Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 23
Chapter 366 — सामान्यनामलिङ्गानि
Common Noun-Forms and Their Grammatical Genders
प्रत्याहार उपादानं निर्हारो ऽभ्यवकर्षणं विघ्नो ऽन्तरायः प्रत्यूहः स्यादास्यात्वासना स्थितिः
pratyāhāra upādānaṃ nirhāro 'bhyavakarṣaṇaṃ vighno 'ntarāyaḥ pratyūhaḥ syādāsyātvāsanā sthitiḥ
„Pratyāhāra“ ist das Zurückziehen (der Sinne); „nirhāra“ ist das Herausziehen; „abhyavakarṣaṇa“ ist das Wegziehen. „Vighna“ ist ein Hindernis; „antarāya“ ein Hemmnis; „pratyūha“ eine Gegen-Behinderung. „Āsyatva“ ist der Zustand des Sitzens, und „āsana-sthiti“ ist die Standfestigkeit in der Körperhaltung.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s yogic/technical definitions)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Yoga-vidya","practical_application":"Use precise yogic terminology to guide practice: sense-withdrawal, recognizing obstacles, and stabilizing seated posture for meditation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Pātañjala-yoga technical terms: Pratyāhāra, Antarāya, Āsana-sthiti","lookup_keywords":["pratyahara","antaraya","pratyuha","asana-sthiti","yoga-paribhasha"],"quick_summary":"Defines key yoga terms: withdrawing senses, types of hindrances, and the stable seated condition required for meditative practice."}
Concept: Yoga-sadhana requires pratyahara (sense-withdrawal), awareness of obstacles (vighna/antaraya/pratyuha), and stable posture (asana-sthiti).
Application: In meditation, deliberately retract attention from sense-objects, label and neutralize hindrances, and maintain a steady seated posture to support dharana/dhyana.
Khanda Section: Yoga-vidya (Patanjala-yoga terminology within Agni Purana’s encyclopedic teachings)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A yogin seated steadily in a calm posture, senses withdrawing inward; subtle symbolic forms of obstacles appear at the periphery and dissolve as attention returns to the inner seat of awareness.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, seated yogi in padmasana on a simple mat, muted earth pigments, stylized lotus and flame motifs, peripheral shadow-figures labeled as vighna/antaraya fading into the background, serene shanta mood","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central yogi with gentle halo, gold-leaf highlights on the seat and aura, minimal background, symbolic senses (eye/ear) turning inward, obstacles shown as small subdued figures at the border","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, clean linework and soft washes, instructional composition showing posture alignment (spine, shoulders), arrows indicating pratyahara (inward pull), small captions for terms","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined interior of a quiet chamber, yogi seated on a carpet, delicate margins with tiny allegorical figures representing hindrances, fine detailing and subdued palette"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: निर्हारो ऽभ्यवकर्षणं = निर्हारः + अभ्यवकर्षणम्; विघ्नो ऽन्तरायः = विघ्नः + अन्तरायः; स्यादास्यात्वासना स्थितिः = स्यात् + आस्यात्वासनास्थितिः (आस्यात्व + आसन + स्थिति as समाहार-द्वन्द्व).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Yoga-vidya section on yama-niyama, dharana-dhyana-samadhi terminology (adjacent verses in 366)
FAQs
It provides precise yogic definitions—especially of pratyāhāra (sense-withdrawal), types of hindrances (vighna/antarāya/pratyūha), and the practical requirement of stable seated posture (āsana-sthiti) for meditation.
Rather than narrative alone, it functions like a glossary of technical yoga vocabulary, showing how the Agni Purana compiles and systematizes specialized knowledge (here, Pātañjala-style yogic concepts) alongside many other sciences and arts.
By defining sense-withdrawal, obstacles, and posture-stability, it directs the practitioner toward uninterrupted meditation—reducing distraction and cultivating inner mastery, which supports purification of mind and steadiness on the spiritual path.