Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 23

Chapter 366 — सामान्यनामलिङ्गानि

Common Noun-Forms and Their Grammatical Genders

Devanagari script

प्रत्याहार उपादानं निर्हारो ऽभ्यवकर्षणं विघ्नो ऽन्तरायः प्रत्यूहः स्यादास्यात्वासना स्थितिः

Transliteration

pratyāhāra upādānaṃ nirhāro 'bhyavakarṣaṇaṃ vighno 'ntarāyaḥ pratyūhaḥ syādāsyātvāsanā sthitiḥ

Translation

«Pratyāhāra» est le retrait (des sens) ; «nirhāra» est l’extraction ; «abhyavakarṣaṇa» est l’éloignement par traction. «Vighna» est un obstacle ; «antarāya» un empêchement ; «pratyūha» une contre-obstruction. «Āsyatva» est l’état d’être assis, et «āsana-sthiti» la stabilité dans la posture.

Word by Word

• प्रत्याहारः: withdrawal; taking back
• प्रत्याहारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रति-आ-हृ (धातु) → प्रत्याहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• उपादानम्: taking up; acquisition
• उपादानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उप-आ-दा (धातु) → उपादान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• निर्हारः: removal; carrying out
• निर्हारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्-हृ (धातु) → निर्हार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अभ्यवकर्षणम्: dragging down; pulling away
• अभ्यवकर्षणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभि-अव-कृष् (धातु) → अभ्यवकर्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विघ्नः: obstacle
• विघ्नः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विघ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अन्तरायः: hindrance; impediment
• अन्तरायः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तराय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रत्यूहः: obstruction; counter-hindrance
• प्रत्यूहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रति-ऊह् (धातु) → प्रत्यूह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्यात्: would be; is said to be
• स्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• आस्यात्वासनास्थितिः: the state of being seated (sitting/posture/steadiness)
• आस्यात्वासनास्थितिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आस्यात्व + आसन + स्थिति (प्रातिपदिक); आस्यात्व=आस्य (प्रातिपदिक) + त्व (तद्धित), आसन (प्रातिपदिक), स्थिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective dvandva)

Speaker

Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s yogic/technical definitions)

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Yoga-vidya","practical_application":"Use precise yogic terminology to guide practice: sense-withdrawal, recognizing obstacles, and stabilizing seated posture for meditation.","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Pātañjala-yoga technical terms: Pratyāhāra, Antarāya, Āsana-sthiti","lookup_keywords":["pratyahara","antaraya","pratyuha","asana-sthiti","yoga-paribhasha"],"quick_summary":"Defines key yoga terms: withdrawing senses, types of hindrances, and the stable seated condition required for meditative practice."}

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Yoga-sadhana requires pratyahara (sense-withdrawal), awareness of obstacles (vighna/antaraya/pratyuha), and stable posture (asana-sthiti).

Application: In meditation, deliberately retract attention from sense-objects, label and neutralize hindrances, and maintain a steady seated posture to support dharana/dhyana.

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Yoga-vidya (Patanjala-yoga terminology within Agni Purana’s encyclopedic teachings)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A yogin seated steadily in a calm posture, senses withdrawing inward; subtle symbolic forms of obstacles appear at the periphery and dissolve as attention returns to the inner seat of awareness.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, seated yogi in padmasana on a simple mat, muted earth pigments, stylized lotus and flame motifs, peripheral shadow-figures labeled as vighna/antaraya fading into the background, serene shanta mood","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central yogi with gentle halo, gold-leaf highlights on the seat and aura, minimal background, symbolic senses (eye/ear) turning inward, obstacles shown as small subdued figures at the border","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, clean linework and soft washes, instructional composition showing posture alignment (spine, shoulders), arrows indicating pratyahara (inward pull), small captions for terms","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined interior of a quiet chamber, yogi seated on a carpet, delicate margins with tiny allegorical figures representing hindrances, fine detailing and subdued palette"}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: निर्हारो ऽभ्यवकर्षणं = निर्हारः + अभ्यवकर्षणम्; विघ्नो ऽन्तरायः = विघ्नः + अन्तरायः; स्यादास्यात्वासना स्थितिः = स्यात् + आस्यात्वासनास्थितिः (आस्यात्व + आसन + स्थिति as समाहार-द्वन्द्व).

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purana Yoga-vidya section on yama-niyama, dharana-dhyana-samadhi terminology (adjacent verses in 366)

Characters & Entities

• Pratyahara
• Asana
• Antaraya

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

It provides precise yogic definitions—especially of pratyāhāra (sense-withdrawal), types of hindrances (vighna/antarāya/pratyūha), and the practical requirement of stable seated posture (āsana-sthiti) for meditation.

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

Rather than narrative alone, it functions like a glossary of technical yoga vocabulary, showing how the Agni Purana compiles and systematizes specialized knowledge (here, Pātañjala-style yogic concepts) alongside many other sciences and arts.

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

By defining sense-withdrawal, obstacles, and posture-stability, it directs the practitioner toward uninterrupted meditation—reducing distraction and cultivating inner mastery, which supports purification of mind and steadiness on the spiritual path.