, ‘And because of meditation.’ Meditation (dhyāna) means thought of one [i.e., one subject] uninterrupted by other, dissimilar cognitions. And that cannot be performed by one who is sleeping and so forth [i.e., standing, walking, etc.]. Therefore, ‘After having sat [one should meditate on Śrī Hari]’ was stated.”
dhyānāc ceti | upāsanaṁ khalu dhyānam eva nididhyāsitavya-pada-bodhyam | tac caika-viṣaya-dṛṣṭiṣu virahiṇy-ādiṣu pratītam | ato dhyātuḥ sāsanatvam ity arthaḥ |
(Sūkṣmā-ṭīkā on Vedānta-sūtra: 4.1.8)
“Regarding, ‘And because of meditation,’ upāsanā simply means meditation (dhyāna) itself, and is that which is to be understood from the word nididhyāsitavya [in Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad: 2.4.5, 4.5.6]. That is seen in those of vision [fixed] upon one object, such as a lady in separation [from her beloved]. Therefore, the meditator’s being seated [is stated]. This is the meaning.”