Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 22
Chapter 378: Brahma-jñāna
Knowledge of Brahman
भजते प्राकृतान्धर्मान् अन्यस्तेभ्यो हि सो ऽव्ययः वन्धाय विषयासङ्गं मनो निर्विषयं धिये
bhajate prākṛtāndharmān anyastebhyo hi so 'vyayaḥ vandhāya viṣayāsaṅgaṃ mano nirviṣayaṃ dhiye
He may practise ordinary (worldly) duties, yet he is truly other than them—imperishable. Attachment to sense-objects is for bondage; for wisdom, the mind is to be made free from objects.
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, in the usual Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Live in the world performing duties without self-identification; systematically reduce viṣaya-āsakti (sense-attachment) through restraint, reflection, and meditation to support liberation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vairāgya: Making the Mind Nirviṣaya while Doing Duties","lookup_keywords":["vairāgya","viṣaya-āsakti","bandha","nirviṣaya-manas","dharma"],"quick_summary":"One may perform worldly duties yet remain distinct and imperishable; bondage comes from attachment to sense-objects, while wisdom requires rendering the mind object-free (nirviṣaya) through disciplined detachment."}
Concept: Karma without viṣaya-āsakti; nirviṣaya mind supports jñāna and freedom from bandha.
Application: Adopt a three-step practice: (1) do duties as offering, (2) monitor and cut attachment at the moment of craving, (3) daily meditation to rest attention without objects (pratyāhāra/dhyāna).
Khanda Section: Moksha-Dharma / Jnana-Vairagya (Renunciation and liberating knowledge)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A householder performs daily duties (fire-offering, service, work) while a calm inner figure remains untouched; sense-objects appear as fading silhouettes, indicating nirviṣaya mind.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, gṛhastha at agnihotra with stylized flames, inner aura of detachment around the head, fading icons of pleasures at the margins, serene composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, devotee performing duty before sacred fire, gold-leaf highlighting the fire and halo, peripheral sense-objects rendered dim and subdued, emphasis on inner purity","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, stepwise instructional panel: duty-performance, then restraint from objects, then seated meditation; clear sequencing, fine lines, gentle colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, domestic-court scene: man engaged in work and charity, with a subtle translucent overlay of meditative silhouette; detailed objects fading into mist to show detachment"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्राकृतान्धर्मान् = प्राकृतान् धर्मान्; अन्यस्तेभ्यो = अन्यः तेभ्यः; सोऽव्ययः = सः अव्ययः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Moksha-dharma teachings on vairāgya and asaṅga (nearby 378.18–21)
FAQs
It imparts the practical jñāna-yoga discipline of reducing viṣaya-āsaṅga (sense-attachment) and cultivating a nirviṣaya (object-free) mind as the operative method for wisdom and liberation.
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also systematizes mokṣa-śāstra: concise yogic psychology explaining how ordinary dharma can coexist with inner transcendence through detachment.
It states that clinging to sense-objects generates bondage, while inward non-attachment purifies cognition and supports imperishability (freedom) even while performing worldly duties.