Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 8
Chapter 378: Brahma-jñāna
Knowledge of Brahman
शब्दब्रह्मागममयं परं ब्रह्म विवेकजम् द्वे ब्रह्मणी वेदितव्ये ब्रह्मशब्दपरञ्च यत्
śabdabrahmāgamamayaṃ paraṃ brahma vivekajam dve brahmaṇī veditavye brahmaśabdaparañca yat
El Brahman Supremo está constituido por los āgamas como el “Brahman en forma de sonido” (śabda-brahman) y se realiza mediante el conocimiento discriminativo (viveka). Por ello han de conocerse dos Brahmanes: el Brahman que es Palabra/Sonido (brahma-śabda) y el que es Supremo (param).
Lord Agni (traditionally instructing Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s discourse frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Discriminate between linguistic revelation (śabda-brahman) and the transcendent Brahman to orient study (śāstra/āgama) toward realization rather than mere verbalism.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Dve Brahmaṇī: Śabda-brahman and Para-brahman","lookup_keywords":["śabda-brahman","para-brahman","āgama","viveka","brahma-śabda"],"quick_summary":"The text distinguishes Brahman as accessible through sound/scripture (śabda-brahman) from the supreme Brahman realized by discriminative knowledge. Scriptural sound is a valid doorway, but not identical with the final, non-verbal realization."}
Alamkara Type: Vibhajana (conceptual division)
Concept: Twofold knowing: śabda-brahman (scriptural/sound-form) and para-brahman (supreme, realized through viveka).
Application: Use śruti/āgama as disciplined inquiry leading to discrimination and contemplative realization, avoiding attachment to mere recitation or terminology.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra / Shabda-brahma (Vedic-phonetic theology and linguistic metaphysics)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sage instructs a student: one side shows Vedic manuscripts and resonant syllables (śabda-brahman), the other a luminous formless radiance (para-brahman) reached through discernment.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural, seated rishi with palm-leaf manuscripts, stylized sound-waves as Sanskrit syllables rising to a golden formless halo labeled para-brahman, deep earthy reds and greens, traditional ornamentation","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, guru and disciple, embossed gold halo representing para-brahman, manuscripts and rosary for śabda-brahman, rich jewel tones, gold work highlighting the twofold Brahman teaching","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional composition with two panels: left Veda/āgama and sound-symbols, right abstract luminous Brahman, fine linework, soft shading, captions in Devanagari","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholarly assembly in a garden pavilion, one scholar pointing from a manuscript to an abstract radiant disc in the sky, delicate borders, fine calligraphy motifs"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: śabdabrahmāgamamayaṃ = śabda-brahma-āgama-mayam; brahmaśब्दपरञ्च = brahma-śabda-param ca; IAST 'parañca' normalized to 'param ca'.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 378.9; Agni Purana 378.10; Agni Purana 378.11; Agni Purana 378.12
FAQs
It teaches the doctrine of śabda-brahman (Brahman as Vedic sound/scripture) alongside para-brahman (the transcendent Absolute), implying that mantra/āgama-based practice and discriminative inquiry (viveka) are complementary means of knowing Brahman.
The Agni Purana integrates ritual-technical domains (āgama, mantra, sacred speech) with philosophical Vedāntic synthesis (para-brahman and viveka), showing how linguistic science and scripture-based practice are mapped onto metaphysical realization.
By distinguishing and knowing both śabda-brahman (scriptural sound) and para-brahman (supreme reality), the practitioner aligns disciplined recitation and study with inner discernment, supporting purification of understanding and progress toward liberation.