Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 3
Chapter 378: Brahma-jñāna
Knowledge of Brahman
सन्न्यासः कर्मणान्त्यागः कृतानामकृतैः सह अव्यक्तादौ विशेषान्ते विकारो ऽस्मिन्निवर्तते
sannyāsaḥ karmaṇāntyāgaḥ kṛtānāmakṛtaiḥ saha avyaktādau viśeṣānte vikāro 'sminnivartate
Sannyāsa ist das Aufgeben der Handlungen, zusammen mit dem Empfinden dessen, was getan wurde und was ungetan bleibt. In diesem Prinzip, vom Unmanifesten (avyakta) bis zu den unterschiedenen Einzelheiten, kommt jede Wandlung zum Stillstand.
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Clarifies what counts as true sannyasa: not merely stopping rituals, but relinquishing doership and the mental ledger of ‘done/undone’, aiding meditation and ethical steadiness.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Sannyasa as abandonment of action and doership; cessation of vikara from Avyakta to Vishesha","lookup_keywords":["sannyasa","karman-tyaga","krtakrta","avyakta","vikara-nirodha"],"quick_summary":"Renunciation is defined as dropping action along with the sense of accomplishment and incompletion. With this insight, the chain of modification from the unmanifest to particulars is said to subside."}
Concept: Nivritti-lakshana sannyasa: tyaga of karma plus tyaga of ahankara-mamakara regarding ‘done/undone’; dissolution of vikara across the tattva-range from avyakta to vishesha.
Application: Practice ‘sakshi-bhava’ and relinquish the inner accounting of merit/defect; use as a meditation cue to drop identification with mental modifications.
Khanda Section: Moksha-dharma / Sannyasa & Karma-yoga (Renunciation doctrine)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A solitary renunciate seated in meditation, letting go of ritual implements and mental ‘tallies’ of deeds; behind him a subtle cosmological gradient from unmanifest darkness to differentiated forms dissolving back into stillness.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, ochre-red background, a serene sannyasin in white cloth seated in padmasana, discarded kamandalu and ritual ladle to the side, cosmic layers (avyakta to vishesha) painted as dissolving bands, stylized lotuses and flames subdued, calm shanta mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf halo, central meditating renunciate with minimal ornaments, symbolic gold bands showing the tattva-spectrum fading into a single luminous field, ornate border yet restrained palette to convey nivritti.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework, instructional composition: left panel ‘krtam/akrtam’ as scroll-like labels being released, right panel cosmic evolution reversing into avyakta, central yogin as witness, soft pastel wash.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed landscape with a hermitage, a yogin seated near a riverbank, attendants departing, subtle cloud forms representing avyakta, small vignettes of worldly actions fading, delicate brushwork and muted tones."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कर्मणान्त्यागः = कर्मणाम् + अन्त्यागः; कृतानामकृतैः = कृतानाम् + अकृतैः; विकारो ऽस्मिन् = विकारः + अस्मिन्; ऽस्मिन्निवर्तते = अस्मिन् + निवर्तते (नकार-सन्धि)
Related Themes: Agni Purana Moksha-dharma sections on sannyasa and jnana-yoga (same khanda sequence); Agni Purana Vedanta/tattva-nirnaya passages describing avyakta–vishesha evolution and its reversal in moksha
FAQs
It gives a technical definition of sannyāsa as karma-tyāga—relinquishing engagement in actions and the doer’s accounting of “done” and “to be done,” aimed at inner cessation (nivṛtti) rather than ritual accumulation.
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also systematizes mokṣa-teachings; here it uses philosophical vocabulary (avyakta, viśeṣa, vikāra) to map liberation onto cosmological/psychological categories.
By abandoning action-identity and the ledger of merit/debt (“done/undone”), one turns from pravṛtti to nivṛtti; this withdrawal is presented as the condition in which transformative change (vikāra) is stilled, loosening karmic bondage.