Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 24
Chapter 378: Brahma-jñāna
Knowledge of Brahman
विचार्य स्वात्मनः शक्त्या लौहमाकर्षको यथा आत्मप्रयत्नसापेक्षा विशिष्टा या मनोगतिः
vicārya svātmanaḥ śaktyā lauhamākarṣako yathā ātmaprayatnasāpekṣā viśiṣṭā yā manogatiḥ
Just as a magnet draws iron by its own inherent power, so that distinctive movement of the mind depends upon one’s personal effort (self-application).
Lord Agni (teaching as narrator of practical spiritual disciplines)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Yoga","practical_application":"Use the magnet-iron analogy to cultivate self-effort (atma-prayatna) and confidence in inner capacity (shakti) for directing the mind.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Magnet Analogy for Mind’s Movement and Self-Effort","lookup_keywords":["lauha-akarsaka","atma-shakti","atma-prayatna","mano-gati","vichara"],"quick_summary":"As a magnet draws iron by its own power, the mind’s refined movement toward the goal depends on one’s inner power activated through deliberate effort."}
Alamkara Type: Drishtanta
Concept: Mano-gati becomes effective when supported by atma-prayatna; inner shakti is the operative cause like a magnet’s pull.
Application: When attention scatters, reassert intentional effort: set a clear object of contemplation, return repeatedly, and treat lapses as cues to strengthen resolve rather than as failure.
Khanda Section: Yoga & Adhyatma (Mind, effort, and inner power)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teacher illustrates the mind’s directed movement using a magnet drawing iron filings, symbolizing inner power guided by personal effort.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, guru and disciple in a simple ashrama, stylized magnet and iron pieces shown as symbolic motifs, warm earthy pigments, calm didactic mood, minimal background with palm trees","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central guru holding a small magnet-like emblem, iron filings arranged in a lotus pattern moving toward it, gold-leaf accents on the emblem and halo, rich decorative borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic clarity: magnet on one side, iron filings moving in arcs, parallel depiction of a seated meditator with mind-stream lines converging, fine linework and soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholarly setting with instruments on a low table, a magnet attracting iron needles, attentive student taking notes, delicate textiles and architectural niche backdrop"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: लौहम् + आकर्षकः → लौहमाकर्षकः; आत्मप्रयत्नसापेक्षा (आत्म + प्रयत्न + सापेक्षा); मनोगतिः (मनस् + गतिः)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 378.23 (withdrawal from objects); Agni Purana 378.25 (samadhi and brahma-prapti)
FAQs
It teaches a practical yogic principle: refined mental movement (manogati) is not automatic—it requires deliberate self-effort (ātma-prayatna), illustrated through the magnet-and-iron analogy.
Beyond ritual and mythology, it preserves applied inner-discipline knowledge—Puranic psychology and yoga—showing the text’s coverage of both external rites and internal methods of self-mastery.
It emphasizes personal responsibility in spiritual progress: karmic and meditative refinement arises through sustained self-application, not merely through passive belief or circumstance.