Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 22
अध्याय ३८० — गीतासारः
The Essence of the Gītā
इच्छा द्वेषः सुखं दुःखं सङ्घातश्चेतना धृतिः एतत्क्षेत्रं समासेन सविकारमुदाहृतं
icchā dveṣaḥ sukhaṃ duḥkhaṃ saṅghātaścetanā dhṛtiḥ etatkṣetraṃ samāsena savikāramudāhṛtaṃ
Désir, aversion, plaisir, douleur, l’agrégat (du corps et des sens), la conscience (cetanā) et la fermeté (dhṛti) : voilà, en bref, ce qui est déclaré être le kṣetra (le « champ » incarné), avec ses transformations.
Lord Agni (instructional narration to Sage Vasiṣṭha, consistent with Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Identify emotions and mental states (desire, aversion, pleasure, pain, etc.) as kṣetra-modifications to reduce reactivity and strengthen witness-awareness.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Kṣetra as Vikaras: Icchā, Dveṣa, Sukha, Duḥkha, Saṅghāta, Cetanā, Dhṛti","lookup_keywords":["icchā","dveṣa","sukha-duḥkha","cetanā","dhṛti"],"quick_summary":"The ‘field’ includes not only the body but also its psychological modifications—desire, aversion, pleasure, pain, the psycho-physical aggregate, consciousness-as-function, and resolve. Seeing them as objects aids detachment."}
Concept: Mental-emotional states and even functional ‘cetanā’ and ‘dhṛti’ belong to kṣetra as vikaras (modifications), not to the pure knower.
Application: When desire/aversion arises, label it ‘kṣetra-vikāra’; return to witnessing. Use dhṛti (steadfastness) as a cultivated function to sustain practice without ego-appropriation.
Khanda Section: Sankhya–Yoga / Kshetra-Kshetrajna (Philosophical Analysis of Body–Mind Constituents)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A meditating practitioner watches thought-waves labeled desire, aversion, pleasure, pain; behind them a steady lamp symbolizes dhṛti; the witness remains untouched.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: seated yogin, stylized waves emerging from the head with labels icchā/dveṣa/sukha/duḥkha; a steady oil-lamp motif for dhṛti; warm earthy palette, ornamental borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central yogin with gold halo; surrounding embossed medallions for each vikāra; a gold lamp at the base signifying steadfastness; rich reds and greens.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: refined instructional scene—yogin in padmāsana, translucent thought-bubbles labeled; calm background, fine linework emphasizing observation practice.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: a saint in a garden pavilion; delicate cloud-like cartouches for emotions; a small lamp and rosary indicating discipline; detailed flora and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सङ्घातः चेतना → सङ्घातश्चेतना; एतत् क्षेत्रम् → एतत्क्षेत्रम्; सविकारम् उदाहृतम् → सविकारमुदाहृतम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 380.20 (definition of kṣetrajña); Agni Purana 380.23-24 (virtues and dispassion)
FAQs
It imparts kṣetra-vidyā: a technical enumeration of the embodied ‘field’ (body–mind complex) via its key psychological and functional factors—desire, aversion, pleasure, pain, the psycho-physical aggregate, consciousness, and steadfastness—used for discriminative analysis in Sāṅkhya–Yoga practice.
Beyond rituals and worship, the Agni Purāṇa compiles systematic philosophical taxonomies; this verse functions like a concise doctrinal glossary entry defining kṣetra and its vikāras, aligning Purāṇic teaching with classical Sāṅkhya/Yoga-style categories for self-study and instruction.
By recognizing these factors as constituents/modifications of kṣetra, a practitioner reduces identification with fluctuating states (desire, aversion, pleasure, pain) and cultivates steadiness (dhṛti), supporting detachment, clearer discernment, and more sattvic karma.