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tatra sthitau yatnaḥ abhyāsaḥ

तत्र स्थितौ यत्नोऽभ्यासः

Practice is the effort to stay there.

tatra - there

sthiti - staying or remaining or being in any state or condition; maintenance of life;

yatna - effort

abhyāsa - practice

Commentary by T Krishnamacharya:

“Abhyāsa is the practice of reflecting on the difference between the nature of Jīva and the nature of Prakṛti, which brings momentary tranquillity to the mind and eventually leads to complete and sustained mental tranquillity.”

Commentary by TKV Desikachar:

“How do you know the use of the right means is good?”

“The spirit of Abhyāsa is to always verify the best means to go from one step to another.”

Commentary by Paul Harvey:

Practice is the effort to remain there.

Meditation is about the quality of the effort rather than the fruit of the time.

In Jñāna Dhyānam the most difficult exercise for the mind is the one of not exercising the mind.