Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 38
अध्याय ३८० — गीतासारः
The Essence of the Gītā
ऊर्ध्वमूलमधःशाखमश्वत्थं प्राहुरव्ययं छन्दांसि यस्य पर्णानि यस्तं वेद स वेदवित्
ūrdhvamūlamadhaḥśākhamaśvatthaṃ prāhuravyayaṃ chandāṃsi yasya parṇāni yastaṃ veda sa vedavit
يصفون الأشفَتَّه (aśvattha) غير الفاني بأن جذره في الأعلى وأغصانه في الأسفل؛ وأوزان الفيدا (chandas) هي أوراقه. من عرف تلك الشجرة حقًّا فهو عارفٌ بالڤيدا.
Lord Agni (teaching to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Uses the aśvattha-tree allegory to teach Vedāntic cosmology and the role of Vedic chandas as sustaining ‘leaves’; supports contemplative inquiry into the structure of saṃsāra and śāstra.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Ūrdhva-mūla aśvattha: cosmic tree with chandas as leaves","lookup_keywords":["aśvattha","ūrdhva-mūla","chandas","veda-vit","saṃsāra-vṛkṣa"],"quick_summary":"The imperishable cosmic aśvattha is described with root above and branches below; its leaves are Vedic metres—knowing this symbolism marks one as a true knower of the Veda."}
Alamkara Type: Rūpaka
Concept: Saṃsāra as an inverted tree rooted in the transcendent; Vedic revelation (chandas) functions as the manifest ‘foliage’ through which the structure is known.
Application: Contemplate the ‘root above’ (Brahman/Īśvara) and ‘branches below’ (worldly proliferation); use Vedic study (including chandas awareness) as a ladder from appearances to the root-reality.
Khanda Section: Vedanta / Moksha-shastra (Gita-aligned metaphysics)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vast inverted aśvattha tree floating in cosmic space: roots in a luminous upper realm, branches descending into worlds; leaves inscribed with Vedic metres; a sage points upward, indicating true Veda-knowledge.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, monumental inverted aśvattha with stylized leaves bearing script-like chandas marks, upper realm glowing gold-white, lower realms in layered greens and reds, sage in añjali, ornate temple border patterns","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central inverted tree with heavy gold leaf on leaves (chandas), jeweled upper root-lotus, descending branches into miniature world-scenes, embossed gold highlights, devotional-cosmic grandeur","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, precise illustrative cosmology: inverted tree diagram with labeled chandas-leaves, soft gradients, scholarly sage figure, clean composition suited for teaching metaphysics","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fantastical inverted tree in a night sky with delicate leaf calligraphy, sage and students in a garden terrace observing, fine detailing and layered perspective, subtle luminous root above"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ऊर्ध्वमूलमधःशाखम् = ऊर्ध्व-मूल + अधः-शाखम् (बहुव्रीहि); प्राहुरव्ययम् = प्राहुः + अव्ययम्; यस्तं = यः + तम्; वेदवित् = वेद + वित्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 380 (Vedānta/Mokṣa-śāstra section)
FAQs
It imparts Vedantic vidyā: a symbolic map of reality where the cosmos (saṁsāra) is pictured as an inverted aśvattha; understanding its structure and dependence on the higher root is presented as true Veda-knowledge.
It shows the Agni Purana’s breadth by integrating Vedic technicality (chandas/metres) with philosophical cosmology, linking textual Veda (metres, hymns) to inner realization (knowing the cosmic tree).
The verse teaches that liberation-oriented insight—not mere recitation—constitutes real Veda-knowing; such discernment supports detachment from worldly branches and orientation toward the higher root (the transcendent).