Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 7
Chapter 373 — ध्यानम्
Dhyāna / Meditation
भोगनद्यभिवेशेनेति ञ ध्याता ध्यानं तथा ध्येयं यच्च ध्यानप्रयोजनं एतच्चतुष्टयं ज्ञात्वा योगं युञ्जीत तत्त्ववित्
bhoganadyabhiveśeneti ña dhyātā dhyānaṃ tathā dhyeyaṃ yacca dhyānaprayojanaṃ etaccatuṣṭayaṃ jñātvā yogaṃ yuñjīta tattvavit
これを知る、すなわち「享楽の河」への没入によって、智者は禅定の四つの基盤—禅定する者、禅定という行、禅定されるべき対象、そして禅定の目的—を理解すべきである。この四つを知ったなら、真実を知る者はヨーガに励むべきである。
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha, in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Yoga-vidya","practical_application":"Gives a practical analytic framework for meditation: identify the agent, process, object, and goal to prevent confusion and to align practice toward tattva-jñāna rather than mere enjoyment-absorption.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Dhyāna-catuṣṭaya (meditator, meditation, object, purpose)","lookup_keywords":["dhyata","dhyana","dhyeya","dhyana-prayojana","tattvavit"],"quick_summary":"A tattva-knower should engage yoga after understanding the fourfold structure of meditation—who meditates, what meditation is, what is meditated upon, and why—guarding against being swept away by the ‘river of enjoyments’."}
Alamkara Type: Rupaka (metaphor)
Concept: Tattva-jñāna requires discriminating the components of meditative practice and its telos; otherwise one is absorbed in viṣaya-flow (bhoga-nadī).
Application: Before sitting: (1) clarify identity as sādhaka (dhyātā), (2) define method (dhyāna), (3) fix object (dhyeya—Hari, ātman, mantra, breath), (4) state purpose (prayojana—citta-śuddhi, samādhi, mokṣa). Review when drifting into pleasure-seeking.
Khanda Section: Yoga-vidya (Dhyana and Tattva-jñāna)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teacher-yogin illustrates four labeled elements—meditator, meditation, object, purpose—while a swirling ‘river of enjoyments’ flows nearby as a cautionary metaphor.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: guru and disciple seated, four symbolic emblems in a row (person, flame/stream, deity-symbol, lotus of liberation) with Malayalam/Sanskrit-style labels, stylized river with alluring objects, bold outlines, didactic serenity.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central guru with gold halo, four medallions around (dhyātā, dhyāna, dhyeya, prayojana) in ornate frames, a decorative river border with jewels/pleasures shown as temptations, rich gold work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: diagrammatic instructional painting, clean composition with four quadrants labeled, subtle river motif at bottom, soft colors, emphasis on pedagogy and clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: scholarly setting with a manuscript open showing four terms; outside the pavilion a river scene with entertainers/wealth as ‘bhoga’, fine detail, balanced moral allegory."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: भोगनद्यभिवेशेन = भोगनदी + अभिवेशेन; यच्च = यत् + च; एतच्चतुष्टयम् = एतत् + चतुष्टयम्. The token ‘ञ’ appears to be a textual artifact.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Yoga-vidya definitions of dhāraṇā/dhyāna/samādhi; Agni Purana teachings on vairāgya and jñāna as prerequisites
FAQs
It teaches the technical framework of meditation (dhyāna-catuṣṭaya): identify the meditator (dhyātā), the method/act (dhyāna), the chosen object or reality to contemplate (dhyeya), and the intended fruit or aim (dhyāna-prayojana) before undertaking Yoga.
Beyond myth and ritual, the Agni Purāṇa systematizes inner disciplines too—here it presents a concise, almost śāstric taxonomy of meditation components, aligning Purāṇic teaching with Yoga/Vedānta-style analytical instruction.
By clarifying the agent, method, object, and goal of contemplation, the practitioner avoids aimless mental wandering in the stream of sense-enjoyments (bhoga-nadī) and directs practice toward tattva-jñāna (realization of truth), which is held to be purifying and liberating.