Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 18
Chapter 376 — ब्रह्मज्ञानम्
Knowledge of Brahman
सर्वात्मना हीन्द्रियाणां संहारः कारणात्मनां बुद्धेः स्थानं सुषुप्तं स्यात्तद्द्वयस्याभिमानवान्
sarvātmanā hīndriyāṇāṃ saṃhāraḥ kāraṇātmanāṃ buddheḥ sthānaṃ suṣuptaṃ syāttaddvayasyābhimānavān
Wahrlich, in jeder Hinsicht findet ein vollständiger Rückzug bzw. ein Aufgehen der Sinnesvermögen (indriya) statt, die von kausaler Natur sind. Als Sitz der buddhi (Intellekt) gilt der Tiefschlaf (suṣupti); und wer sich mit diesem Paar (buddhi und ihrem kausalen Zustand) identifiziert, ist Träger von abhimāna, der Ego-Vorstellung.
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Map deep sleep as sensory withdrawal and causal condition of mind to cultivate detachment and understand ego as identification with inner instruments; supports yoga nidra and meditation on the witness.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Suṣupti: Indriya-saṃhāra, Buddhi-sthāna, and Abhimāna","lookup_keywords":["suṣupti","indriya-saṃhāra","buddhi","kāraṇa","abhimāna"],"quick_summary":"In deep sleep the senses withdraw into their causal condition; buddhi’s locus is termed suṣupti, and ego-notion persists as identification with that causal pair."}
Concept: Suṣupti is characterized by indriya-saṃhāra into causal state; buddhi is resolved, yet abhimāna (I-notion) remains as identification with the causal condition.
Application: Observe the transition into sleep and on waking note the continuity of 'I' despite absence of objects; use this to infer the witness distinct from senses and intellect.
Khanda Section: Sankhya–Yoga / Vedanta-oriented Psychology (States of Consciousness and Inner Instruments)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sleeper with senses depicted as rays retracting back into a central seed-like core; buddhi shown as a lotus closing; a small knot labeled abhimāna remains tied at the center.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, reclining figure, five sense-rays withdrawing into a central bindu, lotus of buddhi closing petals, a tiny knot/loop at the heart marked 'abhimāna', dark indigo night background with sacred austerity","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-outlined rays folding inward toward a central seed, closed lotus motif over the chest, minimal scene with rich blue-black ground, embossed gold for the central bindu and knot of ego","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, instructional diagram style: arrows showing indriyas returning to kāraṇa, buddhi-lotus closing, label 'suṣupti'; calm palette and precise linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate night interior: sleeper on a bed, translucent lines representing senses retracting, a closed lotus emblem near the head/heart, subtle calligraphy annotations"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सर्वात्मना = सर्व + आत्मना (अव्ययीभाव); हीन्द्रियाणां = हि + इन्द्रियाणाम्; स्यात्तद्द्वयस्याभिमानवान् = स्यात् + तत् + द्वयस्य + अभिमानवान्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 376 (suṣupti and antaḥkaraṇa analysis)
FAQs
It teaches the psychological/meditative principle of indriya-saṃhāra (withdrawal of the senses) and identifies suṣupti (deep sleep) as a ‘seat’ where the intellect rests in a causal, undifferentiated mode—useful for Yoga-style analysis of mind-states.
Beyond rituals and dharma, the Agni Purana also preserves technical frameworks of Indian philosophy (Sāṅkhya–Yoga/Vedānta), here cataloging inner instruments (buddhi, indriyas), causal states, and consciousness modes (suṣupti), demonstrating its multi-disciplinary scope.
By recognizing that deep sleep involves dissolution of sensory activity and that ego arises from identification (abhimāna) with subtle faculties, the practitioner gains detachment from the ‘I’-sense—supporting discrimination (viveka) and inward purification conducive to liberation-oriented practice.