Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 32
Āgneya-Purāṇa-māhātmya
The Greatness and Self-Testimony of the Agni Purāṇa
वसिष्ठ उवाच व्यासाग्नेयपुराणं ते रूपं विद्याद्वयात्मकं कथितं ब्रह्मणो विष्णोरग्निना कथितं यथा
vasiṣṭha uvāca vyāsāgneyapurāṇaṃ te rūpaṃ vidyādvayātmakaṃ kathitaṃ brahmaṇo viṣṇoragninā kathitaṃ yathā
វសិષ્ઠៈបាននិយាយថា៖ «ឱ វ្យាសៈ អគ្នេយបុរាណដែលអ្នកបានបង្ហាញ នោះចូរដឹងថា រូបសភាពរបស់វាបង្កប់ដោយវិជ្ជាពីរប្រភេទ។ វាត្រូវបានបង្រៀនថាមកពីព្រហ្មា និងវិෂ್ಣុ ដូចរបៀបដែលអគ្និបានបង្រៀន»។
Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Samanya","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Establishes textual authority and framing: the Purana’s legitimacy is grounded in a chain of transmission (Agni → Brahmā/Vishnu → Vyāsa/Vasiṣṭha), guiding how it should be received and taught.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Agneya Purana: Twofold-Knowledge Form and Transmission Authority","lookup_keywords":["Vasistha uvaca","vidya-dvayatmaka","Brahma","Vishnu","Agni teaching"],"quick_summary":"The verse asserts the Agneya Purana’s constitution as twofold knowledge and anchors its authority in divine provenance and Agni’s instruction, validating it as a reliable compendium for study and teaching."}
Concept: Śāstra-prāmāṇya (textual credibility) through paramparā and divine origin; ‘twofold knowledge’ as the organizing principle of the Purana’s curriculum.
Application: Approach the text with śraddhā and method: learn its ‘dvaya’ structure (para/apara) and teach it with fidelity to lineage.
Khanda Section: Purana-śravaṇa-māhātmya / Grantha-paricaya (Textual framing and authority of the Agni Purana)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A calm teaching scene: Vasiṣṭha addressing Vyāsa, indicating a manuscript; behind them symbolic presences of Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Agni as the source-lineage of the teaching.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two sages (Vasiṣṭha speaking, Vyāsa listening) with stylized divine triad icons in the background (Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Agni), palm-leaf manuscript, restrained shanta palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, sages seated under an ornate arch, gold highlights on manuscript and halos of Brahmā-Viṣṇu-Agni in the upper register, emphasis on authority and sanctity.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean didactic composition: Vasiṣṭha pointing to the title ‘Agneya Purana’, diagram-like depiction of transmission arrows from Agni/Brahmā/Viṣṇu to Vyāsa, subtle decorative borders.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholarly discourse in a garden pavilion, Vyāsa with manuscript, Vasiṣṭha gesturing, faint celestial figures above indicating Brahmā and Viṣṇu, Agni as a small flame-emblem, fine detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyan","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vyāsāgneyapurāṇaṃ = vyāsa-āgneya-purāṇam; viṣṇoragninā = viṣṇoḥ + agninā.
Related Themes: Agni Purana opening nidāna and speaker-chain passages; Agni Purana concluding phala-śruti and grantha-mahātmya
FAQs
It identifies the Agni Purana’s content as “twofold knowledge” (vidyā-dvaya), signaling a structured, classified body of instruction rather than a single-topic narrative—i.e., a compendium combining complementary domains of learning.
By explicitly describing the text as vidyā-dvayātmaka (twofold in knowledge) and grounding it in a divine teaching lineage, the verse frames the Agni Purana as a deliberately organized multi-discipline manual—supporting its reputation as an encyclopedic Purana spanning many śāstric subjects.
It establishes scriptural legitimacy (prāmāṇya) through a sacred transmission chain (Agni → Brahmā/Viṣṇu → later sages), encouraging faithful study and recitation with the understanding that the teaching is divinely sanctioned and thus spiritually purifying.