Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 12
Brahma-jñāna
Knowledge of Brahman
अहं ब्रह्म परं ज्योतिः शब्दोद्भूतादिवर्जितं अहं ब्रह्म परं ज्योतिर्हिरण्यगर्भवर्जितं
ahaṃ brahma paraṃ jyotiḥ śabdodbhūtādivarjitaṃ ahaṃ brahma paraṃ jyotirhiraṇyagarbhavarjitaṃ
ខ្ញុំគឺព្រះព្រហ្ម ជាពន្លឺដ៏អធិបតី បរិសុទ្ធ ពីអ្វីៗដែលកើតចេញពីសំឡេង និងអ្វីផ្សេងៗទៀត។ ខ្ញុំគឺព្រះព្រហ្ម ជាពន្លឺដ៏អធិបតី លើសលប់ និងខុសពី ហិរ៉ញ្ញគರ್ಭ (Hiraṇyagarbha)។
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s dialogue framework)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Discriminate Brahman from śabda-prapañca (name-form arising with sound/creation) and from cosmic causal principle (Hiraṇyagarbha), stabilizing nirguṇa-brahma insight.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Brahman beyond Śabda-prapañca and Hiraṇyagarbha","lookup_keywords":["śabda-udbhūta","nāma-rūpa","hiraṇyagarbha","nirguṇa brahman","viveka"],"quick_summary":"Defines Brahman as the supreme Light transcending both linguistic/sonic manifestation and the cosmic ‘golden embryo’ (Hiraṇyagarbha), guiding precise metaphysical discrimination."}
Alamkara Type: Anaphora (punarukti)
Concept: Brahman is not a product of śabda (and its evolutes) and is distinct from Hiraṇyagarbha (the cosmic subtle totality); it is self-established light (svayaṃ-prakāśa).
Application: During meditation, drop reliance on inner speech/mantra-sound as ‘ultimate’; use sound as a pointer, then rest in soundless awareness beyond cosmic archetypes.
Khanda Section: Moksha-vidya / Brahma-jñāna (Non-dual Self-knowledge teachings)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vast field of light; at one side, ripples of sound shown as concentric waves and Sanskrit phonemes emerging then dissolving; below, a golden cosmic egg (Hiraṇyagarbha) floats but is surpassed by the boundless radiance labeled ‘Brahman’.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized sound-waves with decorative script motifs, a golden egg icon, central infinite golden-white aura overpowering both, symmetrical sacred composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, ornate gold work for the cosmic egg and halo; phoneme motifs embossed around, but fading into the central parama-jyotis; rich reds and greens.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, clean diagrammatic clarity: sound-waves, phoneme garland, golden egg, and an unbounded light field; fine lines and soft colors, instructional labels.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, delicate rendering of a luminous void; calligraphic sound motifs like floating ribbons; a jeweled golden egg; the light beyond rendered as pale gold wash."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शब्दोद्भूतादिवर्जितम् = शब्द + उद्भूत + आदि + वर्जितम् (स्वरसन्धिः: शब्द + उद्भूत → शब्दोद्भूत). ज्योतिः + हिरण्य… → ज्योतिर् हिरण्य… (विसर्गस्य रेफादेशः)।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 377 (Brahma-jñāna negation series)
FAQs
This verse imparts Moksha-vidyā: a contemplative assertion (mahāvākya-style) that the Self is Brahman, the supreme consciousness-light, transcending cosmological principles like śabda-originated manifestation and Hiraṇyagarbha.
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves Vedāntic liberation-teachings; this verse exemplifies its philosophical register by summarizing non-dual metaphysics and yogic contemplation in a compact doctrinal form.
Internalizing this identity-knowledge is presented as liberating: it weakens identification with created categories and cosmic roles, directing the practitioner toward detachment, purity of insight, and ultimately mokṣa (freedom).