धारणा dhārṇā

Hindi is also shown in Latin characters, using an adapted form of ISO 15919 transliteration.

How to read the transliteration

This site uses transliteration based on ISO 15919, with a few adaptations to make reading easier: h is added after c, ś and ṣ, and i after the vowel r̥. These adaptations bring it closer to the Hunterian system used in India while retaining the distinctive marks of ISO 15919.

Adaptations used on this site
ISO 15919	On this site
c	ch
ś	śh
ṣ	ṣh
r̥	r̥i

A few reading pointers:

ā, ī, ū: the line above the letter indicates a long vowel.
ṭ, ḍ, ṇ: the dot below distinguishes retroflex consonants from t, d, n.
A tilde above a vowel indicates nasalisation.

sa · n. · f.

Documented definition

Usual or cultural meaning

The act of retaining or holding in the mind; the faculty of retention, an idea, notion or conviction. In the yoga tradition, धारणा also denotes concentration of the mind.

BK meaning

In the murlis, the assimilation of knowledge and acquisition of virtues by integrating them into one’s thinking and conduct. Depending on the passage, the emphasis is on what the intellect retains and understands, or on qualities actually lived. The word can also denote these assimilated qualities and their practical expression, called dharna.

Murli examples

Assimilation in the intellect

तुम्हारी बुद्धि में धारणा हो रही है .

Published translation
Your intellects are imbibing everything.

Murli · daily · 2022-12-27 · hi156

Assimilation expressed in virtues

दैवीगुण हों तो समझा जाए ज्ञान की धारणा है .

Published translation
If someone has divine virtues, it can be understood that that one has imbibed knowledge.

Murli · daily · 2021-01-13 · hi32

A lived quality: purity

ब्राह्मणों की श्रेष्ठ धारणा है सम्पूर्ण पवित्रता .

Published translation
The elevated dharna of Brahmins is complete purity.

Murli · daily · 2021-02-20 · hi180

Integration into nature and sanskars

नेचुरल स्वभाव-संस्कार ही धारणा स्वरूप होंगे .

Published translation
Their nature and sanskars will naturally be of embodiments of dharna.

Murli · daily · 2022-10-23 · hi51

Imbibing according to one’s capacity

बहुत नहीं धारणा कर सकते हैं तो फिर थोड़ा ही सही .

Published translation
If you cannot imbibe very much, then even a little will do.

Murli · daily · 2023-05-22 · hi190

Usual translation

dharna

Proposed translations

imbibing
assimilation
putting into practice
dharna

Origin of the definition

धारणा dhārṇā. Dharna. Inculcation of the knowledge and virtues of the Supreme in our practical life.

S دهارنا धारणा dhāraṇā, s.f. Keeping in remembrance, retaining in the mind; a good memory, memory; — continuance in rectitude, keeping in the right way, fortitude, firmness, steadiness, resolution; aptitude to acquire (wisdom, &c.).

धारणा dhāraṇā dha:rṉā: (nf) an impression; concept, notion, idea; (power of) retention (also -शक्ति).