Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 20
Āsana–Prāṇāyāma–Pratyāhāra
Posture, Breath-control, and Withdrawal of the Senses
इन्द्रियाणि प्रसक्तानि प्रविश्य विषयोदधौ कन्यस इति ञ प्राणायामो ऽङ्कुश इति झ आहृत्य यो निगृह्णाति प्रत्याहारः स उच्यते
indriyāṇi prasaktāni praviśya viṣayodadhau kanyasa iti ña prāṇāyāmo 'ṅkuśa iti jha āhṛtya yo nigṛhṇāti pratyāhāraḥ sa ucyate
Wenn die Sinne, aus Anhaftung, in den Ozean der Sinnesobjekte eingetreten sind, dann heißt derjenige, der sie zurückholt und zügelt—gleichsam durch Prāṇāyāma als „Aṅkuśa“ (Treibstachel)—pratyāhāra (Zurückziehung der Sinne).
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition of Agni Purana, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Practice pratyāhāra by consciously withdrawing the senses from their objects, using breath-regulation as a restraining aid, to stabilize attention for dhāraṇā/dhyāna.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Pratyāhāra (Withdrawal of the Senses) likened to an Aṅkuśa (Goad)","lookup_keywords":["pratyāhāra","indriya-nigraha","viṣaya-udadhi","prāṇāyāma","aṅkuśa"],"quick_summary":"When senses rush into sense-objects like into an ocean, drawing them back and restraining them is pratyāhāra. Prāṇāyāma functions as a practical ‘goad’ to check outward movement and return attention inward."}
Alamkara Type: Rūpaka
Concept: Indriya-nigraha as pratyāhāra; breath-control as an auxiliary restraint for turning the mind inward.
Application: Use breath awareness to interrupt sensory chasing; periodically ‘reel in’ attention from sights/sounds/tastes and rest it in the inner field (antar-mukhatā).
Khanda Section: Yoga-vidya (Aṣṭāṅga-yoga: Prāṇāyāma, Pratyāhāra)
Primary Rasa: Śānta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A yogin sits steady while the five senses, depicted as creatures rushing into a vast ocean of objects, are pulled back by a symbolic goad labeled prāṇāyāma, returning toward the heart-lotus.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, seated yogi in padmāsana, stylized ocean of viṣayas with fish-like sense-icons, aṅkuśa motif as golden hook of prāṇāyāma drawing them inward, flat bold colors, ornate borders, sacred calm","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central yogi with halo, gold-leaf aṅkuśa symbol, miniature ocean of sense-objects at the bottom, rich reds and greens, embossed ornaments, devotional serenity","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional diagram feel: yogi, arrows from senses to objects and back, labeled ‘pratyāhāra’ and ‘prāṇāyāma-aṅkuśa’, delicate lines, muted palette, clarity and precision","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined courtly palette: yogi by a stylized sea, personified senses as attendants moving outward then turning back under a small goad in yogi’s hand, fine detailing, calm atmosphere"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: viṣayodadhau = viṣaya-udadhau (tatpuruṣa); prāṇāyāmo 'ṅkuśaḥ = prāṇāyāmaḥ aṅkuśaḥ; dhātu-based gerunds: praviśya, āhṛtya. The markers ña/jha are technical alphabetic labels in the source.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 372 (Āsana–Prāṇāyāma–Pratyāhāra); Agni Purana 373 (Dhyāna definitions)
FAQs
Yoga-vidyā: it gives a technical definition of pratyāhāra—drawing back and restraining the senses after they have run toward sense-objects—using prāṇāyāma as a controlling “goad” (aṅkuśa).
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves concise yogic psychology and practice-lakṣaṇas; this verse functions like a handbook definition within the broader compendium.
Withdrawing the senses from cravings reduces saṅga (attachment), steadies the mind for dhāraṇā/dhyāna, and supports purification by preventing new karmic entanglement through uncontrolled sense-contact.