Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 5
Chapter 369 — शरीरावयवाः
The Limbs/Organs and Constituents of the Body
अव्यक्तमास्रितानीह रजःसत्त्वतमांसि च आन्तरः पुरुषो जीवः स परं ब्रह्म कारणं
avyaktamāsritānīha rajaḥsattvatamāṃsi ca āntaraḥ puruṣo jīvaḥ sa paraṃ brahma kāraṇaṃ
यहाँ अव्यक्त (प्रकृति) में रजस्, सत्त्व और तमस्—ये गुण आश्रित रहते हैं। भीतर स्थित पुरुष, जीव, वही परम ब्रह्म है—कारण-स्वरूप।
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, in the standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Framework for understanding guṇas as prakritic constituents and the inner self as ultimately Brahman; used for guṇa-observation, ethical cultivation (sattva), and nondual contemplation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Guṇas in Avyakta; Jīva as Antaḥ-Puruṣa and Brahman as Kāraṇa","lookup_keywords":["rajas sattva tamas","avyakta","antaḥ puruṣa","jīva","paraṃ brahma kāraṇam"],"quick_summary":"Defines the guṇas as abiding in the Unmanifest (Prakṛti) and identifies the indwelling person (jīva) with the Supreme Brahman as causal source. Guides a move from guṇa-bound psychology to Brahman-centered identity."}
Concept: Guṇas belong to Prakṛti (avyakta); the inner self is ultimately Brahman, the causal ground—pointing toward identity of jīva and Brahman (Vedāntic leaning).
Application: Track mental states as rajas/sattva/tamas without self-identifying; then rest as witnessing consciousness, contemplated as Brahman beyond guṇas.
Khanda Section: Vedanta / Sankhya-oriented Brahma-vidya (Metaphysics of Prakriti, Jiva, and Brahman)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A subtle cosmogram: Avyakta as a dark, unmanifest field containing three colored strands (sattva-white, rajas-red, tamas-black); within the heart-lotus shines the inner Purusha, expanding into an all-pervading Brahman light.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: central heart-lotus with radiant inner figure, background as deep indigo avyakta, three intertwined guṇa bands in traditional colors, symbolic flames of Brahman radiance, ornate temple borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gilded Brahman aura filling the panel, small inner jīva figure at center, three embossed guṇa ribbons around a dark avyakta medallion, heavy gold work and jewel tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: didactic painting with labeled guṇa strands emerging from avyakta cloud, sage indicating the heart-lotus where antaḥ-puruṣa is shown, soft gradients and fine detailing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: allegorical scene—three courtiers in red/white/black (guṇas) around a veiled figure (avyakta), while a luminous ascetic (inner self) points to a sun-like Brahman disk; intricate textiles and borders."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: avyaktamāsritāniha = avyaktam + āśritāni + iha; rajaḥsattvatamāṃsi = rajaḥ + sattva + tamāṃsi.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: guṇa-nirūpaṇa passages; Agni Purana: Brahma-vidyā/Mokṣa chapters identifying jīva–brahman relation
FAQs
It imparts Brahma-vidyā: the technical metaphysical mapping that the three guṇas (rajas, sattva, tamas) belong to the Unmanifest (avyakta/Prakṛti), while the inner conscious principle (puruṣa/jīva) is identified with the Supreme Brahman as the ultimate cause.
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purāṇa also preserves compact philosophical summaries—here blending Sāṅkhya categories (avyakta, guṇas) with Vedāntic causality (paraṃ brahma kāraṇam)—showing its wide, encyclopedic coverage of Indian knowledge systems.
By discerning guṇas as products of Prakṛti and recognizing the inner self as rooted in Brahman, one reduces misidentification with passion and inertia, supports detachment (vairāgya), and orients practice toward liberation (mokṣa) rather than guṇa-driven karma.