Shloka 58
Adhyāya 283: Varṇa-vṛtti, Nyāya-ārjana, and the Decline-and-Restoration of Dharma (वर्णवृत्तिः न्यायार्जनं च)
प्राणापानौ संनिरुध्य वक्त्रस्थानेन यत्नतः । विचार्य सर्वतो दृष्टिं बहुदृष्टिरमित्रजित्
prāṇāpānau saṃnirudhya vaktrasthānena yatnataḥ | vicārya sarvato dṛṣṭiṃ bahudṛṣṭir amitrajit ||
यत्नपूर्वक प्राण और अपान को रोककर उन्हें मुख-प्रदेश में स्थिर किया; फिर उसने चारों दिशाओं में दृष्टि का निरीक्षण किया—इस प्रकार शत्रुजयी ‘बहु-दृष्टि’ हो गया।
वीरभद्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights yogic discipline: by restraining prāṇa and apāna and fixing attention at a specific bodily locus, one stabilizes the mind and expands awareness. Ethical strength is implied—mastery over oneself becomes the basis for mastery over external challenges.
Vīrabhadra describes a practitioner (praised as a ‘foe-conqueror’) engaging in breath restraint and focused attention, then surveying vision in all directions—symbolizing heightened vigilance and broadened perception arising from concentration.