Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 44
Adhyāya 379 — अद्वैतब्रह्मविज्ञानम्
Advaita-brahma-vijñāna
जन्मवृद्ध्यादिरहित आत्मा सर्वगतो ऽव्ययः परं ज्ञानमयो ऽसङ्गी गुणजात्यादिभिर्विभुः
janmavṛddhyādirahita ātmā sarvagato 'vyayaḥ paraṃ jñānamayo 'saṅgī guṇajātyādibhirvibhuḥ
আত্মা জন্ম, বৃদ্ধি আদি ৰহিত; তেওঁ সৰ্বগত আৰু অব্যয়—পৰম, জ্ঞানময়, অসঙ্গ, আৰু গুণ-জাতি আদি দ্বাৰা সীমাবদ্ধ নহয়; তেওঁ সৰ্বব্যাপী।
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vashistha in the Agni Purana’s didactic frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Vedanta","practical_application":"A definitional checklist for ātman-lakṣaṇa used in self-inquiry: negate change (birth/growth), affirm imperishability, consciousness-nature, non-attachment, and non-limitation by social/phenomenal categories.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Ātma-lakṣaṇa: ajanmā avyayaḥ jñānamayaḥ asaṅgī","lookup_keywords":["ātman","ajanma","avyaya","jñānamaya","asaṅga"],"quick_summary":"The Self is described as unborn, free from growth and change, all-pervading and imperishable, of the nature of consciousness, unattached, and not bounded by qualities or social classifications. This serves as a practical template for neti-neti contemplation."}
Concept: Ātman as changeless consciousness (jñānamaya), all-pervading (sarvagata), imperishable (avyaya), unattached (asaṅga), beyond guṇa and jāti upādhis.
Application: Apply as a daily nididhyāsana: observe bodily/mental changes as non-self; rest in the witnessing awareness that is not qualified by status, traits, or roles.
Khanda Section: Moksha-jnana / Vedanta (Atma-Brahma-lakshana: definitions of the Self)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A meditating ascetic sits unmoving while around him scenes of birth, growth, and decay pass like a panorama—signifying the Self as unchanged witness.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central yogin in dhyāna with calm face, surrounding circular vignettes of childhood-youth-old age fading outward, a steady inner flame at the heart symbolizing jñānamaya ātman","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, meditating sage with gold halo, outer ring of life-stages rendered as smaller panels, heavy gold work emphasizing the imperishable center, lotus motifs","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional concentric composition: center ‘Ātman’ as luminous point, outer rings labeled janma/vṛddhi/vikāra, fine lines and soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, garden setting with a still ascetic, time-passing motifs (changing seasons, aging figures) around, delicate shading to show the witness unaffected"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सर्वगतो ऽव्ययः = सर्वगतः + अव्ययः; ज्ञानमयो ऽसङ्गी = ज्ञानमयः + असङ्गी; गुणजात्यादिभिर्विभुः = गुणजात्यादिभिः + विभुः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Vedānta-lakṣaṇa passages defining Brahman/Ātman (near 379.43)
FAQs
It imparts Vedantic ātma-lakṣaṇa (a technical definition of the Self): the Self is changeless, all-pervading, consciousness-natured, and unattached—guiding discrimination (viveka) rather than ritual procedure.
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves mokṣa-śāstra material; this verse exemplifies its Vedanta-style metaphysical cataloging of the Self’s attributes as part of its wide-ranging knowledge system.
Meditating on the Self as birthless, unattached consciousness weakens identification with body and social/psychological labels (guṇa, jāti, etc.), supporting detachment and liberation-oriented understanding (jñāna leading toward mokṣa).