Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 37
Chapter 381 — यमगीता
Yama-gītā
अग्निर् उवाच वशिष्ठ यमगीतोक्ता पठतां भुक्तिमुक्तिदा आत्यन्तिको लयः प्रोक्तो वेदान्तब्रह्मधीमयः
agnir uvāca vaśiṣṭha yamagītoktā paṭhatāṃ bhuktimuktidā ātyantiko layaḥ prokto vedāntabrahmadhīmayaḥ
অগ্নি বললেন—হে বশিষ্ঠ! ‘যমগীতা’ নামে এই উপদেশ পাঠ করলে ভোগ ও মোক্ষ—উভয়ই লাভ হয়। এখানে বেদান্তীয় ব্রহ্মবোধ-সমন্বিত ‘আত্যন্তিক লয়’ ঘোষণা করা হয়েছে।
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Moksha-śāstra / Vedānta","practical_application":"Use the Yama-gītā as a recitation-and-contemplation text to cultivate brahma-jñāna while sustaining dharmic life; orient practice toward ‘ātyantika laya’ (final cessation of saṃsāric identification).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Ātyantika-laya through Vedānta Brahma-dhī (Yama-gītā phala)","lookup_keywords":["Yama-gītā","ātyantika laya","brahma-jñāna","bhukti-mukti","Vedānta"],"quick_summary":"The Yama-gītā is presented as a recitable teaching that yields both bhukti (worldly well-being) and mukti (liberation). ‘Ultimate dissolution’ is defined as Vedāntic insight into Brahman, dissolving the root of bondage."}
Concept: Ātyantika-laya is not mere cosmic dissolution but the cessation of avidyā through brahma-dhī (Vedāntic realization of Brahman), granting mukti while supporting bhukti as a secondary fruit.
Application: Daily pāṭha (recitation) with nididhyāsana: reflect ‘I am not the perishing upādhis; the Akṣara Brahman alone is real’; use the promise of bhukti-mukti to stabilize sādhana without escapism.
Khanda Section: Moksha-śāstra / Vedānta (Liberation teachings; laya and brahma-jñāna)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Agni, as teacher, addresses Vasiṣṭha, declaring the Yama-gītā’s fruit of bhukti and mukti and defining ‘ātyantika laya’ as Brahman-realization; the atmosphere is austere and luminous, suggesting dissolution of ego into pure light.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style: Agni-deva with radiant aureole and stylized flames, seated as guru; Vasiṣṭha with matted locks and kamaṇḍalu listens; background minimal with lotus motifs; emphasize serene śānta mood and golden-red palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting: central Agni with embossed gold halo and flame ornaments; Vasiṣṭha in reverent posture; include palm-leaf manuscript labeled ‘Yama-gītā’; rich reds and greens, heavy gold work to symbolize Brahman-luster.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting: instructional composition—Agni pointing to a manuscript while a subtle white-gold field represents ‘Brahman’; delicate linework, soft shading; include small caption panels ‘bhukti’ and ‘mukti’ as symbolic fruits.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtly yet ascetic teaching scene in a pavilion; Agni as luminous sage-like figure, Vasiṣṭha seated; fine detailing of manuscript and rosary; subdued background wash transitioning into blank light to suggest laya."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अग्निर् उवाच → अग्निः उवाच (र्-सन्धि); यमगीतोक्ता → यमगीता उक्ता (आ + उ → ओ); भुक्तिमुक्तिदा → भुक्ति-मुक्ति-दा; प्रोक्तो → प्रोक्तः (o = visarga sandhi before voiced sound in pausa/metrical).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 381 (Yama-gītā); Agni Purana 382 (Agneya-purāṇa-māhātmya; vidyā-dvaya)
FAQs
It imparts Vedāntic mokṣa-vidyā: recitation/study of the Yama-gītā is presented as a practical means that yields both bhukti (worldly fruition) and mukti (liberation), culminating in ātyantika laya—final absorption through Brahman-knowledge.
Alongside its many applied sciences, the Agni Purāṇa also preserves philosophical soteriology: this verse indexes a Vedānta-based liberation doctrine (Brahman-realization and final dissolution), showing the text’s scope from practical instruction to ultimate metaphysics.
The verse attributes twofold fruit to the teaching—prosperity/experience in life (bhukti) and release from saṃsāra (mukti)—and frames the highest goal as ātyantika laya, attained by steady Brahman-insight rather than mere ritual action.