Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 12
Adhyaya 165 — नानाधर्माः
Various Dharmas
वहिर्मुखानि सर्वाणि कृत्वा चाभिमुखानि वै मनस्येवेन्द्रियग्रामं मनश्चात्मनि योजयेत्
vahirmukhāni sarvāṇi kṛtvā cābhimukhāni vai manasyevendriyagrāmaṃ manaścātmani yojayet
সমস্ত বহির্মুখ ইন্দ্রিয়কে অন্তর্মুখ করে, ইন্দ্রিয়সমষ্টিকে মনে লীন করতে হবে; তারপর মনকে আত্মায় যুক্ত করতে হবে।
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narration)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Yoga-vidya","practical_application":"Pratyāhāra leading to dhāraṇā: reverse outward sensory flow, collect senses into mind, then anchor mind in the Self for inner stability.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pratyāhāra sequence: indriya-saṃhāra → manoniveśa → ātma-yoga","lookup_keywords":["bahirmukha to antarmukha","pratyahara","indriya-grāma","manas","ātmani yojayet"],"quick_summary":"Turn outward-going senses inward, merge the sense-aggregate into the mind, and then yoke the mind to the Self. This gives a practical stepwise method for interiorization."}
Concept: Sense-withdrawal is not suppression but reorientation: senses are gathered into mind, and mind is grounded in the Self; this is the bridge from distraction to absorption.
Application: During meditation: (1) relax and notice each sense turning outward, (2) gently ‘face’ it inward (antarmukhatā), (3) rest all sensory data in a single mental field, (4) place that mind in the witness-Self (ātma-sthāna).
Khanda Section: Yoga-vidya (Antarmukha-sadhana / Pratyahara-Dharana)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A meditator with stylized sense-streams (sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch) shown as rays turning inward toward the heart/mind; then a final alignment of mind into a luminous Self at the center.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, yogin seated, five colored rays representing senses curling inward like vines into the chest; central lotus-heart glowing; calm, symmetrical composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, yogin on lotus with gold-highlighted central Self-light; five sense symbols (eye, ear, nose, tongue, skin) at the border drawn inward by golden lines; ornate but serene.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, stepwise instructional panel: (1) outward senses, (2) inward-facing, (3) senses merged into mind, (4) mind yoked to Self; fine linework and clear sequencing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate interior meditation scene; delicate depiction of subtle currents as translucent ribbons turning inward; refined palette and precise detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वहिर्मुखानि = वहिः + मुखानि (अव्ययीभाव); चाभिमुखानि = च + अभिमुखानि; मनस्येव = मनसि + एव; मनश्चात्मनि = मनः + च + आत्मनि
Related Themes: Agni Purana 165.10 (vṛtti-hīna mind and liberation); Agni Purana 165.8 (true yoga as Self-abidance)
FAQs
It teaches yogic pratyāhāra and internalization: reverse outward sense-flow, absorb the senses into the mind, and finally concentrate the mind in the Ātman.
Alongside ritual, polity, and other sciences, the Agni Purāṇa also preserves practical yoga methodology—showing it as a multi-disciplinary manual that includes inner technology for liberation.
By withdrawing senses and stabilizing the mind in the Self, one reduces karmic entanglement caused by sense-driven action and moves toward purification and mokṣa-oriented absorption.