Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 5

Adhyāya 361 — अव्ययवर्गः

Avyaya-vargaḥ) — The Section on Indeclinables (Colophon/Closure

Devanagari script

योगः सन्नहनोपायध्यानसङ्गतियुक्तिषु भोगः सुखे स्त्र्यादिभृतावब्जौ शङ्कनिशाकरौ

Transliteration

yogaḥ sannahanopāyadhyānasaṅgatiyuktiṣu bhogaḥ sukhe stryādibhṛtāvabjau śaṅkaniśākarau

Translation

「yoga」は、準備・武装（装備）、手段・方法、禅定（ディヤーナ）、結合/合一、ならびに器具または策謀の意で用いられる。「bhoga」は享楽（快楽）を示し、また妻などを養う扶持・維持の意もある。「abja」（「水に生まれるもの」）は法螺貝（サンカ）と月の両方を指す。

Word by Word

• yogaḥ: yoga; union; application
• yogaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• sannahana-upāya-dhyāna-saṅgati-yuktiṣu: in (the meanings of) arrangement, means, meditation, association, strategy
• sannahana-upāya-dhyāna-saṅgati-yuktiṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sannahana+upāya+dhyāna+saṅgati+yukti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Plural (बहुवचन); समाहार-द्वन्द्वः — ‘in (the senses of) binding/arrangement, means, meditation, association, device/strategy’

• bhogaḥ: enjoyment; experience
• bhogaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• sukhe: in happiness/pleasure
• sukhe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन)

• stry-ādi-bhṛtau: in maintenance/wages for women etc.
• stry-ādi-bhṛtau: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī+ādi+bhṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Dual (द्विवचन) [as paired with next locative dual]; समासः strī-ādi (स्त्री आदि) + bhṛti (भरणम्/वेतनम्) (तत्पुरुष)

• abjau: in two lotuses / in lotus (as a sense)
• abjau: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Dual (द्विवचन)

• śaṅka-niśākarau: Śaṅka and Niśākara (two names)
• śaṅka-niśākarau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅka+niśākara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः

Speaker

Lord Agni (traditional narrator of the Agni Purana, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Clarifies multiple senses of yoga/bhoga/abja for accurate interpretation in śāstra (strategy, meditation, union) and kāvya (metaphoric epithets like abja).","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Anekārtha entries: yoga, bhoga, abja","lookup_keywords":["yoga","sannāha","yukti","bhoga","abja"],"quick_summary":"Lists principal semantic ranges: yoga as preparation/arming, method, meditation, union, stratagem; bhoga as pleasure and maintenance; abja as conch and moon."}

Kavya & Alamkara Layer

Alamkara Type: Rupaka

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Contextual semantics: ‘yoga’ spans inner discipline (dhyāna) and outer means (upāya/yukti/sannāha).

Application: Prevents category errors—reading ‘yoga’ as meditation where it means stratagem, or ‘abja’ as lotus where it means moon/conch in poetry.

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Lexicography / Synonyms and Technical Definitions)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A lexicographer enumerates meanings of ‘yoga’; split vignettes show a warrior being armed (sannāha), a meditator in dhyāna, two figures joining hands (saṅgati), and a moon and conch labeled ‘abja’.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, segmented panels: arming scene, meditation posture, symbolic union, moon and conch; bold outlines, traditional ornaments, Sanskrit labels integrated into borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf: central ‘Yoga’ inscription, surrounding medallions for sannāha, dhyāna, saṅgati, yukti; moon and conch rendered with gilded highlights","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style instructional plate: clean compartments with captions ‘sannāha, upāya, dhyāna, saṅgati, yukti’; detailed moon and conch illustration; soft palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature with four corner vignettes: armory preparation, ascetic meditation, diplomatic meeting (association), strategist with map (yukti); moon and conch in margin cartouches"}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: stryādibhṛtāvabjau = stry-ādi-bhṛtau + abjau (locative dual coordination). sannahanopāyadhyānasaṅgatiyuktiṣu treated as a dvandva list in locative plural.

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purana 361 (lexicography lists); Agni Purana Yoga/dhyāna-related passages in vrata/tantra sections (where yoga is sādhanā)

Characters & Entities

• Yoga (as a technical polyseme)
• Bhoga (as a technical polyseme)
• Abja
• Moon (Niśākara)
• Conch (Śaṅkha)

FAQs

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

It teaches nānārtha (polysemous) usage: key terms like yoga, bhoga, and abja carry multiple technical meanings, helping accurate interpretation in ritual, philosophical, and literary contexts.

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

By functioning like a compact lexicon (nighaṇṭu), it equips readers with semantic ranges needed across disciplines—yoga as method/strategy/meditation, bhoga as enjoyment/support, and abja as different referents—supporting law, ritual, philosophy, and kāvya.

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

Correct understanding of scriptural vocabulary prevents misinterpretation; clarity of meaning supports right practice (dharma) and right contemplation (dhyāna), which are traditionally linked with purificatory merit.