Sūtra 4.1.11

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of Sūtra 4.1.11:

यत्रैकाग्रता तत्राविशेषात्

yatraikāgratā tatrāviśeṣāt

yatra – where; ekāgratā – single-pointed concentration; tatra – there; aviśeṣāt – because of not being specific.

“Where is single-pointed concentration, there because nothing is specific.” (11)

Sūtra pagination:
Adhyāya 4:
  The Results of Transcendental Knowledge;
Pāda 1:
  The Glories of Transcendental Knowledge;
Adhikaraṇa 7:
  The True Nature of Meditation.

Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa’s commentary (Govinda-bhāṣya)

This sūtra means, “In whatever direction, place, or time [yatra] there is single-pointed concentration [ekāgratā] of the mind, in that [tatra] direction, place, or time one should worship Lord Hari.” The meaning here is that in the worship of the Lord there is no restriction of direction, place, or time. Why is that? The sūtra explains, aviśeṣāt: “Because there is nothing specific.” This means “Because the scriptures give no specific instruction in this matter.”

In the Varāha Purāṇa it is said:

तम् एव देशं सेवेत
तं कालं ताम् अवस्थितिम्
तान् एव भोगान् सेवेत
मनो यत्र प्रसीदति

tam eva deśaṃ seveta
taṃ kālaṃ tām avasthitim
tān eva bhogān seveta
mano yatra prasīdati

न हि देशादिभिः कश्चिद्
विशेषः समुदीरितः
मनः-प्रसादनार्थं हि
देश-कालादि-चिन्तनम्

na hi deśādibhiḥ kaścid
viśeṣaḥ samudīritaḥ
manaḥ-prasādanārthaṃ hi
deśa-kālādi-cintanam

“One should seek a place, time, situation, and sensory environment where the mind becomes peaceful and cheerful. Other than that there is no specific instruction about place or environment. Place, time, situation, and sensory environment should be chosen to facilitate a peaceful and cheerful mind.”

Here someone may object: “Is it not so that there are actually rules regarding the place of worship? For example, in the Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad [2.10] it is said:

समे शुचौ शर्कर-वह्नि-वालुक-
विवर्जिते शब्द-जलाश्रयादिभिः
मनो-’नुकूले न तु चक्षु-पीडने
गुहा-निवाताश्रयणे नियोजयेत्

same śucau śarkara-vahni-vāluka-
vivarjite śabda-jalāśrayādibhiḥ
mano-’nukūle na tu cakṣu-pīḍane
guhā-nivātāśrayaṇe niyojayet

“One should practice yoga is a solitary place with level ground free from pebbles and stones, free from winds, clean and pure, pleasing to the mind, not unpleasing to the eyes, secluded, and far from noisy bathing places.”

Also, one should meditate in a holy place, for holy places bring liberation.”

If this is said, then I reply: Yes. It is true. Still, there may be an unfortunate situation where one is not able to take shelter of a holy place, although of course, if there is no such misfortune, one should stay in a holy place and worship the Lord there. Still, the final conclusion is given here in the words mano-’nukūle [one should find a place that is pleasing to the mind].