Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 46
अध्याय ३८० — गीतासारः
The Essence of the Gītā
सात्त्विकञ्च तपो ऽकामं फलाद्यर्थन्तु राजसं तामसं परपीडायै सात्त्विकं दानमुच्यते
sāttvikañca tapo 'kāmaṃ phalādyarthantu rājasaṃ tāmasaṃ parapīḍāyai sāttvikaṃ dānamucyate
L’austérité (tapas) accomplie sans désir de récompense est dite sāttvika; celle entreprise pour obtenir des résultats et des avantages est rājasa; et celle faite pour nuire à autrui est tāmasa. De même, le don (dāna) est qualifié de sāttvika lorsqu’il s’accorde à une telle pureté d’intention.
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as the usual narrative frame of the Agni Purāṇa)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Classify austerity and charity by intention and effect (sattva/rajas/tamas) to guide ethical religious practice.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Tri-guṇa Lakṣaṇa of Tapaḥ and Dāna","lookup_keywords":["sattvika tapas","rajasa tapas","tamasa tapas","triguna dana","parapidana"],"quick_summary":"Austerity without desire is sāttvika; result-seeking is rājasa; harming others is tāmasa. Charity is sāttvika when given with pure intent aligned to sattva."}
Concept: Guṇa-based evaluation of religious acts: intention (kāma/niṣkāma) and harm/non-harm determine moral quality.
Application: Before tapas or dāna, audit motive: remove desire for fame/fruit; reject practices that cause injury; prefer compassionate, steady disciplines.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra (Triguna classification of religious acts: tapaḥ & dāna)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: dharmya
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Three panels showing tapas: (1) calm meditator with simple diet (sattva), (2) performer seeking praise with onlookers and gifts (rajas), (3) harsh act causing harm (tamas); alongside a pure charity scene.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural triptych composition, three austerity scenes with clear iconographic cues: serene yogin, ostentatious ritualist with crowd, dark-toned harmful act; balanced pigments, didactic clarity.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold highlights: central sattvika donor offering food/cloth to worthy recipient, side medallions for rajas (garlanded by admirers) and tamas (shadowed figure), ornate frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style instructional chart-like painting, labeled three guṇas, fine lines, soft colors, gestures indicating motive (open palm humility vs. pointing for recognition vs. aggressive posture).","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature with narrative sequencing: courtly patron giving for prestige (rajas), hermit in quiet grove (sattva), grim scene of coercive penance (tamas), detailed faces and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सात्त्विकञ्च → सात्त्विकम् + च. तपोऽकामम् → तपः + अकामम्. फलाद्यर्थन्तु → फल-आदि-अर्थम् + तु. दानमुच्यते → दानम् + उच्यते.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Dharma-shastra sections on guṇa-vibhāga of acts; Agni Purana: Mokṣa-dharma teachings on niṣkāma-karma
FAQs
It gives a practical triguṇa-based diagnostic: judge tapas (and by extension dāna) by motive—desireless (sāttvika), fruit-seeking (rājasa), or harm-causing (tāmasa).
Alongside rituals and other sciences, the Agni Purāṇa also systematizes ethics and psychology of action (triguṇa theory), offering a concise taxonomy applicable across worship, charity, and disciplined practices.
It teaches that inner intention determines karmic quality: desireless purity elevates merit, passion binds action to results, and harm-oriented practice becomes spiritually destructive.