This mantra is drawn from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, specifically from the second sutra of the Samadhi Pada (Yoga Sutras 1.3). The full phrase 'Tada Drashtuh Svarupe Avasthanam' translates to 'Then the seer abides in its own true nature.' It describes the state of yoga (samadhi) wherein the practitioner (drashtuh, the seer) ceases to identify with the modifications of the mind (vrittis) and rests in pure consciousness (svarupa). The mantra is intimately associated with the deity Patanjali, the compiler of the Yoga Sutras, and with the Atman (the Self) as the ultimate reality. Phonetically, the mantra contains the beej-akshara 'Om' implicitly, as the Yoga Sutras begin with 'Om' (Yoga Sutras 1.27: 'Tasya vachakah pranavah'), and the entire text is considered a mantra-shastra.
The phrase itself is not a traditional beej mantra but a sutra that encapsulates the entire goal of yoga. According to the Yoga Sutras (1.2: 'Yogash chitta vritti nirodhah'), the purpose of chanting this mantra is to still the mind and realize the Self. The traditional purpose includes attaining liberation (kaivalya) and abiding in pure consciousness. Recommended chanting context: ideally chanted during meditation, especially in the early morning (brahma muhurta), with a count of 108 repetitions using a rudraksha mala.
The ritual setting may include sitting in a stable posture (asana), focusing on the breath, and contemplating the meaning. Cautions: this mantra is considered powerful for spiritual advancement; it should be chanted with proper understanding and reverence, and not for material gains. The Yoga Sutras (1.14) emphasize that practice becomes firmly grounded when done for a long time, without break, and with devotion. No specific dietary restrictions are mandated, but a sattvic lifestyle is recommended.
Then the seer abides in its own true nature.