Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 33
Adhyāya 379 — अद्वैतब्रह्मविज्ञानम्
Advaita-brahma-vijñāna
यदन्यो ऽस्ति परः कोपि मत्तः पार्थिवसत्तम तदेषोहमयं चान्यो वक्तुम् एवमपीष्यते
yadanyo 'sti paraḥ kopi mattaḥ pārthivasattama tadeṣohamayaṃ cānyo vaktum evamapīṣyate
王の中の最勝者よ、もし我より勝れた者が誰かいるのなら、その者が—この「我」とかの「他者」として—まさにこのように語ることを許容せよ。
Lord Agni (narrating a royal/nīti-themed statement within the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Guidance for rulers on sovereignty claims: testing superiority/authority claims and exposing the constructed nature of ‘I’ versus ‘other’ in political discourse.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Royal superiority claims and the ‘I/other’ challenge","lookup_keywords":["rājadharma","pārthiva","para (superior)","ahaṃ/anya","nīti-vākya"],"quick_summary":"If someone truly is superior, let that superiority be demonstrable in speech and stance; the verse simultaneously critiques egoic ‘I’ and the political ‘other’ as discourse-constructs."}
Alamkara Type: Vyatireka / Vākya-vakrata (challenge formulation)
Weapon Type: General (royal power implied rather than a specific weapon)
Concept: Authority and superiority must be grounded, not merely asserted; ‘I’ and ‘other’ are unstable when examined—useful for humility in rule.
Application: For governance: avoid empty boasts; require evidence of competence/virtue. For self-discipline: notice how ego manufactures rivals to stabilize identity.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Niti (Royal ethics and discourse on sovereignty)
Primary Rasa: Vīra
Secondary Rasa: Śānta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king on a throne addresses an assembly, pointing outward as if inviting any superior challenger; two silhouettes labeled ‘I’ and ‘other’ face each other, hinting at the constructed duality.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, royal court with stylized throne, attendants, and a calm yet firm king, bold outlines, warm palette, symbolic ‘ahaṃ’ and ‘anyaḥ’ motifs in the background","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, king with gold-embossed crown and throne, raised hand in proclamation, ornate court setting, rich reds and greens, decorative script elements","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, balanced court composition, emphasis on gesture and dialogue, minimal ornamentation compared to Tanjore, clear narrative of challenge and counsel","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, durbar scene with detailed architecture, courtiers, and a poised king, subtle calligraphic cartouches for ‘I’ and ‘other’, refined realism"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यदन्यः = यत् + अन्यः; अन्योऽस्ति = अन्यः + अस्ति; कोपि = कः + अपि; तदेṣोहमयं = तत् + एषः + अहम् + अयम्; चान्यः = च + अन्यः; एवमपीष्यते = एवम् + अपि + ईष्यते
Related Themes: Agni Purana 379.35; Agni Purana 379.32
FAQs
This verse conveys nīti-vidyā (statecraft/ethical governance) by framing a criterion of supremacy and legitimacy through direct challenge: if a superior exists, let that superior openly declare it.
Beyond rituals and theology, the Agni Purana also preserves practical guidance for rulers; this verse reflects political-ethical reasoning about authority, rank, and public accountability—key components of Rajadharma in its wide-ranging compendium.
It underscores dharmic accountability: rightful authority must withstand truthful examination, discouraging arrogance and promoting integrity—qualities praised as meritorious for rulers and stabilizing for society.