Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 11
Chapter 371 — Yama-Niyama and Praṇava-Upāsanā (Oṅkāra) as Brahma-vidyā
ब्रह्मचर्यं क्रियामूलमन्यथा विफला क्रिया वसिष्ठश् चन्द्रमाः शुक्रो देवाचार्यः पितामहः
brahmacaryaṃ kriyāmūlamanyathā viphalā kriyā vasiṣṭhaś candramāḥ śukro devācāryaḥ pitāmahaḥ
ພຣະຫມະຈັຣຍະ (ການຮັກສາພຣະຫມະຈັຣຍະ ແລະ ຊີວິດນັກສຶກສາທີ່ມີວິໄນ) ແມ່ນຮາກຖານຂອງກິດທຳອັນສັກສິດທັງປວງ; ຖ້າບໍ່ແມ່ນແບບນັ້ນ ການປະກອບພິທີຈະໄຮ້ຜົນ. ດັ່ງນີ້ ວະສິດຖະ, ຈັນທຣະມາ (ດວງຈັນ), ສຸກຣະ, ຄູອາຈານແຫ່ງເທວະ (ບຣິຫັສປະຕິ), ແລະ ພິຕາມະຫະ (ພຣະພຣະຫມາ) ໄດ້ສອນໄວ້.
Lord Agni (narrator of dharma/vidhi material in the Agni Purana)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Establish brahmacarya (sense-restraint, regulated study, and purity) as the prerequisite for yajña, japa, homa, and daily rites so that ritual yields intended merit.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Brahmacarya as the root of ritual efficacy","lookup_keywords":["brahmacarya","kriyā-mūla","ritual efficacy","āśrama-dharma","ācārya-upadeśa"],"quick_summary":"Ritual action bears fruit only when grounded in brahmacarya—disciplined conduct, restraint, and student-life foundations. The verse frames this as an authoritative teaching endorsed by revered seers and deities."}
Concept: Adhikara (fitness) for sacred acts arises from brahmacarya; without inner restraint, outer ritual is barren.
Application: Adopt brahmacarya-based daily regimen (regulated diet, speech, sleep, study, and celibacy/continence as appropriate) before undertaking vows, homa, or mantra-sadhana.
Khanda Section: Dharma-śāstra / Āśrama-dharma (Brahmacarya and ritual foundations)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A brahmacārin student seated near a sacred fire and teacher, holding a palm-leaf manuscript and water-pot, while revered figures (Vasiṣṭha, Moon, Śukra, Bṛhaspati, Brahmā) appear as witnessing authorities in the sky.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette, brahmacārin with daṇḍa and kamaṇḍalu beside homa-kuṇḍa, guru in saffron, celestial witnesses—Candra with crescent, Śukra and Bṛhaspati as radiant sages, Brahmā four-faced—ornate floral borders, flat iconic composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central guru and brahmacārin by yajña fire, heavy gold foil halos, Brahmā and planetary deities in upper register, rich reds and greens, temple arch frame, jewel-like detailing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional calm scene: student performing sandhyā and svādhyāya before homa, fine linework, subdued gold, labeled ritual implements (kamaṇḍalu, daṇḍa, samidh), serene expressions.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly yet ascetic hermitage setting, teacher instructing student, small celestial medallions for Candra, Śukra, Bṛhaspati, Brahmā, delicate foliage, precise textiles, controlled perspective."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: क्रियामूलमन्यथा = क्रिया-मूलम् + अन्यथा; वसिष्ठश् = वसिष्ठः; देवाचार्यः = देव-आचार्यः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)
Related Themes: Agni Purana: sections on āśrama-dharma and ācāra; Agni Purana: vrata-vidhi and yajña/homa procedures
FAQs
It states a rule of ritual science: brahmacarya (sexual restraint and disciplined conduct) is a prerequisite for kriyā (sacred acts) to yield results; without it, rites are considered ineffective.
Alongside topics like worship-vidhi, polity, and other śāstras, the Agni Purana also preserves dharma-śāstra principles—here, a concise doctrinal standard for ritual qualification and efficacy.
It links inner discipline to outer religious action: self-control purifies the performer, making karma fruitful; lack of restraint undermines the spiritual merit and intended ritual outcome.