Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 4
Chapter 371 — Yama-Niyama and Praṇava-Upāsanā (Oṅkāra) as Brahma-vidyā
भूतापीडा ह्य् अहिंसा स्यादहिंसा धर्म उत्तमः यथा गजपदे ऽन्यानि पदानि पथगामिनां
bhūtāpīḍā hy ahiṃsā syādahiṃsā dharma uttamaḥ yathā gajapade 'nyāni padāni pathagāmināṃ
まことに、生きとし生けるものを害さないことがアヒンサーと呼ばれる。アヒンサーは最上のダルマである。ちょうど、象の足跡の中に、道を行く他の生きものの足跡が包摂されるように。
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, as the standard Agni Purana narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Use ahiṃsā as the governing ethical principle in personal conduct, governance, and ritual choices; evaluate actions by whether they harm living beings.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Ahiṃsā as the Highest Dharma (Elephant-footprint Analogy)","lookup_keywords":["ahiṃsā","bhūta-apīḍā","parama-dharma","gaja-pada","ethics"],"quick_summary":"Ahiṃsā is defined as non-injury to beings and declared the supreme dharma; like all footprints fitting within an elephant’s, other virtues are implied to be encompassed by non-violence."}
Alamkara Type: Drishtanta
Concept: Ahiṃsā (non-injury) is the umbrella-principle under which other dharmas are contained.
Application: Before speech/action, apply a harm-check: physical harm, fear induced, livelihood damage, ecological harm; choose the least harmful alternative consistent with duty.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Dharmashastra (Ethics of Non-violence / Ahimsa)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A large elephant footprint in soft earth containing many smaller animal footprints within it; nearby, a sage teaching that ahiṃsā encompasses all dharmas.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, symbolic scene: oversized elephant footprint with nested smaller prints, sage pointing while disciples listen, stylized forest ground patterns, calm palette emphasizing moral teaching.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central golden elephant footprint motif with embossed gold, surrounding miniature footprints, sage with halo delivering dharma-upadeśa, ornate frame and rich colors.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear didactic illustration: labeled elephant footprint and smaller footprints, side panel with Sanskrit ‘ahiṃsā dharma uttamaḥ’, fine linework and soft washes.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, naturalistic ground with detailed footprints, elephant nearby, scholar-sage explaining to students, delicate flora and border calligraphy highlighting ‘ahiṃsā’."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: hy ahiṃsā → hi ahiṃsā; syādahiṃsā → syāt ahiṃsā; gajapade 'nyāni → gaja-pade anyāni.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Yama discussions (ahiṃsā as first yama); Agni Purana Rajadharma passages emphasizing protection of subjects
FAQs
It imparts dharma-vidyā: the technical ethical definition of ahiṃsā as non-injury to all beings (bhūtāpīḍā-abhāva), establishing it as a governing principle for conduct across rites, vows, and daily life.
By codifying a core normative rule (ahiṃsā as the supreme dharma) using a classical analogy, it shows the Agni Purana’s dharmaśāstric dimension alongside its many other domains (ritual, polity, medicine, and arts), integrating ethics as the foundation for all disciplines.
Ahiṃsā is presented as the highest merit-bearing virtue: minimizing harm purifies karma, stabilizes the mind, and supports righteous living, implying that other virtues are encompassed within or supported by non-violence—like smaller footprints within the elephant’s track.