Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 43
अध्याय ३८० — गीतासारः
The Essence of the Gītā
यष्टव्यो विधिना यज्ञो निष्कामाय स सात्त्विकः यज्ञः फलाय दम्भात्मी राजसस्तामसः क्रतुः
yaṣṭavyo vidhinā yajño niṣkāmāya sa sāttvikaḥ yajñaḥ phalāya dambhātmī rājasastāmasaḥ kratuḥ
যজ্ঞ বিধি অনুসারে করা উচিত; নিষ্কামভাবে সম্পন্ন হলে তা সাত্ত্বিক। ফললাভের কামনায়, দম্ভস্বভাব ব্যক্তির দ্বারা করা যজ্ঞ রাজস; আর হীনভাবে করা ক্রতু তামস।
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purāṇa narrative frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Evaluate and perform yajña by intention and method: follow vidhi and cultivate niṣkāma attitude for sāttvika yajña; avoid ostentation and result-seeking that makes it rājasa/tāmasa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Guṇa-bheda of Yajña: Sāttvika (Niṣkāma, Vidhi-yukta) vs Rājasa (Phala-kāma, Dambha) vs Tāmasa (Degraded Rite)","lookup_keywords":["yajna sattvika","rajasa yajna","tamasa kratu","nishkama","dambha"],"quick_summary":"A yajña done according to rule without desire for reward is sāttvika; when driven by fruit and ostentation it is rājasa; when performed in a fallen/incorrect spirit it becomes tāmasa."}
Concept: Karma is qualified by guṇa through intention (niṣkāma vs phala-kāma) and adherence to vidhi; inner motive determines spiritual quality of ritual.
Application: Before any religious/charitable act, set intention to duty and offering (arpana), minimize self-display, and ensure correct procedure and competence.
Khanda Section: Dharma–Karma Yoga (Yajña classification: Sāttvika–Rājasa–Tāmasa)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A fire-altar scene showing three modes: sāttvika yajña with calm priest and simple offerings; rājasa yajña with pomp and self-display; tāmasa rite with disorder and neglect.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural triptych: three yajña-vedis—sāttvika in serene blue-green with disciplined priest and modest offerings; rājasa in bright red-gold with crowds and ostentatious donor; tāmasa in dull smoky tones with scattered items and inattentive performers; traditional ornamental borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf, central sacred fire altar, three surrounding medallions labeled sāttvika/rājasa/tāmasa; sāttvika donor humble, rājasa donor adorned and boastful, tāmasa scene dim and neglected; rich temple arch frame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional layout: three panels comparing intention (niṣkāma/phala-kāma) and conduct (vidhi/avidhī), detailed altar geometry, soft colors, precise linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, court-sponsored yajña: one scene with sincere quiet ritual, another with lavish spectacle and self-glorification, a third with careless disorder; fine costumes, architectural pavilion, calligraphic captions"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: yaṣṭavyo = yaj + tavyat (gerundive); rājasastāmasaḥ = rājasaḥ + tāmasaḥ (sandhi).
Related Themes: Agni Purana ritual sections on yajña-vidhi and kratu classifications; Agni Purana Niti sections on dambha (hypocrisy) and phala-āśā
FAQs
It gives a practical typology for evaluating a yajña: performed strictly by scriptural procedure (vidhi) and without craving for reward (niṣkāma) it is sāttvika; if driven by desire for results and show (dambha) it is rājasa, and when degraded/ignorant in spirit it is tāmasa.
Alongside ritual procedure, the Agni Purāṇa also codifies the inner psychology and ethical quality of practice by mapping yajña onto the guṇas—an encyclopedic blend of karma-kāṇḍa (ritual science) with sāṃkhya-like guṇa analysis and moral instruction.
It teaches that the merit of sacrifice depends not only on correct performance but on intention: desireless, rule-following worship purifies (sāttvika), while fruit-motivated and ostentatious ritual binds one to karma (rājasa) and degraded practice leads to spiritual dullness (tāmasa).