Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 50
अध्याय ३८० — गीतासारः
The Essence of the Gītā
तामसः कर्मसंयोगात् मोहात्क्लेशभयादिकात् राजसः सात्त्विको ऽकामात् पञ्चैते कर्महेतवः
tāmasaḥ karmasaṃyogāt mohātkleśabhayādikāt rājasaḥ sāttviko 'kāmāt pañcaite karmahetavaḥ
কৰ্মৰ পাঁচটা প্ৰেৰক হেতু আছে—(১) কৰ্মসংযোগৰ পৰা জন্মা তামস (অন্ধভাৱে কৰা), (২) মোহজনিত, (৩) ক্লেশ, ভয় আদি পৰা জন্মা, (৪) ৰাজস, আৰু (৫) নিষ্কাম সাত্ত্বিক—এই পাঁচেই কৰ্মহেতু।
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Ethical self-audit: identify the motive behind an intended act (delusion, fear, desire, or desireless clarity) to refine conduct and reduce karmic bondage.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Pañca karmāhetavaḥ (Five motives of action)","lookup_keywords":["pañca-hetu","karma-hetu","tāmasa","rājasa","sāttvika"],"quick_summary":"Actions arise from five motivational roots—tamas (blind impulse), delusion, fear/affliction, rajas (desire-driven), and sattva (desireless). Use this typology to purify intention before acting."}
Concept: Guṇa-based motivation analysis (hetu-viveka) as a prerequisite for karma-yoga and inner purification.
Application: Before acting, label the motive; abandon fear/delusion/desire-based impulses and cultivate desireless, duty-aligned action.
Khanda Section: Sāṃkhya–Yoga / Guṇa–Karma Doctrine (Ethics and Causality)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A contemplative teacher points to a five-petaled diagram labeled with the five motives of action; a student reflects, weighing fear, delusion, desire, and desireless duty.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, guru and shishya seated under a stylized tree, flat vibrant colors, five-petaled lotus diagram with Sanskrit labels tāmasa, moha, kleśa-bhaya, rājasa, sāttvika, serene shanta mood","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central seated rishi with ornate halo and gold leaf, holding palm-leaf manuscript; beside him a lotus with five petals inscribed with the five karma-hetus, rich reds and greens, devotional-cum-instructional composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework and soft shading, instructional board showing five causes of action, calm classroom-like hermitage setting, emphasis on legible Sanskrit labels and didactic clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly scholar-teacher explaining a chart of five motives to a young disciple, fine detailing, muted palette, margins with floral motifs, intellectual atmosphere"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: sāttviko 'kāmāt = sāttvikaḥ akāmāt; pañcaite = pañca ete; mohāt kleśa... = mohāt kleśa... (external sandhi); kleśabhayādikāt = kleśa-bhaya-ādikāt; karmasaṃyogāt = karma-saṃyogāt; karmahetavaḥ = karma-hetavaḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 380.51; Agni Purana 380.52; Agni Purana 380.53; Agni Purana 380.54
FAQs
It classifies human action by its operative motive—tamas (blind compulsion), moha (delusion), kleśa/bhaya (distress and fear), rajas (passionate striving), and sattva (clear, desireless duty)—so one can diagnose and refine intention behind deeds.
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves systematic ethical-psychological frameworks (guṇa-based analysis of karma), functioning like a compact manual for self-governance and conduct.
By recognizing and shifting motivation from delusion, fear, and passion toward sattvic, desireless action, one reduces binding karmic residue and aligns action with purification and inner clarity.