Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 37
Explanation of the Final Dissolution (Ātyantika Laya) and the Arising of Hiraṇyagarbha — Subtle Body, Post-Death Transit, Rebirth, and Embodied Constituents
धर्मेप्सा मोक्षकामित्वं परा भक्तिश् च केशवे दाक्षिण्यं व्यवसायित्वं सात्विकानि विनिर्दिशेत्
dharmepsā mokṣakāmitvaṃ parā bhaktiś ca keśave dākṣiṇyaṃ vyavasāyitvaṃ sātvikāni vinirdiśet
ຄວາມປາຖະໜາໃນທຳມະ, ຄວາມໃຝ່ຝັນຫາໂມກສະ (ຄວາມຫຼຸດພົ້ນ), ພັກຕິອັນສູງສຸດຕໍ່ເກສະວະ, ຄວາມເມດຕາໃຈດີ, ແລະ ຄວາມມຸ່ງໝັ້ນໜັກແນ່ນ—ເຫຼົ່ານີ້ຖືກປະກາດວ່າເປັນຄຸນສົມບັດສາຕະວິກ.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Bhakti-Yoga","practical_application":"Defines sāttvika qualities for personal cultivation and devotional life—useful as a behavioral standard for practitioners and leaders.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Sāttvika-guṇa: dharma, mokṣa, bhakti, dākṣiṇya, vyavasāya","lookup_keywords":["sāttvika","dharma-īpsā","mokṣa-kāmitva","bhakti","dākṣiṇya","vyavasāya"],"quick_summary":"Sattva is marked by dharmic aspiration, desire for liberation, supreme devotion to Keśava, generosity, and steadfast resolve—traits to be intentionally cultivated."}
Concept: Sattva is the inner clarity that naturally aligns with dharma, mokṣa-orientation, and devotion; it expresses outwardly as generosity and steady effort.
Application: Adopt a sāttvika regimen: daily dharma-practice, remembrance of Keśava (japa/pūjā), charitable giving, and consistent vows/commitments (vyavasāya).
Khanda Section: Dharma & Gunatraya (Sattva–Rajas–Tamas) / Bhakti-Yoga Teachings
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A serene devotee offering flowers to Keśava; surrounding symbolic panels show dharma (scales or scripture), mokṣa (open gate/light), generosity (giving alms), and steadfast resolve (a firm pillar).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Viṣṇu/Keśava in calm posture with four arms, devotee in añjali, luminous sāttvika palette (greens, ochres), side motifs for dāna and dharma, temple-wall composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Keśava with gold-leaf halo and ornaments, devotee offering lotus, rich gold work emphasizing parā-bhakti; small narrative medallions for dākṣiṇya and vyavasāya.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean devotional scene with labeled virtues (dharma-īpsā, mokṣa-kāmitva, bhakti, dākṣiṇya, vyavasāya) arranged like an instructional chart around the central worship.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined interior shrine scene: devotee performing pūjā to Viṣṇu icon, soft light symbolizing mokṣa, attendants distributing charity outside; delicate detailing and calligraphic captions."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: dharmepsā → dharma-epsā. bhaktiś ca → bhaktiḥ + ca. vinirdiśet analyzed as vi+nir+√diś, optative 3sg.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 368.35 (tāmasa list); Agni Purana 368.36 (rājasa list)
FAQs
It imparts ethical-spiritual criteria for identifying Sāttvika disposition: dharma-oriented conduct, mokṣa-oriented intent, devotion to Keśava, generosity, and steadfast resolve—used as a practical yardstick for self-assessment and conduct.
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purāṇa also systematizes inner disciplines—here cataloging guṇa-based virtues—showing its wide scope from external rites to psychological-ethical taxonomy.
Cultivating these Sāttvika traits purifies intention and action, strengthens bhakti to Viṣṇu (Keśava), and aligns one toward mokṣa, thereby reducing rajasic/tamasic impulses that bind karma.