Śivasaṃhitā 5.34

The transition from outer practice—seeing the shadow in the sky—to inner practice—seeing the image within—marks the maturation of pratīkopāsanā. Nirantara—“without intervals,” “continuous”—is the decisive qualifier: the abhyāsa that produces lasting results is that which tolerates no long interruptions. Antare paśyati—“sees in the interior”—indicates that the externally visualized image has been completely interiorized, summonable without external conditions.

Dhruvam—“firmly,” “immovably” (also the name of the Pole Star)—emphasizes the stability of this inner vision. It is not a fleeting perception that appears and disappears; it is a stable apprehension of one’s own subtle being. This firmness of inner perception is a prerequisite of samādhi: the mind that can see its own image without fluctuation has developed the absorption capacity (dhāraṇā → dhyāna) needed for the deepest state.

The progression in pratīkopāsanā—from seeing the shadow in the sky to seeing it within the heart—follows the general structure of yoga in classical texts: from outer to inner, from gross to subtle, from conditioned to unconditioned. This pedagogy of internalization also appears in the Pratyabhijñāhṛdayam of Kashmir Śaivism, where recognition of the Self follows a similar process of gradual interiorization.