Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 6
अध्याय ३८० — गीतासारः
The Essence of the Gītā
यस्यां जाग्रति भूतानि सा निशा पश्यतो मुनेः आत्मन्येव च सन्तुष्टस्तस्य कार्यं न विद्यते
yasyāṃ jāgrati bhūtāni sā niśā paśyato muneḥ ātmanyeva ca santuṣṭastasya kāryaṃ na vidyate
Was für gewöhnliche Wesen „Wachsein“ ist, ist Nacht für den sehenden Weisen; und wer allein im Selbst zufrieden ist, hat keine verpflichtende Aufgabe zu erfüllen.
Lord Agni (instructing Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s jñāna section)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Reframe worldly busyness as ‘night’ to insight; cultivate self-contentment (atmarati) to reduce compulsive action and anxiety about duties.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Atma-santushti and akartavya-bhava of the seeing sage","lookup_keywords":["atmanyeva santushta","pashyato muneh","na karyam vidyate","jagrat-nisha","jnani"],"quick_summary":"The sage’s vision inverts ordinary wakefulness: what the world pursues is darkness to him. Content in the Self, he is free from compulsive obligation and action-for-result."}
Alamkara Type: Virodha (paradox)
Concept: Atma-santosha (self-sufficiency) dissolves the sense of obligatory doing; the jnani abides as seer rather than doer.
Application: Before acting, check whether action is driven by lack/craving; practice ‘seer stance’ (sakshi-bhava) and act only as needed, without inner compulsion.
Khanda Section: Moksha-yoga / Jnana-Vairagya (Self-knowledge and liberation teachings)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A muni with luminous, steady gaze sits by a riverbank at dawn while villagers rush about in daytime tasks; for the sage, the bustle is depicted as shadowy ‘night’.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, riverbank with lotus motifs, sage with bright facial highlight and calm eyes, villagers in darker tones engaged in trade and chores, symbolic contrast of light around sage vs muted world","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central sage with gold aura, surrounding circular medallions showing worldly activities (market, farming) rendered as dim panels, rich ornamentation emphasizing inner fullness","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic split-scene: ‘world’s wakefulness’ as crowded activity, ‘sage’s wakefulness’ as inner lamp/heart-lotus, fine gold accents and clean composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed town street with merchants and animals, sage seated in quiet corner with subtle halo, chiaroscuro-like contrast to suggest ‘night’ in the midst of day"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: आत्मन्येव → आत्मनि + एव; सन्तुष्टस्तस्य → सन्तुष्टः + तस्य
Related Themes: Agni Purana ch. 380 adjoining jnana-vairagya verses on non-attachment and guṇa analysis
FAQs
It imparts jñāna-vidyā: the contemplative insight that the realized sage abides in the Self, transcending ordinary notions of waking/sleep and thereby having no binding obligatory action (kārya) driven by desire.
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also systematizes mokṣa-śāstra: this verse is a compact teaching on liberation psychology (reversal of common cognition) and the karma-transcending status of the Self-contented knower.
The verse states that contentment in the Ātman ends karmic compulsion: when one is established in Self-knowledge, actions are no longer obligatory for fulfillment, weakening bondage-producing motivation and supporting liberation.