When the senses are now withdrawn from the outer objects, the practitioner in the sixth stage (dhāraṇā) focuses on one object (sūtra 3.1):
deśa bandhaś cittasya dhāraṇā
By concentration (dhāraṇā) the yogi fixes (bandha) his mind (citta) to a place (deśa). The object of concentration may be an interior (e.g., a cakra) or an exterior (e.g., an object such as a flower). It is important that the practitioner feels the divine presence in the object of his concentration.
This sixth level of Astanga Yoga is closely linked to levels seven and eight.