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saḥ tu dīrgha-kāla-nairantarya-satkāra-ādarā-āsevitaḥ dṛḍha-bhūmiḥ

स तु दीर्घकालनैरन्तर्यसत्कारादरासेवितो दृढभूमिः

Moreover, this stage firm when attended to without interruption, with reverence and enthusiasm over a long time

tu - moreover

dīrgha - long, for a long time; a long vowel

kāla - time, a period of time; season, the proper time or season for

nairantarya - without interruption

satkāra - kind treatment, honour, favour, reverence; care, attention, consideration of or regard for a thing

ādara - enthusiasm; to exert or interest one's self for

āsevita - attend to

dṛḍha - firm; solid

bhūmi - stage; ground; floor of a house; foundation; a place, situation

Commentary by T Krishnamacharya:

“Abhyāsa, when performed with reverence, without interruption, over a long period of time, will result in a healthy body, acute senses and extraordinary alertness. This kind of Abhyāsa is a solid foundation that nothing can disturb.”

“Abhyāsa is the practice that leads to Viveka, the state which there are no external distractions to prevent clear perception.”

Commentary by TKV Desikachar:

“You should not get tired of the means or the practice.”

“Satkāra – To feel better about things than in the past.”

“Looking beyond the superficial to the source, this is Abhyāsa.”

Commentary by Paul Harvey:

“Yukta Abhyāsa or skilful practice. How to cultivate as intimate a relationship with our Practice, as with our Problems.”

“One of the aims in Yoga is to yoke to the more discerning aspects of the psyche, rather than to the more distracting aspects of the psyche.”

“Having a meditation practice is one thing, practicing meditation is something else. Better not to confuse the two in terms of the gap between intention and outcome. Meditation is that which might or might not arise out of our efforts at meditation practice. The outcome depends on the extent of the intention.”