Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 10
Chapter 371 — Yama-Niyama and Praṇava-Upāsanā (Oṅkāra) as Brahma-vidyā
सङ्कल्पो ऽध्यवसायश् च क्रियानिर्वृत्तिरेव च एतन्मैथुनमष्टाङ्गं प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः
saṅkalpo 'dhyavasāyaś ca kriyānirvṛttireva ca etanmaithunamaṣṭāṅgaṃ pravadanti manīṣiṇaḥ
সঙ্কল্প, অধ্যৱসায় (দৃঢ় নिश्चয়) আৰু ক্ৰিয়ানিৰ্বৃত্তি (ক্ৰিয়াৰ সম্পন্নতা)—মনীষীসকলে কয় যে এইয়াই অষ্টাঙ্গ মৈথুন।
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the dominant Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Ethical psychology of desire: recognize that ‘maithuna’ begins before physical contact—at intention and resolve—useful for vow-keeping, counseling, and self-regulation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Aṣṭāṅga-maithuna: intention, resolve, and completion as components of sexual act","lookup_keywords":["ashtanga-maithuna","sankalpa","adhyavasaya","kriya-nirvritti","kama-niyama"],"quick_summary":"The verse locates sexual action along a continuum: mental intention (saṅkalpa), firm resolve (adhyavasāya), and consummation (kriyā-nirvṛtti), supporting the broader eightfold analysis of erotic engagement."}
Concept: Karma begins in the mind: intention and resolve are morally operative, not only outward acts.
Application: For ethical living: cultivate mindfulness of intention, practice pratyahara-like withdrawal from triggers, and strengthen sankalpa-shakti toward dharmic goals.
Khanda Section: Dharma–Kama-shastra (Ethics of desire; household conduct)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A three-stage diagrammatic scene: a person first forms intention (thought bubble), then firm resolve (tightened fist/step forward), then completion of act (doorway threshold), with a sage indicating where to stop the chain.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central figure with three concentric panels labeled sankalpa, adhyavasaya, kriya-nirvritti, a calm rishi pointing to the first panel as the place of restraint, bold traditional colors","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style with gold accents, triptych composition: mind (lotus at forehead), resolve (heart/hand), action (feet/threshold), sage with golden halo teaching self-mastery","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional flowchart aesthetic, arrows from sankalpa to adhyavasaya to kriya-nirvritti, clear labels and gentle palette, suitable for a moral manual illustration","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined psychological narrative in three adjacent scenes within one frame, sage counselor present in each, delicate borders and calligraphic labels"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Sandhi resolved: saṅkalpo 'dhyavasāyaḥ→saṅkalpaḥ adhyavasāyaḥ; adhyavasāyaś ca→adhyavasāyaḥ ca; kriyānirvṛttireva→kriyā-nirvṛttiḥ eva; etanmaithunamaṣṭāṅgaṃ→etat maithunam aṣṭāṅgam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana adjacent brahmacarya aṣṭadhā discussion (371.9); Agni Purana Sadachara: mental sins and speech/act gradations
FAQs
It defines “aṣṭāṅga-maithuna” by emphasizing internal components—intention and determination—together with the act’s consummation, presenting maithuna as a psycho-physical process rather than merely a physical act.
Alongside rituals, polity, and arts, the Agni Purāṇa also preserves kama- and dharma-oriented definitions; this verse shows its inclusion of human conduct and inner mental factors (saṅkalpa/adhyavasāya) as technical categories.
By foregrounding intention and resolve, it implies that karma accrues not only from outward action but also from the mind’s deliberate orientation—so ethical restraint and right intention are central to purity in household life.