Shloka 9

Vāyu-jaya (Prāṇa-vijaya) and Yogic Mastery over Time — वायुजय (प्राणविजय) तथा कालजय

Devanagari script

गायत्रीं शिरसा सार्द्धं जपेद्व्याहृतिपूर्विकाम् । त्रिवारमायतप्राणाः प्राणायामस्स उच्यते

Transliteration

gāyatrīṃ śirasā sārddhaṃ japedvyāhṛtipūrvikām | trivāramāyataprāṇāḥ prāṇāyāmassa ucyate

Translation

One should recite the Gāyatrī, together with the Śiras (the head-portion), preceded by the vyāhṛtis. When the breath is steadily extended in this manner three times, that is called prāṇāyāma.

Word by Word

• gāyatrīm: the Gāyatrī (mantra)
• gāyatrīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gāyatrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• śirasā: with the head
• śirasā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• sārdham: together with
• sārdham: Sahārtha (सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sārdham (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक (adverb/preposition: together with)

• japet: should recite/mutter
• japet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jap (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• vyāhṛti-pūrvikām: preceded by the vyāhṛtis
• vyāhṛti-pūrvikām: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vyāhṛti (प्रातिपदिक) + pūrvikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुष: व्याहृतयः पूर्वाः यस्याः (preceded by the vyāhṛtis)

• tri-vāram: three times
• tri-vāram: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + vāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of frequency)

• āyata-prāṇāḥ: with prolonged breaths
• āyata-prāṇāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āyata (प्रातिपदिक) + prāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण; ‘having extended breath’

• prāṇāyāmaḥ: prāṇāyāma (breath control)
• prāṇāyāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + āyāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: प्राणस्य आयामः (extension/control of breath)

• saḥ: that/it
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ucyate: is called
• ucyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ | tat savitur vareṇyaṃ bhargo devasya dhīmahi | dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt || (with vyāhṛtis; plus the Śiras portion as taught in smṛti traditions)

Type: gayatri

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Lalitā

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It defines prāṇāyāma as disciplined, repeated regulation of breath joined to sacred mantra-recitation, presenting yogic control as a purifier that steadies the mind for Shiva-oriented realization.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

By prescribing mantra-japa with regulated breath, it supports inner purity and one-pointedness—qualities required for effective Saguna Shiva worship (including Linga-pūjā), where devotion is strengthened by yogic steadiness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Recite the vyāhṛtis first, then the Gāyatrī along with its Śiras portion, coordinating the recitation with prolonged, regulated breathing, performed three times as a prāṇāyāma cycle.