Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 12
अध्याय ३८० — गीतासारः
The Essence of the Gītā
न हि कल्याणकृत् कश्चिद्दुर्गतिं तात गच्छति देवी ह्य् एषा गुणमयी मम माया दुरत्यया
na hi kalyāṇakṛt kaściddurgatiṃ tāta gacchati devī hy eṣā guṇamayī mama māyā duratyayā
ಹೇ ತಾತ! ಕಲ್ಯಾಣಕರ್ಮ ಮಾಡುವವನು ಯಾರೂ ದುರ್ಗತಿಗೆ ಹೋಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ; ಏಕೆಂದರೆ ಈ ದೇವಿ—ಗುಣಮಯಿಯಾದ ನನ್ನ ಮಾಯೆ—ದಾಟಲು ಅತ್ಯಂತ ದುಸ್ತರ.
Lord Agni (narrating Purāṇic teaching to Vasiṣṭha; addressed as 'tāta')
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Bhakti-yoga","practical_application":"Strengthen ethical resolve (kalyana-karman) and develop discernment about maya as guna-mayi; adopt devotional reliance and disciplined practice to cross delusion and avoid destructive choices.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Kalyana-krit and the Guna-mayi Maya (Duratyaya)","lookup_keywords":["kalyana-krit","durgati","guna-mayi maya","duratyaya","daivi"],"quick_summary":"Righteous action does not lead to bad destiny; yet the divine maya made of the three gunas is hard to transcend. The verse pairs moral assurance with a sober warning about the power of conditioned nature."}
Alamkara Type: Arthantaranyasa (supporting statement) / personification
Concept: Kalyana (righteousness) safeguards destiny, but liberation requires crossing daivi maya—prakriti constituted by gunas—through higher knowledge and devotion.
Application: Combine ethical living with daily self-inquiry and devotion; watch guna-driven impulses (rajas/tamas) and cultivate sattva through diet, conduct, and meditation.
Khanda Section: Moksha-dharma / Bhakti-yoga (Teachings on liberation, karma, and divine Māyā)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee performing righteous deeds while a majestic goddess-like Maya, woven of three colored strands (sattva/rajas/tamas), stands as a formidable veil; a path beyond her leads to light.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, personified Maya as a regal devi with three-hued garments (white/red/black) symbolizing gunas, standing before a luminous doorway; devotee with folded hands and offerings of charity; strong contours and symbolic color blocks.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Devi Maya richly adorned with gold work, three-guna motifs in her sari, devotee below performing dana and puja; behind her a radiant Vishnu-like light indicating transcendence; ornate arch and embossed details.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic composition: three ropes labeled sattva/rajas/tamas forming a veil around the world; a practitioner doing japa and charity; Maya shown as a graceful figure indicating ‘duratyaya’; fine lines and soft gradients.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, allegorical courtly scene: a veiled lady (Maya) with tri-colored veil stands at a garden gate; a seeker with prayer beads and a book approaches; subtle symbolism, intricate textiles, and architectural depth."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कश्चिद्दुर्गतिं = कश्चित् + दुर्गतिम्; देवी ह्य् एषा = देवी + हि + एषा (यण्/लोप); दुरत्यया = दुर् + अत्यया (दुर्-उपसर्ग)
Related Themes: Agni Purana teachings on triguna, prakriti, and moksha via jnana/bhakti in Moksha-dharma
FAQs
It teaches the practical karmic principle that auspicious, righteous conduct (kalyāṇa-kṛt) prevents a fall into durgati, while also defining Māyā as the guṇa-constituted divine power that must be transcended for liberation.
Beyond rituals and applied sciences, the Agni Purāṇa also preserves core Vedānta/Sāṃkhya-inflected doctrine—guṇas, Māyā, destiny (gati), and liberation—showing its breadth from practice (karma) to metaphysics (crossing Māyā).
It affirms that merit-bearing action safeguards one’s post-mortem and worldly trajectory, and it frames spiritual progress as moving beyond guṇa-bound Māyā—encouraging dharma and the pursuit of transcendence.