Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 8

Chapter 378: Brahma-jñāna

Knowledge of Brahman

Devanagari script

शब्दब्रह्मागममयं परं ब्रह्म विवेकजम् द्वे ब्रह्मणी वेदितव्ये ब्रह्मशब्दपरञ्च यत्

Transliteration

śabdabrahmāgamamayaṃ paraṃ brahma vivekajam dve brahmaṇī veditavye brahmaśabdaparañca yat

Translation

Brahman Tertinggi berwujud ‘śabda-brahman’ yang tersusun dari āgama, dan disadari melalui pengetahuan pembedaan (viveka). Maka dua Brahman patut diketahui: Brahman sebagai Sabda dan Brahman Yang Mahatinggi.

Word by Word

• śabda-brahma-āgama-mayam: consisting of/formed of word, brahman, and scripture/tradition
• śabda-brahma-āgama-mayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of 'brahma'
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śabda (प्रातिपदिक) + brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + āgama (प्रातिपदिक) + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (निर्धारण/सम्बन्ध)

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of 'brahma'
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• brahma: Brahman
• brahma: Karma (कर्म) / object of implied teaching/knowing
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• viveka-jam: born of discernment
• viveka-jam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of 'brahma'
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viveka (प्रातिपदिक) + ja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: विवेकात् जातम्)

• dve: two
• dve: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of 'brahmaṇī'
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); संख्याविशेषण

• brahmaṇī: two Brahmans (two aspects of Brahman)
• brahmaṇī: Karta (कर्ता) of implied 'are to be known'
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग) (as dual form used for two kinds), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन)

• veditavye: to be known
• veditavye: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण) of 'brahmaṇī'
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √vid (विद्, धातु) + tavya (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Gerundive/obligative (तव्यत्-कृदन्त), Neuter/Feminine agreeing with dual subject; Nominative (प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); sense: 'to be known'

• brahma-śabda-param: that which is beyond the word 'Brahman' / transcending verbal designation
• brahma-śabda-param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) (for one of the two Brahmans)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + śabda (प्रातिपदिक) + para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (निर्धारण: ब्रह्मशब्दे परम्)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• yat: which/that
• yat: Anuyogī (अनुयोगी) / relative referring to 'brahma-śabda-param'
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद्, सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun (सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम)

Speaker

Lord Agni (traditionally instructing Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s discourse frame)

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Discriminate between linguistic revelation (śabda-brahman) and the transcendent Brahman to orient study (śāstra/āgama) toward realization rather than mere verbalism.","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Dve Brahmaṇī: Śabda-brahman and Para-brahman","lookup_keywords":["śabda-brahman","para-brahman","āgama","viveka","brahma-śabda"],"quick_summary":"The text distinguishes Brahman as accessible through sound/scripture (śabda-brahman) from the supreme Brahman realized by discriminative knowledge. Scriptural sound is a valid doorway, but not identical with the final, non-verbal realization."}

Kavya & Alamkara Layer

Alamkara Type: Vibhajana (conceptual division)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Twofold knowing: śabda-brahman (scriptural/sound-form) and para-brahman (supreme, realized through viveka).

Application: Use śruti/āgama as disciplined inquiry leading to discrimination and contemplative realization, avoiding attachment to mere recitation or terminology.

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra / Shabda-brahma (Vedic-phonetic theology and linguistic metaphysics)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: Shanta

Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sage instructs a student: one side shows Vedic manuscripts and resonant syllables (śabda-brahman), the other a luminous formless radiance (para-brahman) reached through discernment.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural, seated rishi with palm-leaf manuscripts, stylized sound-waves as Sanskrit syllables rising to a golden formless halo labeled para-brahman, deep earthy reds and greens, traditional ornamentation","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, guru and disciple, embossed gold halo representing para-brahman, manuscripts and rosary for śabda-brahman, rich jewel tones, gold work highlighting the twofold Brahman teaching","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional composition with two panels: left Veda/āgama and sound-symbols, right abstract luminous Brahman, fine linework, soft shading, captions in Devanagari","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholarly assembly in a garden pavilion, one scholar pointing from a manuscript to an abstract radiant disc in the sky, delicate borders, fine calligraphy motifs"}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: śabdabrahmāgamamayaṃ = śabda-brahma-āgama-mayam; brahmaśब्दपरञ्च = brahma-śabda-param ca; IAST 'parañca' normalized to 'param ca'.

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purana 378.9; Agni Purana 378.10; Agni Purana 378.11; Agni Purana 378.12

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Śabda-brahman
• Āgama
• Viveka

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

It teaches the doctrine of śabda-brahman (Brahman as Vedic sound/scripture) alongside para-brahman (the transcendent Absolute), implying that mantra/āgama-based practice and discriminative inquiry (viveka) are complementary means of knowing Brahman.

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

The Agni Purana integrates ritual-technical domains (āgama, mantra, sacred speech) with philosophical Vedāntic synthesis (para-brahman and viveka), showing how linguistic science and scripture-based practice are mapped onto metaphysical realization.

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

By distinguishing and knowing both śabda-brahman (scriptural sound) and para-brahman (supreme reality), the practitioner aligns disciplined recitation and study with inner discernment, supporting purification of understanding and progress toward liberation.