Shloka 63

Tīrtha-yātrā: Phalaśruti and Sacred Geography from Lohitya to Prayāga

Pulastya’s Instruction

Devanagari script

प्राणायामैर्निर्हरिन्ति स्वलोमानि द्विजोत्तमा: | पूतात्मानश्न राजेन्द्र प्रयान्ति परमां गतिम्‌,महाराज! वहाँ श्वाविल्लोमापह नामक तीर्थ है। नरव्याप्र! उसमें तीर्थपरायण हुए विद्वान ब्राह्मण स्नान करके बड़े प्रसन्न होते हैं। भरतसत्तम! श्वाविल्लोमापनयनतीर्थमें प्राणायाम (योगकी क्रिया) करनेसे श्रेष्ठ द्विज अपने रोएँ झाड़ देते हैं तथा राजेन्द्र! वे शुद्धचित्त होकर परमगतिको प्राप्त होते हैं

Transliteration

prāṇāyāmair nirharanti svalomāni dvijottamāḥ | pūtātmānaś ca rājendra prayānti paramāṃ gatim, mahārāja |

Translation

グーラースティヤは言った。「王の中の王よ、調息（prāṇāyāma）の戒めによって、最勝の“再生者”（二度生まれ）は自らの毛をも払い落とす（浄化の徴として）。身も心も清められたならば、王よ、彼らは最高の境地へと赴く。」

Word by Word

प्राणायामैःby breath-restraints (prāṇāyāmas)

निर्हरन्तिthey remove/drive out

स्वलोमानिtheir own hairs (body-hairs)

द्विजोत्तमाःthe best of the twice-born (excellent Brahmins)

पूतात्मानःhaving purified selves; pure-minded

नृपO king

राजेन्द्रO lord of kings

प्रयान्तिthey go; they attain

परमाम्supreme

गतिम्state/goal; destination

महाराजO great king

Speaker

घुलस्त्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

Ghūlastya (speaker)

rājendra/mahārāja (the addressed king)

dvijottamāḥ (eminent brāhmaṇas)

prāṇāyāma (yogic practice)

paramā gati (supreme state)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse links yogic discipline (prāṇāyāma) with inner purification: when the mind and self become pure, one becomes fit to attain the highest spiritual goal (paramā gati).

What is happening in the narrative?

A speaker (Ghūlastya) describes the spiritual efficacy of ascetic-yogic practice associated with sacred observance: eminent brāhmaṇas perform prāṇāyāma, become purified, and thereby reach the supreme state.