Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 28
तज्जपः तदर्थभावनम् ॥२८॥
tat-japaḥ tat-artha-bhāvanam ||28||
That repetition is for cultivation of its purpose.
tat - that, thisjapa - repetitionartha - purpose, aim; sense, meaning, notion; thing, objectbhāvana - cultivation; imagining, fancying; forming in the mind; to occupy one's imagination with, conceptionCommentaries and Reflections
Commentary by Paul Harvey:
“To realize its purpose,
practice repetition of sacred syllables.”
“Bhakti Dhyānam uses Japa to build a bridge,
over the fear bringing streams of the mind.”
“The Yoga Sūtra become as if metaphysical Mantra,
when they can be an internal intonation,
as well as an external edification.”