Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 18
Chapter 374 — ध्यान (Dhyāna) — Colophon & Transition to Dhāraṇā
असत्यं सत्यमाभाति तावत्सर्वं चराचरं यावत् स्वस्यन्दरूपन्तु न दृष्टं गुरुवक्त्रतः
asatyaṃ satyamābhāti tāvatsarvaṃ carācaraṃ yāvat svasyandarūpantu na dṛṣṭaṃ guruvaktrataḥ
Tant qu’on n’a pas contemplé sa propre forme intérieure (le Soi) «de la bouche du Guru», c’est-à-dire par son enseignement, l’irréel paraît réel ; en effet, tout le monde, mobile et immobile, semble vrai.
Lord Agni (traditionally narrating the Agni Purana’s teachings to Sage Vashistha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Establish reliance on guru-upadeśa for ātma-jñāna; recognize that without Self-knowledge, the world’s apparent reality persists as avidyā.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Avidyā: the unreal appearing real until guru-revealed Self-vision","lookup_keywords":["asat satyavat","guru-vaktra","ātma-svarūpa","avidyā","jagat-pratīti"],"quick_summary":"Until the Self is directly understood through the Guru’s instruction, the unreal is taken as real and the entire world appears truly existent; guru-upadeśa is the pivot for reversing this error."}
Concept: Epistemic reversal: jagat appears real due to ignorance; Self-knowledge arises through guru-upadeśa and reveals the prior ‘reality’ as misapprehension.
Application: Seek competent instruction, practice śravaṇa–manana–nididhyāsana; test perceptions with viveka to reduce reification of transient phenomena.
Khanda Section: Jnana-yoga / Moksha-shastra (Guru-upadesha and Atma-svarupa-darshana)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A disciple before a seated Guru; the world behind appears vivid and solid, while a subtle inner light begins to reveal the disciple’s true inner form as the Guru speaks.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, guru on a simple āsana teaching, disciple kneeling, background showing bustling world-forms rendered slightly heavier, while a soft inner glow outlines the disciple’s heart-space, bold lines, sacred pedagogy","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, guru-disciple scene with gold halo around the guru’s head and a faint gold aura emerging from the disciple’s chest, worldly objects in the periphery, rich colors, devotional learning mood","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic composition: guru pointing in instruction, disciple attentive, background split—one side dense worldly imagery, other side simplified luminous inner silhouette, fine linework and soft shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate teaching in a garden pavilion, guru speaking, disciple listening, the ‘world’ depicted as detailed vignettes fading into a lighter wash near the disciple to suggest dissolving misapprehension"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सत्यमाभाति = सत्यम् + आभाति; तावत्सर्वम् = तावत् + सर्वम्; स्वस्यन्दरूपन्तु = स्वस्य + अन्तःरूपम् + तु; गुरुवक्त्रतः = गुरुवक्त्र + तः (तसिल्).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 374 (mokṣa/jñāna-yoga portions on guru, ātma-darśana, bhrānti)
FAQs
It imparts Jnana-vidya: the practical discipline of discerning reality from appearance, emphasizing that true knowledge arises through the Guru’s instruction revealing the inner Self.
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves moksha-shastra: concise Vedantic-style guidance on ignorance (avidya), appearance (bhranti), and liberation through Guru-upadesha.
It teaches that liberation begins when ignorance is removed by right instruction: without Self-realization the world binds as ‘real,’ but with Guru-given insight one turns toward freedom from bondage and suffering.