Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 17
Chapter 378: Brahma-jñāna
Knowledge of Brahman
अहमेतदितीत्युच्चैः कुरुते कुमतिर्मतिं इत्थञ्च पुत्रपौत्रेषु तद्देहोत्पातितेषु च
ahametaditītyuccaiḥ kurute kumatirmatiṃ itthañca putrapautreṣu taddehotpātiteṣu ca
‘मैं ही यह (देह) हूँ’—ऐसा सोचकर कुमति पुरुष ऊँचे स्वर से ऐसी धारणा प्रकट करता है; और इसी प्रकार पुत्र-पौत्रों के विषय में भी—जो उसी देह से उत्पन्न हुए हैं—यह भ्रान्ति बनी रहती है।
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Counter egoic identification and possessive extension into lineage by cultivating vairāgya, ethical restraint, and clear discrimination between body-relations and Self.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Ahaṃ-deha-buddhi and lineage-attachment—‘I am this’ extended to sons/grandsons","lookup_keywords":["aham etat","deha-abhimana","putra pautra moha","mamatva","karmic bondage"],"quick_summary":"The deluded person asserts ‘I am this body’ and extends the same confusion into possessive identity with descendants. Recognizing this pattern weakens bondage-producing attachment."}
Concept: Dehābhimāna (‘I am the body’) and its social extension into putra-pautra identification perpetuate moha and karmic entanglement.
Application: Practice ‘relation without possession’: fulfill duties to family while repeatedly negating identity-claims (‘I am not this body; they are not mine as Self’), reducing pride and clinging.
Khanda Section: Moksha–Vairagya / Atma-ajnana-ninda (Teaching on ego, delusion, and karmic bondage)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A man pointing to his body declaring ‘I’, with shadowy chains extending from him to sons and grandsons; the chains are shown as mental constructs, while a calm sage indicates the difference between duty and attachment.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, expressive figure with ‘aham’ banner, chains of mamatva linking to child and grandchild figures, sage at side with teaching gesture, dramatic contrast of dark chains and serene background aura","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central family group with ornate setting, gold-highlighted chains symbolizing attachment, a small luminous Self-symbol above, rich decorative borders and embossed details","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic scene: left shows ‘I am the body’ proclamation, right shows sage instructing detachment while maintaining dharma, clear narrative panels and fine linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, domestic courtyard with family lineage portrayed, subtle allegorical chains painted as translucent ribbons, a wandering ascetic advising, intricate textiles and architectural detail"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अहमेतदितीत्युच्चैः = अहम् + एतत् + इति + इति + उच्चैः; इत्थञ्च = इत्थम् + च; तद्देहोत्पातितेषु = तत् + देह + उत्पातितेषु
Related Themes: Agni Purana 378.15 (anatmani atma-buddhi; mamatva); Agni Purana 378.16 (moha-tamas in pañcabhūta-deha)
FAQs
It imparts adhyatma-vidya: the diagnostic insight that identifying the Self with the body (“I am this”) and extending ownership to progeny is a form of delusion that sustains bondage.
Alongside ritual, polity, and other sciences, the Agni Purana also preserves moksha-oriented instruction—here, a psychological-philosophical analysis of ego and possessiveness that complements its broader compendium of dharma and practical disciplines.
By exposing body-identification and lineage-possessiveness as ignorance, it points to detachment and self-knowledge as the remedy—reducing attachment-driven karma and supporting liberation-oriented conduct.