Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 28
Chapter 378: Brahma-jñāna
Knowledge of Brahman
सनन्दनादयो ब्रह्मभावभावनया युताः कर्मभावनया चान्ये देवाद्याः स्थावरान्तकाः
sanandanādayo brahmabhāvabhāvanayā yutāḥ karmabhāvanayā cānye devādyāḥ sthāvarāntakāḥ
សានន្ទនៈ និងអ្នកដទៃទៀត មានការបណ្តុះបណ្តាល (ភាវនា) នៃសភាពព្រហ្ម; អ្នកដទៃទៀត ចាប់ពីទេវតា រហូតដល់សត្វអចល មានភាវនាដែលពាក់ព័ន្ធនឹងកម្ម។
Lord Agni (narrating Purāṇic instruction to Vasiṣṭha, in the standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Diagnose one’s spiritual orientation: cultivate brahma-bhavana (nondual contemplation) rather than remaining confined to karma-bhavana (action-centered identity).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Brahmabhāvanā vs Karmabhāvanā (two contemplative modes)","lookup_keywords":["brahmabhavana","karmabhavana","Sanandana","adhikara","mokshadharma"],"quick_summary":"The text distinguishes beings oriented to Brahman-contemplation (e.g., Sanandana) from those oriented to action-contemplation across the cosmic hierarchy. Practically, it frames a shift from doership to Brahman-abidance as the moksha-facing cultivation."}
Concept: Adhikāra-bheda: some are established in Brahman-oriented contemplation, others in action-oriented contemplation; liberation aligns with brahma-bhāvanā.
Application: Self-audit: reduce identification with roles/ritual doership; increase nididhyāsana on pure awareness while performing duties without ego.
Khanda Section: Sāṅkhya–Yoga / Mokṣa-dharma (Brahmabhāvanā and Karmabhāvanā—modes of contemplative attainment)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A cosmic vertical panorama: Sanandana and the Kumaras absorbed in luminous Brahman-contemplation above; below, gods, humans, animals, and immobile beings engaged in action and worldly motion—two streams of bhāvanā shown as contrasting auras.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural, layered cosmic hierarchy, four Kumaras with serene faces and jnana-mudra, golden-white Brahman aura above, below devas and beings in dynamic action, flat decorative foliage, traditional mineral colors, sacred symmetry","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central radiant Brahman-light behind Sanandana, embossed gold halo work, lower register showing devas and earthly beings performing actions, rich reds and greens, ornate borders, devotional yet didactic composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional diagram-like tiers labeled by beings, subtle shading, calm Kumaras in meditation, contrasting active figures below, clean lines, soft palette, emphasis on contemplative vs active postures","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly precision, vertical composition with multiple registers, ascetic Kumaras in quiet pavilion of light, below bustling scenes of gods and creatures in action, fine detailing, muted gold accents"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चान्ये = च + अन्ये; ब्रह्मभावभावनया/कर्मभावनया are tatpuruṣa compounds; स्थावरान्तकाः analyzed as ‘up to the immovables’ (अन्त = limit).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 378 (Brahmabhāvanā/Karmabhāvanā sequence); Agni Purana sections on Mokṣa-dharma and Jñāna-yoga
FAQs
It distinguishes two operative modes of bhāvanā (cultivated orientation): brahma-bhāvanā (non-dual contemplative absorption in Brahman) versus karma-bhāvanā (action/ritual-and-duty-oriented cultivation), mapping spiritual tendencies across classes of beings.
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purāṇa also systematizes philosophical categories—here offering a concise taxonomy of beings by their dominant spiritual orientation (Brahman-contemplation vs action-based cultivation).
It implies that liberation-oriented realization is linked to brahma-bhāvanā, while continued embodied trajectories across higher and lower births are associated with karma-bhāvanā—highlighting the shift from action-centered identity to Brahman-centered contemplation.