Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 12
Adhyāya 375 — समाधिः
Samādhi
तिष्ठेत् स्वात्मनि विज्ञान आनन्दे ब्रह्मणीश्वरे मलिनो हि यथादर्श आत्मज्ञानाय न क्षमः
tiṣṭhet svātmani vijñāna ānande brahmaṇīśvare malino hi yathādarśa ātmajñānāya na kṣamaḥ
Debe uno permanecer establecido en su propio Sí mismo—en vijñāna (conocimiento realizado), en ānanda (bienaventuranza), en Brahman que es el Señor. Pues la mente impura es como un espejo manchado: no es capaz del verdadero conocimiento del Sí mismo.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Gives a practical diagnostic for spiritual progress: purity of mind is required for ātma-jñāna; use the ‘stained mirror’ analogy to motivate ethical discipline, meditation, and self-inquiry aimed at stable abidance in Self/Brahman-bliss.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Mala as Obstruction to Ātma-jñāna (Stained Mirror Analogy) and Abidance in Self","lookup_keywords":["svātmani tiṣṭhet","vijñāna","ānanda","mala","darpaṇa-dṛṣṭānta"],"quick_summary":"Abide in the Self as realized knowledge and bliss in Brahman; impurity (mala) prevents Self-knowledge just as a stained mirror cannot reflect clearly—therefore purification is prerequisite."}
Alamkara Type: Upamā (mirror simile)
Concept: Ātma-jñāna requires antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi; stable abidance in Self/Brahman as vijñāna-ānanda is the goal.
Application: Adopt a purification sequence: yama-niyama/ethical restraint, sense-discipline, japa or meditation, and self-inquiry; treat recurring agitation/impurity as ‘mirror-stain’ to be cleaned before expecting clear realization.
Khanda Section: Moksha-dharma / Jnana-yoga (Self-knowledge and liberation teachings)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A meditator seated in stillness; beside him a mirror—one half stained and dull, the other polished and bright—reflecting a luminous inner Self; the background suggests vast Brahmanic radiance.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: yogin in padmāsana, large stylized mirror split into stained and clean halves; lotus and flame motifs indicating ānanda and brahman; earthy palette, bold outlines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central meditating figure with gold halo; mirror with gold-embossed clean side and muted tarnished side; ornate border, deep reds and greens, devotional serenity","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional clarity—mirror-cleaning metaphor shown stepwise (cloth wiping stain, mirror brightening); meditator calm; fine linework and soft shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: quiet interior with a seated ascetic; a servant-like allegory figure polishing a mirror; the mirror reflects a radiant silhouette; delicate architectural details and subdued colors"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्वात्मनि = स्व + आत्मनि; ब्रह्मणीश्वरे = ब्रह्मणि + ईश्वरे; यथादर्श = यथा + आदर्शः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana mokṣa-dharma passages on antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi, jñāna-yoga, and meditation (nearby adhyāyas)
FAQs
It imparts Ātma-vidyā (knowledge of the Self): the practical discipline of abiding in the Self as realized knowledge and bliss, emphasizing inner purity as a prerequisite for authentic realization.
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves concise Vedānta-style mokṣa instruction—here summarizing a core epistemic principle: purification is required for clear self-cognition, illustrated through the mirror analogy.
The verse teaches that purification (removal of mala/impurity) is karmically and spiritually decisive: without it, Self-knowledge cannot arise; with it, one becomes fit for steady Brahman-abidance leading toward liberation.