Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 41
अध्याय ३८० — गीतासारः
The Essence of the Gītā
यज्ञस्तपस् तथा दानं सत्त्वाद्यैस्त्रिविधं स्मृतम् आयुः सत्त्वं बलारोग्यसुखायान्नन्तु सात्त्विकं
yajñastapas tathā dānaṃ sattvādyaistrividhaṃ smṛtam āyuḥ sattvaṃ balārogyasukhāyānnantu sāttvikaṃ
Opfer (yajña), Askese (tapas) und Gabe (dāna) werden als dreifach gelehrt, gemäß den drei Guṇas, beginnend mit Sattva. Sāttvige Speise aber ist jene, die Langlebigkeit, geistige Klarheit, Kraft, Krankheitsfreiheit und Glück fördert.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha, the standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Diet planning by guṇa: prefer sāttvika foods to support longevity, mental clarity, strength, disease-resistance, and well-being; align food with ethical-spiritual practices (yajña, tapas, dāna).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Sāttvika Āhāra: Food that Promotes Āyus, Sattva, Bala, Arogya, Sukha","lookup_keywords":["sattvika ahara","guna-traya","ayus","bala","arogya"],"quick_summary":"Practices like yajña, tapas, and dāna vary by guṇa; sāttvika food is defined functionally as that which increases longevity, clarity, strength, health, and happiness."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Guṇa-based classification applies to both ritual-ethical acts and diet; sāttvika intake supports sattva (lucidity) and thus steadies dharma and inner practice.
Application: Use food as a sādhanā-tool: when seeking steadiness in japa, study, or vrata, prioritize sāttvika meals and avoid mind-clouding choices.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Ahara-vidhi (Dietary classification and Sattvika food qualities)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A serene kitchen/meal offering scene: fresh wholesome foods presented, with symbols of longevity and clarity; yajña, tapas, and dāna shown as three parallel practices colored by guṇas.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, calm domestic-sacred scene: sāttvika meal on banana leaf (fresh fruits, milk, rice, ghee), a sage with serene face, subtle tri-guṇa motif in background, small vignettes of yajña fire, tapas (meditation), and dāna (giving), ornate floral borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf highlights on vessels of milk, ghee, grains, fruits; central seated rishi blessing food, radiant halo, small side panels showing yajña fire altar, ascetic tapas, and charity, rich jewel tones","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional composition: labeled ‘sāttvika āhāra’ with icons for āyus, bala, arogya, sukha; gentle palette, fine lines, minimal background, didactic clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined dining/charity scene in a garden pavilion: a learned figure explaining sāttvika food to disciples, trays of fresh foods, marginal notes indicating āyus and sattva, delicate detailing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: yajñastapas = yajñaḥ + tapaḥ; sattvādyaistrividham = sattva-ādyaiḥ + trividham; sukhāyānnantu = sukha-āya + annam + tu.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Ahara-vidhi passages on guṇa-based diet and conduct; Agni Purana sections on yajña/tapas/dāna classifications
FAQs
It classifies yajña (ritual), tapas (austerity), and dāna (charity) by the three guṇas and gives a functional Ayurvedic-style definition of sāttvika āhāra: food that supports longevity, mental clarity, strength, health, and happiness.
It bridges multiple domains—ritual theory (yajña), ethical disciplines (tapas/dāna), and practical health science (dietary guṇa-based nutrition)—showing how the text integrates spirituality with applied wellbeing guidance.
Choosing sāttvika food and sāttvika forms of practice is presented as supportive of purity (sattva), which stabilizes conduct and aids merit-producing acts like yajña, tapas, and dāna by keeping the body and mind fit for dharma.