Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 27
Chapter 381 — यमगीता
Yama-gītā
मनसस्तु परा बुद्धिः बुद्धेरात्मा महान् परः महतः परमव्यक्तमव्यक्तात्पुरुषः परः
manasastu parā buddhiḥ buddherātmā mahān paraḥ mahataḥ paramavyaktamavyaktātpuruṣaḥ paraḥ
心（manas）よりも上位にあるのは知性（buddhi）であり、知性よりも上位にあるのは大原理（Mahat）である。Mahatより上位に未顕現（Avyakta）があり、未顕現より上位に至上の人格者プルシャ（Puruṣa）がある。
Lord Agni (teaching sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s didactic frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Discriminative contemplation (viveka) of the hierarchy of tattvas to detach from mind-intellect identification and orient practice toward Puruṣa-realization.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Tattva-krama: Manas–Buddhi–Mahat–Avyakta–Puruṣa","lookup_keywords":["tattva-krama","manas buddhi mahat","avyakta","puruṣa","sāṅkhya-yoga"],"quick_summary":"Maps a graded ascent from mind to intellect to cosmic Mahat, then to the Unmanifest, culminating in Puruṣa. Used as a contemplative ladder for self-inquiry and yoga."}
Concept: Tattva-hierarchy culminating in Puruṣa beyond avyakta; the seer is distinct from mind/intellect and cosmic evolutes.
Application: Daily self-inquiry: ‘I am not manas/buddhi/mahat/avyakta; I am the witnessing Puruṣa’—used to stabilize detachment and meditation.
Khanda Section: Sankhya–Yoga / Tattva-nirupana (Cosmology of principles)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vertical cosmological ladder showing successive subtler principles: manas, buddhi, Mahat, Avyakta, and the luminous Puruṣa above, with a meditating yogin contemplating the ascent.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat yet vibrant colors, a seated yogin in padmāsana at bottom, above him stacked symbolic lotuses labeled manas, buddhi, mahat, avyakta, culminating in radiant Puruṣa halo, ornate borders, traditional palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central radiant Puruṣa with embossed gold halo, below a tiered diagram of tattvas as lotus medallions, rich reds and greens, gold leaf highlights, devotional yet schematic composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate linework, instructional diagram of tattva hierarchy with a calm yogin pointing inward, soft washes, minimal background, clear Sanskrit labels.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine detailing, a scholar-yogin in a study with a scroll depicting the tattva ladder, subtle gradients, architectural interior, luminous figure representing Puruṣa in the upper margin."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: manasastu = manasaḥ + tu; buddherātmā = buddheḥ + ātmā; paramavyaktam = parama + avyaktaṃ (karmadhāraya); avyaktātpuruṣaḥ = avyaktāt + puruṣaḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 381.28; Agni Purana 381.29; Agni Purana 381.30; Agni Purana 381.31
FAQs
It imparts Sāṅkhya tattva-vidyā: a technical hierarchy of inner faculties and cosmological principles—mind (manas), intellect (buddhi), Mahat, the Unmanifest (avyakta), culminating in Puruṣa—used for discrimination (viveka) in Yoga and contemplation.
Alongside rituals, vows, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves systematic philosophical schemata. This verse functions like a compact doctrinal index of Sāṅkhya metaphysics embedded within the Purana’s multi-topic compendium.
By recognizing progressively subtler principles and placing Puruṣa above mental and material evolutes, the practitioner weakens identification with mind and nature (prakṛti), supporting detachment and liberation-oriented insight rather than karma-binding attachment.