Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 16
Brahma-jñāna
Knowledge of Brahman
अहं ब्रह्म परं ज्योतिः सदसद्भाववर्जितं अहं ब्रह्म परं ज्योतिः सर्वावयववर्जितं
ahaṃ brahma paraṃ jyotiḥ sadasadbhāvavarjitaṃ ahaṃ brahma paraṃ jyotiḥ sarvāvayavavarjitaṃ
I am Brahman, the supreme Light—free from the notions of existence and non-existence. I am Brahman, the supreme Light—devoid of all parts and limbs, utterly without division.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in Brahma-jnana context)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Advaita-Vedanta","practical_application":"Meditative negation of ontological binaries (sat/asat) and of all partite conceptions to realize akhaṇḍa (indivisible) consciousness.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Brahman Beyond Sat-Asat and Parts (Niṣprapañca, Niravayava)","lookup_keywords":["sat asat","niravayava","akhaṇḍa","parama jyotis","advaita"],"quick_summary":"States Brahman as beyond existence/non-existence predicates and as partless. Practical use: drop conceptual extremes and body-based self-notions to abide in non-dual wholeness."}
Alamkara Type: Anaphora with antithesis (sat vs asat)
Concept: Brahman transcends sat/asat conceptualization and is niravayava (without parts), hence non-dual and indivisible.
Application: When mind asserts 'I exist/I do not', recognize both as thought-forms; rest as the partless witness not divisible into knower/known.
Khanda Section: Advaita-Vedanta (Brahma-jnana / Moksha-dharma thematic section)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A luminous, boundaryless sphere of light with no limbs or divisions; a meditator contemplates while two opposing labels 'sat' and 'asat' dissolve into the radiance.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, meditating yogin before an infinite, edgeless jyotis-field, stylized 'sat' and 'asat' glyphs fading, ornate border, earthy reds and greens with bright central white-gold","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central embossed gold aureole representing partless Brahman, minimal figurative elements, two small plaques 'sat' and 'asat' shown melting into the halo, jewel tones, gold work dominant","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean composition: diagrammatic partless circle of light, subtle gradations, yogin in corner, annotations indicating 'niravayava', refined lines and soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar-yogi in a garden, floating luminous orb without edges, delicate calligraphy 'sat/asat' dispersing like mist, fine brushwork and pastel washes"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सदसद्भाववर्जितम् = सदसत् + भाव + वर्जितम् (द्वन्द्व + तत्पुरुष). सर्वावयववर्जितम् = सर्व + अवयव + वर्जितम् (तत्पुरुष).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 377.15 (nirguṇa); Agni Purana 377.17 (bhedābheda-negation)
FAQs
It imparts Brahma-vidya (Advaita metaphysics): the contemplative identification of the Self with Brahman as the partless, transcendent Light beyond the dual categories of being and non-being.
Alongside rituals, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves high-level Vedantic doctrine; this verse exemplifies its moksha-oriented philosophical layer by defining Brahman using precise metaphysical negations (sadasat-vyavaccheda, niravayavatva).
Meditating on the Self as Brahman—beyond duality and division—supports detachment from bodily identity and mental constructs, directing the practitioner toward liberation (moksha) through nondual realization.