Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 19
Brahma-jñāna
Knowledge of Brahman
अहं ब्रह्म परं ज्योतिर्मानमेयविवर्जितम् अहं ब्रह्म परं ज्योतिर्मितिमाहृविवर्जितम्
ahaṃ brahma paraṃ jyotirmānameyavivarjitam ahaṃ brahma paraṃ jyotirmitimāhṛvivarjitam
আমি ব্রহ্ম—পরম জ্যোতি—মান ও মেয় (পরিমাপক ও পরিমেয়) দ্বৈততা থেকে মুক্ত। আমি ব্রহ্ম—পরম জ্যোতি—সীমাবদ্ধ জ্ঞান ও গ্রাহ্যকরণের ক্রিয়া থেকে অতীত।
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, in the usual Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Advaita-Vedanta","practical_application":"Dissolve epistemic duality (pramāṇa–prameya) in meditation; recognize awareness as self-established (svataḥ-siddha) beyond measuring, grasping, and objectification.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Beyond Pramāṇa–Prameya and Beyond Limiting Cognition (Aparicchinna Jyotis)","lookup_keywords":["pramāṇa prameya","māna meya","apariccheda","nirvikalpa","svataḥ-prakāśa"],"quick_summary":"Declares Brahman free from the knower’s instruments of knowledge and their objects, and beyond all limiting acts of cognition. Practical takeaway: stop turning the Self into an object; abide as self-luminous knowing."}
Alamkara Type: Anaphora; technical dyad listing (dvandva-nirdeśa)
Concept: Brahman is beyond pramāṇa (means/measure) and prameya (measured/object), and beyond all limiting cognition (pariccheda) and grasping appropriation.
Application: In inquiry, notice every 'knowing' that has an object; release it and remain as the non-objectifiable light in which knowing occurs.
Khanda Section: Adhyatma-jnana (Brahma-vidya / Advaita-oriented instruction)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A set of measuring tools (scale, compass, ruler) and a labeled 'object' dissolve into pure light; the meditator remains as the witnessing radiance beyond subject-object split.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, symbolic scales and measuring rods rendered decoratively, dissolving into central jyotis, yogin serene, lotus motifs, bold outlines and mineral pigments, sacred stillness","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-embossed instruments of measure around a radiant halo, instruments breaking into gold dust, central light dominating, deep crimson backdrop, minimal figure in meditation","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic composition: pramāṇa icons (eye, ear, inference mark) and prameya objects fading, central luminous awareness field, fine lines and gentle shading, clear labels","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, philosopher in a library with measuring instruments and manuscripts, objects turning translucent and vanishing into a glowing void, intricate border and calligraphy cartouche"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ज्योतिर्मानमेयविवर्जितम् = ज्योतिः + मानमेय + विवर्जितम् (विसर्ग-लोपः, र्-आदेशः). ज्योतिर्मितिमाहृविवर्जितम् = ज्योतिः + मिति + आहृ + विवर्जितम् (विसर्ग-लोपः, र्-आदेशः). ‘आहृ’ पदं पाठभेद/दुर्लभ-रूपम्; IAST ‘māhṛ’ इत्यत्र मिति + आहृ इति विग्रहः स्वीक्रियते.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 377.15 (upādhi-negation); Agni Purana 377.16 (niravayava); Agni Purana 377.18 (beyond letters)
FAQs
Brahma-vidyā (non-dual knowledge): the verse teaches that the Supreme Self/Brahman is not an object of measurement—transcending pramāṇa (means of knowing) and prameya (knowable objects)—pointing to direct realization rather than ritual procedure.
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves high-level metaphysics: this verse exemplifies its Vedāntic/Adhyātma layer by summarizing a technical epistemological doctrine (beyond māna–meya) within a Purāṇic compendium.
Meditating on identity with Brahman as the ‘Supreme Light’ dissolves objectifying cognition and egoic grasping, supporting liberation (mokṣa) by weakening karmic bondage rooted in identification with measurable names-and-forms.