Shloka 160
Slaying of Andhaka; Hymn to the Sun; Glory of Brahmins; Gayatri Nyasa and Pranayama
प्राणायामत्रयं कृत्वा गायत्रीं संजपेदिद्वजः । अनेनैव जपेद्यस्तु महापातकसंचयः
prāṇāyāmatrayaṃ kṛtvā gāyatrīṃ saṃjapedidvajaḥ | anenaiva japedyastu mahāpātakasaṃcayaḥ
త్రివిధ ప్రాణాయామం చేసి ద్విజుడు విధిగా గాయత్రీ జపించాలి. ఇదే విధంగా జపిస్తే మహాపాతకాల సమూహమున్నవాడుకూడా శుద్ధి పొందును.
Unspecified (narratorial instruction within the Adhyaya)
Concept: Threefold prāṇāyāma followed by Gāyatrī-japa purifies even heavy sin-loads when done properly.
Application: Before daily japa/pujā, do a brief, safe prāṇāyāma sequence and then recite Gāyatrī with attention and steadiness; treat it as moral reset, not mere technique.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"At dawn, a dvija performs sandhyā on a riverbank, completing three measured breath cycles before softly chanting the Gāyatrī. The air around him is painted as concentric ripples of light, suggesting sins dissolving like mist as the mantra rises with the breath.","primary_figures":["dvija practitioner","Savitṛ (subtle solar presence)"],"setting":"riverbank with a small copper water-pot (kamaṇḍalu), kusa grass, and rising sun on the horizon","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["sunrise gold","river teal","copper bronze","white mist","vermillion"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: radiant sunrise behind the seated dvija, Savitṛ suggested as a golden disc with ornate rays, gold leaf on the sun and mantra-aura, rich red-green borders, detailed copper vessels and sacred thread, devotional stillness.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: lyrical dawn river scene with delicate gradients, the chanter in simple white cloth, soft halo lines marking each prāṇāyāma, cool blues and warm golds balanced, distant birds and gentle hills.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, stylized sun with concentric patterns, practitioner with symmetrical posture, red-yellow-green palette, decorative lotus border, mantra shown as rhythmic glyph-like bands.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central figure chanting with lotus motifs and a large stylized sun, intricate floral borders, deep blue sky transitioning to gold, small peacocks and cows at the margins, gold highlights on the mantra aura."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["flowing water","conch shell (distant)","temple bells","morning birds"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्राणायामत्रयं = प्राणायाम-त्रयम्; संजपेदिद्वजः = संजपेत् + द्विजः; अनेनैव = अनेन + एव; जपेद्यस्तु = जपेत् + यः + तु
FAQs
It prescribes performing the threefold prāṇāyāma (prāṇāyāma-traya) first, and then reciting the Gāyatrī as japa.
It states that even one who has accumulated great sins (mahāpātaka-saṃcaya) is purified by repeating the Gāyatrī in this prescribed manner.
The verse emphasizes disciplined practice and repentance-through-sādhanā: sincere, regulated mantra-recitation paired with self-control (breath discipline) is presented as a means of inner purification.