Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 40
Adhyāya 379 — अद्वैतब्रह्मविज्ञानम्
Advaita-brahma-vijñāna
ब्राह्मण उवाच भूयः पृच्छसि किं श्रेयः परमार्थन्न पृच्छसि श्रेयांस्यपरमार्थानि अशेषाण्येव भूपते
brāhmaṇa uvāca bhūyaḥ pṛcchasi kiṃ śreyaḥ paramārthanna pṛcchasi śreyāṃsyaparamārthāni aśeṣāṇyeva bhūpate
Der Brāhmane sprach: „Wieder fragst du: ‚Was ist heilsam (śreyas)?‘, doch du fragst nicht nach dem höchsten Ziel (paramārtha). O König, all jene ‚Vorteile‘, die nicht das höchste Ziel sind, sind ausnahmslos begrenzt und nur zweitrangig.“
Brāhmaṇa (a learned priest/sage addressing the king)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Clarifying the hierarchy of goals: distinguish instrumental goods (śreyas in worldly sense) from the ultimate end (paramārtha/moksha) to prevent misdirected striving.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Śreyas vs. Paramārtha: hierarchy of ends","lookup_keywords":["paramartha","śreyas","moksha","purushartha","viveka"],"quick_summary":"Not all ‘benefits’ are ultimate; only paramārtha (liberation/ultimate truth) is final, while other śreyas are finite and exhaustible."}
Alamkara Type: Vyatireka (contrast) / Arthantaranyasa (reasoned redirection)
Concept: Only the supreme end is non-exhaustible; all non-ultimate goods are limited and therefore not the final refuge.
Application: Decision filter: when choosing actions, ask whether the outcome is exhaustible (status, wealth, even heaven) or points to lasting freedom; prioritize practices leading to paramārtha.
Khanda Section: Moksha-dharma / Paramartha-nirnaya (Discourse on ultimate good and liberation)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A Brahmin teacher redirects a king from asking about ‘benefits’ to asking about the ‘supreme goal,’ depicted as two paths: many smaller rewards vs one luminous summit.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, teacher and king with a symbolic bifurcating path: left path with coins, crowns, heavenly pleasures; right path leading to a radiant lotus/sun labeled paramārtha, flat decorative composition and bold outlines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central luminous ‘paramārtha’ lotus with gold leaf, teacher pointing to it while the king turns away from smaller glittering objects (wealth, throne), ornate arch and rich textiles.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic diagram-like scene: two scroll panels showing ‘śreyas (finite)’ and ‘paramārtha (ultimate)’, teacher explaining to king, delicate shading and clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, garden terrace with two gates: one crowded with worldly gifts, another serene with a single lamp/lotus; teacher guiding the king toward the serene gate, intricate architectural detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: परमार्थन्न = परमार्थम् + न; श्रेयांस्यपरमार्थानि = श्रेयांसि + अपरमार्थानि; अशेषाण्येव = अशेषाणि + एव.
Related Themes: Agni Purana moksha-dharma chapters distinguishing dharma/artha/kama from moksha; Agni Purana teachings on vairagya and the limits of svarga
FAQs
It imparts the discernment-vidyā of priorities: distinguishing limited worldly ‘goods’ (śreyāṃsi) from the ultimate aim (paramārtha), i.e., liberation-oriented purpose.
Alongside rituals, polity, and other sciences, the Agni Purana also preserves mokṣa-oriented counsel—showing that its ‘encyclopedia’ includes philosophical guidance on ultimate aims, not only practical arts.
It redirects the seeker (here, a king) from merely merit-yielding or prosperity-yielding aims toward the highest end; spiritually, it encourages vairāgya and inquiry into liberation as the culminating purpose of dharma.