Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 38
Adhyāya 379 — अद्वैतब्रह्मविज्ञानम्
Advaita-brahma-vijñāna
समस्तावयेभ्यस्त्वं पृथग्भूतो व्यवस्थितः कोहमित्यत्र निपुणं भूत्वा चिन्तय पार्थिव तच्छ्रत्वोवाच राजा तमवधूतं द्विजं हरिं
samastāvayebhyastvaṃ pṛthagbhūto vyavasthitaḥ kohamityatra nipuṇaṃ bhūtvā cintaya pārthiva tacchratvovāca rājā tamavadhūtaṃ dvijaṃ hariṃ
તમે દેહ-મનના સર્વ અવયવોમાંથી અલગ રહી સ્થિત છો. ‘હું કોણ?’—આ તત્ત્વમાં નિપુણ બની ઊંડું ચિંતન કરો, હે પાર્થિવ. આ સાંભળી રાજાએ તે અવધૂત દ્વિજ હરિને ઉત્તર આપ્યો.
Avadhuta Brahmin (addressing the King); narrative voice within Agni Purana traditionally framed by Agni to Vashistha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Guided self-inquiry (‘ko’ham’) and detachment from psycho-physical constituents; framing the teacher as avadhuta for radical renunciation pedagogy.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Ko’ham inquiry: standing apart from constituents (avayava)","lookup_keywords":["ko'ham","avadhuta-upadesha","viveka","vairagya","skandha/avayava"],"quick_summary":"Recognize yourself as distinct from all constituents; then practice sustained ‘Who am I?’ reflection to stabilize disidentification and inner freedom."}
Alamkara Type: Upadesha (didactic direct address)
Concept: Purusha/witness stands distinct from body-mind constituents; inquiry matures into steady abidance.
Application: Daily practice: (1) note sensations/thoughts as ‘seen’; (2) ask ‘Who is the seer?’; (3) rest as the witnessing awareness, especially during praise/blame and gain/loss.
Khanda Section: Moksha-jnana / Avadhuta-upadesha (Self-inquiry and detachment teachings)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An avadhuta Brahmin (Hari-like, serene) instructs a king: the king listens with folded hands; the teacher’s presence suggests renunciation and inner freedom.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, avadhuta with matted hair and simple cloth, luminous calm face, king in royal attire kneeling respectfully, symbolic separation shown by a faint halo around the sage and a subtle boundary line between body silhouettes and a glowing ‘witness’ aura.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, avadhuta seated on deer-skin, king offering respectful salutation, gold leaf for spiritual aura, minimal props: kamandalu, staff, palm-leaf text labeled ‘ko’ham’.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, quiet hermitage setting, teacher pointing inward toward the heart-space, king attentive, soft colors and fine ornamentation, didactic clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, ascetic and king in dialogue near a riverside grove, delicate foliage, the king’s retinue kept at distance to emphasize renunciation, refined facial expressions."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: समस्तावयेभ्यः = समस्त + अवयवेभ्यः (पाठभेद; यहाँ ‘अवयेभ्यः’ रूप); अवयेभ्यस्त्वम् = अवयेभ्यः + त्वम्; पृथग्भूतः = पृथक् + भूतः; कोहम् = कः + अहम्; इत्यत्र = इति + अत्र; तच्छ्रुत्वा = तत् + श्रुत्वा; श्रत्वोवाच (पाठ) = श्रुत्वा + उवाच; तमवधूतम् = तम् + अवधूतम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana moksha-dharma passages on vairagya and jnana; Agni Purana Kapila/Sankhya expositions (purusha-prakriti distinction)
FAQs
A jñāna-vidyā method: viveka (discrimination) from body–mind constituents and sustained ātma-vicāra through the inquiry “ko ’ham—Who am I?”
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves mokṣa-oriented instruction—here, a concise Advaita-style self-inquiry framed through an avadhūta dialogue.
Contemplating oneself as distinct from the body and mental factors purifies identification (ahaṅkāra) and supports liberation (mokṣa) by loosening karmic bondage rooted in misidentification.