Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 31
Chapter 381 — यमगीता
Yama-gītā
अहिंसा सत्यमस्तेयं ब्रह्मचर्यापरिग्रहौ यमाश् च नियमाः पञ्च शौचं सन्तोषसत्तपः
ahiṃsā satyamasteyaṃ brahmacaryāparigrahau yamāś ca niyamāḥ pañca śaucaṃ santoṣasattapaḥ
Ahiṃsā (no violencia), satya (veracidad), asteya (no robar), brahmacarya (conducta casta), y aparigraha (no posesividad) — éstos son los cinco yamas; y los cinco niyamas son śauca (pureza), santoṣa (contentamiento), sat-tapas (austeridad recta), junto con las demás observancias restantes.
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purana’s main narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Yoga","practical_application":"Ethical self-regulation: adopting yamas and niyamas as daily vows to purify conduct, stabilize mind, and support meditation and mokṣa-oriented life.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Yama–Niyama (Ethical Disciplines)","lookup_keywords":["ahiṃsā satya asteya","brahmacarya aparigraha","yama niyama","śauca santoṣa tapaḥ","yoga-vidhi"],"quick_summary":"Enumerates core restraints (yama) and observances (niyama) that form the moral foundation of yoga and spiritual life; practiced as daily disciplines to reduce agitation and cultivate clarity."}
Concept: Moral restraints and observances are prerequisites for higher yoga; purity, contentment, and austerity (and allied observances) refine character and mind.
Application: Adopt as a checklist: practice ahiṃsā in thought/speech/action; satya with kindness; asteya as non-appropriation; brahmacarya as disciplined senses; aparigraha as simplicity; plus daily śauca, santoṣa, tapaḥ and remaining niyamas per one’s tradition.
Khanda Section: Yoga & Dharma-vidhi (Yama–Niyama / Ethical Disciplines)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A didactic tableau: ten pillars or lotus-medallions labeled with yamas and niyamas, with a practitioner standing at the center holding a water-pot (purity) and prayer-beads (discipline), indicating ethical foundations of yoga.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, symmetrical composition with ten labeled lotus emblems around a calm sādhaka, traditional ornaments, subdued yet vibrant palette, temple-wall instructional feel.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central sādhaka with gold halo, ten gold-embossed medallions around naming yama/niyama, rich textiles and ornate borders, devotional-instructional blend.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean schematic: two columns titled Yama and Niyama with icons (e.g., dove for ahiṃsā, scales for satya), practitioner in the middle, soft washes and precise lines.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly manuscript illustration style: a teacher instructing students with a chart of yama-niyama, fine calligraphy panels, delicate architectural setting."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: satyamasteyaṃ = satyam + asteyaṃ; brahmacaryāparigrahau = brahmacarya + aparigrahau (dvandva dual); yamāś ca = yamāḥ + ca; santoṣasattapaḥ = santoṣa + sat + tapaḥ (compound/juxtaposition).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 381.30
FAQs
It teaches the yogic-dharmic framework of yamas (restraints) and niyamas (observances), specifying core disciplines like ahiṃsā, satya, asteya, brahmacarya, aparigraha, and niyama-practices such as śauca and santoṣa for daily spiritual training.
By cataloging yoga-ethical fundamentals alongside other Agni Purana subjects, it demonstrates the text’s encyclopedic scope—integrating practical moral psychology and sādhanā-methods with ritual, governance, and other knowledge systems.
Practicing these restraints and observances purifies conduct and intention, reduces harmful karma, stabilizes the mind for meditation, and supports dharmic living that leads toward inner clarity and liberation-oriented merit.