Caturthopadeśaḥ (Samādhi) · Verse 18
तत्-सिद्धये विधानज्ञैः विचित्रैः करणैः कृतैः | अभ्यसेत् लयम् अव्यग्रं यावत् प्राप्नोति निर्वृतिम्
tat-siddhaye vidhānajñaiḥ vicitraiḥ karaṇaiḥ kṛtaiḥ | abhyaset layam avyagraṃ yāvat prāpnoti nirvṛtim
To achieve this, the aspirant must practice dissolution without agitation, using the various techniques established by those who know the method, until complete peace is achieved.
This verse prescribes the practical path to unmanī:
Tat-siddhaye — to achieve that (the state described in the previous verse).
Vidhānajñaiḥ — by those who know the method, the masters of the tradition.Techniques are not individual invention but rather transmission of lineage.
Vicitraiḥ karaṇaiḥ — various techniques.Karaṇa means instrument or method.There are multiple paths because the practitioners are diverse.
Abhyaset layam avyagram — should practice (abhyaset) dissolution (laya) without agitation (avyagra).Laya is the progressive absorption of the mind into increasingly subtle states.
Avyagra is important: the practice should be calm, without anxiety about results.Hurry and tension are counterproductive.
Yāvat prāpnoti nirvṛtim — until complete peace is achieved.Nirvṛti is the bliss of cessation, similar to nirvāṇa.The effort continues until it is no longer necessary.
The Bihar School notes that laya yoga (yoga of dissolution) is one of the four methods that Svātmārāma will present to achieve samādhi.