Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 29
अध्याय ३८० — गीतासारः
The Essence of the Gītā
सर्वतः पाणिपादान्तं सर्वतो ऽक्षिशिरोमुखम् सर्वतः श्रुतिमल्लोके सर्वमावृत्य तिष्ठति
sarvataḥ pāṇipādāntaṃ sarvato 'kṣiśiromukham sarvataḥ śrutimalloke sarvamāvṛtya tiṣṭhati
あらゆる方に手足をもち、あらゆる方に眼・頭・面をもち、世にあまねく聴聞をそなえて—彼は一切を遍満し、包みつつ住する。
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vashistha, standard Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Bhakti-Yoga","practical_application":"Meditating on the all-pervasiveness of the Supreme to dissolve separative identity and cultivate constant remembrance (smarana) and reverence in all actions.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Vishvarupa All-Pervasiveness (Sarvatah Pani-Pada)","lookup_keywords":["sarvatah","vishvarupa","sarvavyapti","akshi-shiro-mukha","shruti"],"quick_summary":"The Supreme is described as having hands, feet, eyes, heads, faces, and hearing everywhere—an image of total pervasion. Contemplate this to see all beings and directions as encompassed by the Divine."}
Alamkara Type: Atiśayokti
Concept: Sarvavyapti (all-pervasion) of Ishvara/Brahman: the One stands enveloping all, with faculties everywhere as a metaphor for omniscience and omnipresence.
Application: Practice ‘seeing God in all’: before speaking/acting, recall the all-pervading witness; reduce harm and increase compassion by treating every being as within the Divine body.
Khanda Section: Bhakti–Vedanta / Ishvara-sarvavyapti (All-pervasiveness of the Supreme)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Cosmology
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A cosmic being whose limbs and faces appear in all directions, enveloping the world; mountains, rivers, cities, and beings are shown within or upon the vast form, emphasizing omnipresence and omniscience.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Vishvarupa spanning the frame with multiple faces and arms radiating outward, the world-elements (sun, moon, mountains, rivers) embedded in the body, bold outlines, traditional color blocks, sacred intensity.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, grand Vishvarupa with embossed gold radiance, multiple heads and hands arranged symmetrically, miniature worlds within the torso, rich reds/blues/greens, ornate jewelry and halo work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear iconographic diagram feel: Vishvarupa with labeled directional faces implied, delicate shading, balanced composition showing ‘hearing everywhere’ via ear motifs across space, instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, panoramic cosmic scene: a विशाल (vast) anthropomorphic form blending into landscape, tiny detailed figures and architecture within the silhouette, refined brushwork, luminous sky and subtle gradients."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: sarvataḥ + akṣiśiromukham → sarvato 'kṣiśiromukham (visarga → o, avagraha); śrutimat + loke → śrutimalloke (t + l → ll); sarvam + āvṛtya → sarvamāvṛtya.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 380.28
FAQs
It imparts brahma-vidya/adhyatma-vidya: the doctrine that the Supreme Self (Paramatma) is sarvavyapin—immanent in all directions and all beings—guiding contemplative worship rather than a procedural ritual.
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves core Vedantic metaphysics; this verse functions as a concise theological definition of the all-pervading Lord, aligning Puranic devotion with Upanishadic-style universality.
Contemplating the Lord as all-pervading reduces ego-centered action and cultivates reverence toward all beings, supporting purification (citta-shuddhi) and devotion grounded in non-sectarian, universal vision.