Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 5
Yati-dharma
The Dharma of the Renunciate Ascetic
समता चैव सर्वस्मिन्नेतन्मुक्तस्य लक्षणं नाभिनन्देन मरणं नाभिनन्देत जीवनं
samatā caiva sarvasminnetanmuktasya lakṣaṇaṃ nābhinandena maraṇaṃ nābhinandeta jīvanaṃ
എല്ലാറ്റിനോടും സമതാഭാവം—ഇതാണ് മുക്തന്റെ ലക്ഷണം; അവൻ മരണത്തെ അഭിനന്ദിക്കുകയുമില്ല, ജീവിതത്തെയും അഭിനന്ദിക്കുകയുമില്ല।
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s discourse frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Gives a diagnostic criterion of mukta: unwavering samata toward life and death, useful for self-assessment and guidance in moksha-marga.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Mukta-lakshana: samata toward life and death","lookup_keywords":["mukta-lakshana","samata","jnana-vairagya","jivana-marana","moksha-dharma"],"quick_summary":"Liberation is marked by equanimity toward all experiences. The liberated neither celebrates death nor clings to life."}
Concept: Jivanmukti sign: samata that transcends dualities (jivita/marana), indicating dissolution of raga-dvesha.
Application: Cultivate even-mindedness through viveka and abhyasa; observe reactions to gain/loss, praise/blame, life/death to measure detachment.
Khanda Section: Moksha-dharma (Jnana–Vairagya / Liberation Characteristics)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vairagya
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A serene liberated sage seated in meditation, with symbolic contrasts around him—life and death motifs (withered and blooming flowers, day and night) shown without affecting his calm expression.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central meditating sage with tranquil eyes, surrounding vignettes of birth and funeral rites stylized at the margins, balanced composition emphasizing samata.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, meditating jnani with gold halo; two side panels: a cradle (life) and a funeral pyre (death), both rendered as equal, with ornate border.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, soft gradients and fine lines; didactic symmetry: left side life symbols, right side death symbols; sage in center unmoved, minimal ornamentation.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined landscape: sage under a tree, villagers in background performing wedding and funeral scenes; sage remains detached, subtle facial serenity."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Shankara","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चैव = च + एव; सर्वस्मिन्नेतत् = सर्वस्मिन् + एतत्; nābhinandena/ nābhinandeta interpreted as न + अभिनन्देत (optative); manuscript spelling variation possible.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Moksha-dharma discussions on jnana, vairagya, and lakshanas of the wise
FAQs
It imparts the mokṣa-vidyā principle of samatā (equanimity): the practical discipline of not emotionally clinging to either survival (jīvana) or the ending of the body (maraṇa).
Alongside ritual, polity, and other sciences, the Agni Purāṇa also codifies liberation-teachings (mokṣa-dharma). This verse functions as a concise doctrinal definition—an identifying criterion (lakṣaṇa) of a liberated person—showing the text’s coverage of inner discipline and soteriology.
By cultivating equal-mindedness toward life and death, one reduces rāga-dveṣa (attachment and aversion), which weakens karmic bondage and supports steadiness in knowledge leading toward liberation.