Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 8

Chapter 378: Brahma-jñāna

Knowledge of Brahman

Devanagari script

शब्दब्रह्मागममयं परं ब्रह्म विवेकजम् द्वे ब्रह्मणी वेदितव्ये ब्रह्मशब्दपरञ्च यत्

Transliteration

śabdabrahmāgamamayaṃ paraṃ brahma vivekajam dve brahmaṇī veditavye brahmaśabdaparañca yat

Translation

ព្រះព្រហ្មដ៏អតិបរមា ត្រូវបានបង្កប់ដោយអាគមៈ ជា «ព្រហ្មក្នុងរូបសំឡេង» (śabda-brahman) ហើយត្រូវបានដឹងដោយប្រាជ្ញាវិវេក។ ដូច្នេះ មានព្រហ្មពីរដែលគួរដឹង៖ ព្រហ្មជាពាក្យ/សំឡេង (brahma-śabda) និងព្រហ្មដ៏អតិបរមា (param)។

Word by Word

• śabda-brahma-āgama-mayam: consisting of/formed of word, brahman, and scripture/tradition
• śabda-brahma-āgama-mayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of 'brahma'
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śabda (प्रातिपदिक) + brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + āgama (प्रातिपदिक) + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (निर्धारण/सम्बन्ध)

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of 'brahma'
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• brahma: Brahman
• brahma: Karma (कर्म) / object of implied teaching/knowing
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• viveka-jam: born of discernment
• viveka-jam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of 'brahma'
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viveka (प्रातिपदिक) + ja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: विवेकात् जातम्)

• dve: two
• dve: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of 'brahmaṇī'
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); संख्याविशेषण

• brahmaṇī: two Brahmans (two aspects of Brahman)
• brahmaṇī: Karta (कर्ता) of implied 'are to be known'
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग) (as dual form used for two kinds), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन)

• veditavye: to be known
• veditavye: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण) of 'brahmaṇī'
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √vid (विद्, धातु) + tavya (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Gerundive/obligative (तव्यत्-कृदन्त), Neuter/Feminine agreeing with dual subject; Nominative (प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); sense: 'to be known'

• brahma-śabda-param: that which is beyond the word 'Brahman' / transcending verbal designation
• brahma-śabda-param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) (for one of the two Brahmans)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + śabda (प्रातिपदिक) + para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (निर्धारण: ब्रह्मशब्दे परम्)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• yat: which/that
• yat: Anuyogī (अनुयोगी) / relative referring to 'brahma-śabda-param'
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद्, सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun (सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम)

Speaker

Lord Agni (traditionally instructing Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s discourse frame)

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Discriminate between linguistic revelation (śabda-brahman) and the transcendent Brahman to orient study (śāstra/āgama) toward realization rather than mere verbalism.","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Dve Brahmaṇī: Śabda-brahman and Para-brahman","lookup_keywords":["śabda-brahman","para-brahman","āgama","viveka","brahma-śabda"],"quick_summary":"The text distinguishes Brahman as accessible through sound/scripture (śabda-brahman) from the supreme Brahman realized by discriminative knowledge. Scriptural sound is a valid doorway, but not identical with the final, non-verbal realization."}

Kavya & Alamkara Layer

Alamkara Type: Vibhajana (conceptual division)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Twofold knowing: śabda-brahman (scriptural/sound-form) and para-brahman (supreme, realized through viveka).

Application: Use śruti/āgama as disciplined inquiry leading to discrimination and contemplative realization, avoiding attachment to mere recitation or terminology.

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra / Shabda-brahma (Vedic-phonetic theology and linguistic metaphysics)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: Shanta

Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sage instructs a student: one side shows Vedic manuscripts and resonant syllables (śabda-brahman), the other a luminous formless radiance (para-brahman) reached through discernment.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural, seated rishi with palm-leaf manuscripts, stylized sound-waves as Sanskrit syllables rising to a golden formless halo labeled para-brahman, deep earthy reds and greens, traditional ornamentation","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, guru and disciple, embossed gold halo representing para-brahman, manuscripts and rosary for śabda-brahman, rich jewel tones, gold work highlighting the twofold Brahman teaching","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional composition with two panels: left Veda/āgama and sound-symbols, right abstract luminous Brahman, fine linework, soft shading, captions in Devanagari","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholarly assembly in a garden pavilion, one scholar pointing from a manuscript to an abstract radiant disc in the sky, delicate borders, fine calligraphy motifs"}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: śabdabrahmāgamamayaṃ = śabda-brahma-āgama-mayam; brahmaśब्दपरञ्च = brahma-śabda-param ca; IAST 'parañca' normalized to 'param ca'.

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purana 378.9; Agni Purana 378.10; Agni Purana 378.11; Agni Purana 378.12

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Śabda-brahman
• Āgama
• Viveka

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

It teaches the doctrine of śabda-brahman (Brahman as Vedic sound/scripture) alongside para-brahman (the transcendent Absolute), implying that mantra/āgama-based practice and discriminative inquiry (viveka) are complementary means of knowing Brahman.

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

The Agni Purana integrates ritual-technical domains (āgama, mantra, sacred speech) with philosophical Vedāntic synthesis (para-brahman and viveka), showing how linguistic science and scripture-based practice are mapped onto metaphysical realization.

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

By distinguishing and knowing both śabda-brahman (scriptural sound) and para-brahman (supreme reality), the practitioner aligns disciplined recitation and study with inner discernment, supporting purification of understanding and progress toward liberation.