Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 5
Yati-dharma
The Dharma of the Renunciate Ascetic
समता चैव सर्वस्मिन्नेतन्मुक्तस्य लक्षणं नाभिनन्देन मरणं नाभिनन्देत जीवनं
samatā caiva sarvasminnetanmuktasya lakṣaṇaṃ nābhinandena maraṇaṃ nābhinandeta jīvanaṃ
Gleichmut gegenüber allem—dies ist das Kennzeichen des Befreiten: Er freut sich weder über den Tod noch über das Leben.
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s discourse frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Gives a diagnostic criterion of mukta: unwavering samata toward life and death, useful for self-assessment and guidance in moksha-marga.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Mukta-lakshana: samata toward life and death","lookup_keywords":["mukta-lakshana","samata","jnana-vairagya","jivana-marana","moksha-dharma"],"quick_summary":"Liberation is marked by equanimity toward all experiences. The liberated neither celebrates death nor clings to life."}
Concept: Jivanmukti sign: samata that transcends dualities (jivita/marana), indicating dissolution of raga-dvesha.
Application: Cultivate even-mindedness through viveka and abhyasa; observe reactions to gain/loss, praise/blame, life/death to measure detachment.
Khanda Section: Moksha-dharma (Jnana–Vairagya / Liberation Characteristics)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vairagya
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A serene liberated sage seated in meditation, with symbolic contrasts around him—life and death motifs (withered and blooming flowers, day and night) shown without affecting his calm expression.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central meditating sage with tranquil eyes, surrounding vignettes of birth and funeral rites stylized at the margins, balanced composition emphasizing samata.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, meditating jnani with gold halo; two side panels: a cradle (life) and a funeral pyre (death), both rendered as equal, with ornate border.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, soft gradients and fine lines; didactic symmetry: left side life symbols, right side death symbols; sage in center unmoved, minimal ornamentation.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined landscape: sage under a tree, villagers in background performing wedding and funeral scenes; sage remains detached, subtle facial serenity."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Shankara","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चैव = च + एव; सर्वस्मिन्नेतत् = सर्वस्मिन् + एतत्; nābhinandena/ nābhinandeta interpreted as न + अभिनन्देत (optative); manuscript spelling variation possible.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Moksha-dharma discussions on jnana, vairagya, and lakshanas of the wise
FAQs
It imparts the mokṣa-vidyā principle of samatā (equanimity): the practical discipline of not emotionally clinging to either survival (jīvana) or the ending of the body (maraṇa).
Alongside ritual, polity, and other sciences, the Agni Purāṇa also codifies liberation-teachings (mokṣa-dharma). This verse functions as a concise doctrinal definition—an identifying criterion (lakṣaṇa) of a liberated person—showing the text’s coverage of inner discipline and soteriology.
By cultivating equal-mindedness toward life and death, one reduces rāga-dveṣa (attachment and aversion), which weakens karmic bondage and supports steadiness in knowledge leading toward liberation.