Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 22

Chapter 376 — ब्रह्मज्ञानम्

Knowledge of Brahman

Devanagari script

अहं ब्रह्म परं ज्ञानं समाधिर्बन्धघातकः चिरमानन्दकं ब्रह्म सत्यं ज्ञानमनन्तकं

Transliteration

ahaṃ brahma paraṃ jñānaṃ samādhirbandhaghātakaḥ ciramānandakaṃ brahma satyaṃ jñānamanantakaṃ

Translation

Je suis Brahman—la connaissance suprême. Le samādhi est le destructeur des liens. Brahman est une béatitude durable; il est vérité, connaissance et infini.

Word by Word

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• brahma: Brahman
• brahma: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• jñānam: knowledge / consciousness
• jñānam: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• samādhiḥ: samādhi / absorption
• samādhiḥ: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samādhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• bandha-ghātakaḥ: destroyer of bondage
• bandha-ghātakaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bandha + ghātaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (destroyer of bondage)

• cira-ānandakam: ever-blissful / long-lasting bliss
• cira-ānandakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cira + ānandaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• brahma: Brahman
• brahma: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• satyam: true
• satyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• jñānam: knowledge
• jñānam: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• anantakam: endless / infinite
• anantakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anantaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional dialogue)

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Yoga","practical_application":"Jnana-yoga with samādhi as a practical method: cultivate absorption to cut bondage, while contemplating Brahman as truth-consciousness-infinite bliss.","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Samādhi as bondage-destroyer; Brahman as satya-jñāna-ananta-ānanda","lookup_keywords":["Samādhi","Bandha-ghātaka","Param jñāna","Satya-jñāna","Ananta"],"quick_summary":"Teaches that samādhi destroys bondage and frames Brahman as supreme knowledge and enduring bliss—truth, knowledge, and infinity."}

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Samādhi as the operative means that destroys bandha; Brahman characterized as satya, jñāna, ananta and as lasting ānanda.

Application: Adopt a two-step discipline: (1) steady absorption (samādhi) to quiet vṛttis, (2) insight contemplation on Brahman’s nature to prevent relapse into identification.

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Moksha-dharma / Jnana-yoga (Brahma-vidya, Advaita-oriented teachings)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A meditator in deep absorption with broken shackles at the feet; behind, a vast horizon labeled satya, jñāna, ananta, and a calm ocean of ānanda.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, yogin in padmasana, serpentine chains snapping, background bands with symbolic words satya/jñāna/ananta, cool blues and ochres, temple-lamp accents.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, yogin with gold halo, embossed broken fetters, four gold cartouches: satya, jñāna, ananta, ānanda, rich textile patterns and ornate frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional yoga scene: stable posture, subtle breath lines, broken bond icon, neat labels for satya-jñāna-ananta, gentle gradients and fine outlines.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, ascetic in a rocky hermitage, discarded chains, expansive sky with calligraphic labels, restrained palette, intricate border and flora."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: समाधिर्बन्धघातकः = समाधिः + बन्धघातकः; ज्ञानमनन्तकं = ज्ञानम् + अनन्तकम्

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purana: Yoga-upasana and moksha-dharma discussions near this khanda

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Samādhi
• Satya (Truth)

FAQs

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

It imparts Brahma-vidyā: the contemplative knowledge that Brahman is the supreme reality and that samādhi (deep absorption) is the practical means that destroys bondage.

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

Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purāṇa also preserves liberation-doctrines (mokṣa-śāstra). This verse represents its Vedānta-style metaphysics and yoga psychology—defining Brahman and the function of samādhi.

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

By establishing oneself in samādhi grounded in Brahman-knowledge, the seeker cuts the fetters of karmic and mental bondage, culminating in realization of enduring bliss and the infinite reality.