Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 37
Adhyāya 375 — समाधिः
Samādhi
द्रष्टव्यस्त्वथ मन्तव्यः श्रोतव्यश् च द्विजातिभिः य एवमेनं विन्दन्ति ये चारण्यकमाश्रिताः
draṣṭavyastvatha mantavyaḥ śrotavyaś ca dvijātibhiḥ ya evamenaṃ vindanti ye cāraṇyakamāśritāḥ
Therefore, by the twice-born (dvija) it is to be directly realized, then reflected upon, and also heard from authoritative teaching. Those who thus attain Him/That—those who have taken refuge in the āraṇyaka, the forest-discipline of contemplation—indeed find the Truth.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s didactic dialogue tradition)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Maps the Upanishadic learning sequence—śravaṇa, manana, (direct) darśana/anubhava—especially for dvijas and forest-discipline aspirants; useful as a curriculum for jnana-yoga pedagogy.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Jnana Method: Śrotavya–Mantavya–Draṣṭavya (Hearing, Reflection, Realization)","lookup_keywords":["shrotavya","mantavya","drashtavya","dvijati","aranyaka"],"quick_summary":"The twice-born should hear the teaching, reflect upon it, and realize it directly; those established in āraṇyaka discipline attain the Truth through this method."}
Concept: Epistemic ladder to Brahma-jnana: śravaṇa (authoritative hearing), manana (reasoned reflection), and darśana/anubhava (direct realization), supported by contemplative āraṇyaka discipline.
Application: Structure study: (1) regular listening to a qualified teacher/text, (2) daily reflection with doubts resolved, (3) sustained meditation until insight stabilizes; reduce sensory load as in forest-discipline even if living in society.
Khanda Section: Moksha-dharma / Jnana-yoga (Upanishadic instruction within the Agni Purana)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Mountain
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A guru teaching dvija students in a forest hermitage: first listening (śravaṇa) around the teacher, then a student in thoughtful posture (manana), and finally a meditator with an inner-light motif (darśana/realization).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, forest ashrama with guru on seat, students in attentive semicircle, separate vignette of solitary meditator under tree with radiant inner light, traditional stylized foliage and warm tones","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, guru with gold halo, three-panel narrative (hearing, reflection, realization), ornate gold borders, rich colors, palm-leaf manuscripts and rosaries highlighted with emboss","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, pedagogical triptych labeled śravaṇa-manana-darśana, fine linework, soft shading, clear gestures (listening hand, thinking chin-rest, meditation mudra)","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed forest school scene with naturalistic trees, guru and pupils, marginal vignette of meditating ascetic, delicate brushwork and subdued jewel palette"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: draṣṭavyastvatha → draṣṭavyaḥ + tu + atha; śrotavyaś → śrotavyaḥ; cāraṇyakamāśritāḥ → ca + āraṇyakam + āśritāḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana jnana-yoga passages on nididhyasana and vairagya; Agni Purana dharma sections on dvija duties and svadhyaya
FAQs
It teaches the jñāna-vidyā method: śravaṇa (hearing authoritative instruction), manana (reflective inquiry), and direct realization (draṣṭavya—experiential seeing of the Truth/Ātman), especially for Vedic-qualified seekers (dvijātis).
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves a concise Upanishadic soteriology—codifying the practical epistemic steps for liberation (hearing, reflection, realization) and linking them with the āraṇyaka/renunciant mode of life.
It frames liberation as arising from disciplined learning and contemplation culminating in direct realization; adopting the āraṇyaka contemplative orientation supports detachment and inner purity, enabling the seeker to ‘find’ the Supreme/Ātman.