Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 30
अध्याय ३८० — गीतासारः
The Essence of the Gītā
सर्वेन्द्रियगुणाभासं सर्वेन्द्रियविवर्जितम् असक्तं सर्वभृच्चैव निर्गुणं गुणभोक्तृ च
sarvendriyaguṇābhāsaṃ sarvendriyavivarjitam asaktaṃ sarvabhṛccaiva nirguṇaṃ guṇabhoktṛ ca
يَتَجَلّى كصفاتِ جميعِ الحواسّ، ومع ذلك فهو منزَّهٌ عن كلِّ حاسّة؛ غيرُ متعلّقٍ، وهو حامِلُ الكلّ ومُقيمُه؛ بلا صفاتٍ (نيرغونا)، ومع ذلك هو مُتذوِّقُ الصفاتِ ومُختبِرُها (غونا).
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Vedanta","practical_application":"Neti-neti style contemplation to reconcile apparent sensory qualities with the attributeless Brahman; supports nirguna-saguna synthesis in meditation and teaching.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Brahman as Nirguna yet Guṇa-bhoktṛ (Apparent Experiencer)","lookup_keywords":["nirguna","asakta","sarvabhrit","indriya-guna-abhasa","guna-bhoktr"],"quick_summary":"Defines Brahman as appearing through all sensory qualities while remaining sense-free and unattached. Useful as a meditation cue to avoid reifying attributes while acknowledging lived experience."}
Alamkara Type: Virodha (apparent contradiction)
Concept: Brahman is attributeless and unattached, yet appears as the field of qualities and their experiencer without undergoing change.
Application: In dhyana, witness sensory qualities as appearances in consciousness; rest as asanga (non-attached) awareness while performing duties.
Khanda Section: Moksha-jnana / Brahma-lakshana (Philosophical-Theological Section)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A formless luminous presence pervading the senses: eyes, ears, skin, tongue, nose shown as subtle lotuses, while the central Brahman remains unbound and attribute-free, supporting all beings.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural, central abstract golden aura (Brahman) behind a seated yogin, five sense-lotus motifs orbiting yet not touching, muted earth reds and greens, sacred calm, minimal narrative, traditional ornament borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, thick gold leaf halo representing nirguna Brahman, a meditating sage in front, embossed gold for the five sense symbols, rich maroon background, jewel-like highlights, devotional serenity.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional composition: labeled sense-icons (sparsha, rupa, rasa, gandha, shabda) fading into a clear central light, fine linework, soft pastel washes, emphasis on detachment (asakta) posture.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, philosophical allegory: courtly scholar contemplating a luminous void above a diagram of senses and qualities, delicate floral margins, restrained palette, subtle chiaroscuro to show ‘appearance without contact’."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सर्वभृच्चैव = सर्वभृत् + च + एव; सर्वेन्द्रियगुणाभासं = सर्व + इन्द्रिय + गुण + आभासम्; सर्वेन्द्रियविवर्जितम् = सर्व + इन्द्रिय + विवर्जितम्; गुणभोक्तृ च = गुणभोक्तृ + च
Related Themes: Agni Purana 380.31; Agni Purana 380.33; Agni Purana 381 (Jnana/Moksha themes, if continued)
FAQs
This verse imparts Brahma-vidyā: a technical Vedāntic definition of the Supreme as transcending the senses (indriya-rahita) while being the ground in which sensory qualities appear, guiding contemplative discernment (viveka) rather than ritual procedure.
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves compact theological-phenomenological definitions of Brahman—showing its encyclopedic scope by integrating mokṣa-śāstra (liberation doctrine) with other knowledge systems.
Meditating on the Supreme as unattached, nirguṇa, and the inner experiencer reduces identification with sense-objects and guṇas, supporting detachment (vairāgya) and purification of mind—key conditions for liberation-oriented insight.