Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 17
Chapter 376 — ब्रह्मज्ञानम्
Knowledge of Brahman
भिन्नाभिन्नं ह्य् अनिर्वाच्यं बन्धसंसारकारकं एकं स ब्रह्म विज्ञानात् प्राप्तं नैव च कर्मभिः
bhinnābhinnaṃ hy anirvācyaṃ bandhasaṃsārakārakaṃ ekaṃ sa brahma vijñānāt prāptaṃ naiva ca karmabhiḥ
Ese único Brahman—que aparece como diferente y no diferente, y que es en verdad inexpresable—es la causa de la atadura y de la transmigración mundana (saṃsāra) mientras no sea conocido rectamente. Se alcanza mediante el vijñāna, el conocimiento realizado, y de ningún modo por acciones rituales (karma).
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, in the Agni Purana’s teaching dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Shift spiritual effort from mere ritualism to direct knowledge: prioritize śravaṇa–manana–nididhyāsana to end bondage rooted in misapprehension.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Brahman, Anirvacanīya Bhedābheda; Mokṣa by Vijñāna not Karma","lookup_keywords":["brahman","bhedābheda","bandha","vijñāna","karma"],"quick_summary":"Brahman appears as difference and non-difference and is inexpressible; bondage persists through ignorance and ends by realized knowledge, not by ritual action alone."}
Concept: Bandha is sustained by not knowing Brahman; mokṣa is through vijñāna (direct realization), not through karma as an end in itself.
Application: Reframe dharma: perform karma as purification (sādhana-catuṣṭaya support), but seek liberation through inquiry and realization.
Khanda Section: Moksha-jnana / Vedanta (Brahma-vijnana, Bandha-moksha-vicara)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A bound figure encircled by a wheel labeled saṃsāra; a beam of light labeled vijñāna cuts the bonds, while ritual implements lie respectfully aside as supportive but not liberating.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, saṃsāra-chakra around a human figure, chains dissolving under a descending white-gold ray marked 'vijñāna', ritual fire-altars and ladles at the side, solemn temple aesthetic","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-highlighted ray of knowledge breaking golden chains, central serene liberated figure, ritual items (kuśa, sruk, agni-kunda) rendered with ornament but placed lower, rich reds and greens","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, didactic composition: left panel karma/ritual scene, right panel meditation and inquiry, center shows bond-breaking by 'vijñāna', fine lines and soft shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, allegorical court scene: a sage presents a luminous manuscript (knowledge) freeing a chained seeker; ritual paraphernalia on a carpet; detailed textiles and architecture"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: भिन्नाभिन्नं = भिन्न + अभिन्नम् (dvandva); ह्य् = हि; नैव = न + एव; कर्मभिः = कर्मन्-तृतीया बहुवचन.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 376 (bandha-mokṣa-vicāra)
FAQs
It imparts Brahma-vijñāna (realized knowledge of Brahman): liberation is achieved by direct insight into the inexpressible, one reality, rather than by performing ritual karma.
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves Vedāntic mokṣa-doctrine; this verse is a compact philosophical entry explaining the limits of ritualism and the primacy of jñāna for liberation.
It redirects spiritual effort from merit-accumulating rites toward transformative knowledge: bondage and saṃsāra persist without right understanding, while mokṣa comes through vijñāna, not karma.