Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 25
Yati-dharma
The Dharma of the Renunciate Ascetic
मनोधृतिर्धारणा स्यात् समाधिर्ब्रह्मणि स्थितिः अयमात्मा परं ब्रह्म सत्यं ज्ञानमनन्तकं
manodhṛtirdhāraṇā syāt samādhirbrahmaṇi sthitiḥ ayamātmā paraṃ brahma satyaṃ jñānamanantakaṃ
ភាពមាំមួននៃចិត្ត ត្រូវហៅថា ធារណា (ការផ្តោតអារម្មណ៍)។ សមាធិ គឺការស្ថិតនៅក្នុង ព្រហ្មន៍។ អាត្មានេះ គឺព្រហ្មន៍ដ៏អធិបតី—សច្ចៈ ចំណេះដឹង និងអនន្ត។
Lord Agni (in the Agni Purana’s primary narration to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Yoga and Mantra-Sadhana (Japa, Pratyahara, Dhyana)","practical_application":"Use the definitions to calibrate practice: treat dhāraṇā as mind-steadying and samādhi as Brahman-abidance; employ the Brahman-lakṣaṇa (satya-jñāna-ananta) as a contemplation formula.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Dhāraṇā and Samādhi; Brahman as Satya–Jñāna–Ananta","lookup_keywords":["dhāraṇā","samādhi","brahman","satya jñāna ananta","ātman"],"quick_summary":"Dhāraṇā is steadiness/holding of the mind; samādhi is abiding in Brahman. The Self is identified as supreme Brahman characterized as Truth, Knowledge, and Infinity."}
Concept: Samādhi is not merely mental quietude but Brahman-niṣṭhā; Brahman/Ātman is defined via satya–jñāna–ananta (Upaniṣadic lakṣaṇa).
Application: In meditation, shift from object-holding (dhāraṇā) to identity-abidance (samādhi) by repeatedly contemplating ‘Ātman = Brahman’ with the satya-jñāna-ananta definition.
Khanda Section: Yoga-vidya (Vedanta-oriented definitions of Dharana, Samadhi, and Brahman)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teacher instructs a disciple: mind steadiness labeled ‘dhāraṇā’, and a luminous, formless Brahman-abidance labeled ‘samādhi’; the phrase satya–jñāna–ananta appears as a teaching inscription.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, guru and śiṣya seated, palm-leaf manuscript open with ‘satyaṃ jñānam anantam’ stylized, background glow indicating Brahman, strong outlines and traditional color blocks.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, guru on a throne-like seat with gold halo, disciple in reverence, gold-leaf panel showing ‘satya–jñāna–ananta’, ornate borders, devotional yet philosophical mood.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, diagrammatic yet elegant: two panels ‘dhāraṇā’ (focused mind) and ‘samādhi’ (light-filled absorption), fine lines, soft colors, didactic clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate teaching scene in a library pavilion, calligraphy cartouche with satya-jñāna-ananta, subtle light motif around the contemplative disciple."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: manodhṛtiḥ = manaḥ + dhṛtiḥ; samādhirbrahmaṇi = samādhiḥ + brahmaṇi; ayamātmā = ayam + ātmā; jñānamanantakaṃ = jñānam + anantakam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 161 (Vedānta-oriented yoga definitions)
FAQs
It gives technical yoga definitions: dhāraṇā as mental steadiness (focused holding of the mind) and samādhi as stable abiding in Brahman.
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves concise yoga–Vedānta doctrine, defining core meditative states and the metaphysics of Brahman.
By cultivating dhāraṇā leading to samādhi, the practitioner realizes the Self as Brahman—described as truth, consciousness, and the infinite—supporting liberation (mokṣa) through direct knowledge.