Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 17
Āsana–Prāṇāyāma–Pratyāhāra
Posture, Breath-control, and Withdrawal of the Senses
शरीरं रथमित्याहुरिन्द्रियाण्यस्य वाजिनः मनश् च सारथिः प्रोक्तः प्राणायामः कशःस्मृतः
śarīraṃ rathamityāhurindriyāṇyasya vājinaḥ manaś ca sārathiḥ proktaḥ prāṇāyāmaḥ kaśaḥsmṛtaḥ
শরীরকে রথ বলা হয়েছে, তার ইন্দ্রিয়গুলি ঘোড়া। মনকে সারথি বলা হয়, আর প্রाणায়ামকে চাবুক বলে স্মরণ করা হয়।
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purāṇa narration to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Yoga","practical_application":"Use the chariot model to train: body care as vehicle maintenance, senses as horses to be disciplined, mind as driver to be educated, pranayama as the controlling lash for steadiness.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Chariot Analogy: Śarīra–Indriya–Manas–Prāṇāyāma","lookup_keywords":["ratha","indriya-vājinaḥ","manas-sārathi","prāṇāyāma","kaśa"],"quick_summary":"The verse maps inner faculties onto a chariot system: body as chariot, senses as horses, mind as charioteer, and pranayama as the whip—an operational model for self-governance."}
Alamkara Type: Rūpaka
Concept: Antahkarana governance: mind must direct senses; pranayama functions as a regulating force to keep the system aligned.
Application: Before meditation, do a short pranayama set (e.g., measured inhale/exhale) and then consciously ‘hold the reins’ by choosing one sensory input to withdraw from (pratyahara).
Khanda Section: Yoga-vidya (Antahkarana–Indriya-niyama; Pranayama and inner discipline)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A symbolic chariot: the body as the chariot frame, five horses labeled as senses, the mind as charioteer holding reins, and pranayama depicted as a whip guiding rhythm and direction.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized chariot with ornate wheels, five horses with symbolic emblems (eye, ear, nose, tongue, skin), charioteer labeled manas, whip as flowing prana line, flat decorative background","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central golden chariot allegory with embossed gold details, horses richly adorned, charioteer serene, whip rendered as luminous prana stream, temple-like border","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional diagram aesthetic: chariot parts labeled in Sanskrit, soft colors, precise lines, emphasis on clarity of the analogy","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, elegant chariot scene in a landscape, subtle inscriptions near horses and charioteer, fine detailing on harness and textiles, restrained palette"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: रथमित्याहुः → रथम् + इति + आहुः; आहुरिन्द्रियाण्यस्य → आहुः + इन्द्रियाणि + अस्य; मनश् च → मनः + च; कशःस्मृतः → कशः + स्मृतः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Yoga-vidya passages on indriya-niyama and pranayama (same sequence)
FAQs
It teaches Yoga-vidyā through a technical metaphor: prāṇāyāma is the controlling ‘whip’ that disciplines the senses (horses) under the guidance of the mind (charioteer), enabling regulated inner practice.
Alongside ritual, polity, and other sciences, the Agni Purāṇa includes practical Yoga psychology—mapping body, senses, mind, and breath-control into an actionable model of self-regulation.
By restraining prāṇa through prāṇāyāma, the practitioner gains mastery over sense-impulses and mental agitation, supporting purification (śuddhi) and steadiness for dharma-oriented meditation and liberation-focused practice.