Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 10
Adhyaya 165 — नानाधर्माः
Various Dharmas
वृत्तिहीनं मनः कृत्वा क्षेत्रज्ञं परमात्मनि एकीकृत्य विमुच्येत बन्धाद्योगो ऽयमुत्तमः
vṛttihīnaṃ manaḥ kṛtvā kṣetrajñaṃ paramātmani ekīkṛtya vimucyeta bandhādyogo 'yamuttamaḥ
മനസ്സിനെ എല്ലാ വൃത്തികളിൽ നിന്നുമൊഴിവാക്കി, ക്ഷേത്രജ്ഞനെ പരമാത്മയിൽ ഏകീകരിച്ചാൽ ബന്ധനത്തിൽ നിന്ന് വിമുക്തി ലഭിക്കുന്നു—ഇതാണ് ഉത്തമയോഗം.
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana’s yoga teaching, traditionally to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Yoga-vidya","practical_application":"Practice vṛtti-nirodha and Self-integration (jīva–Paramātman aikya-bhāvanā) as a direct method for mokṣa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Uttama-yoga: vṛtti-nirodha and kṣetrajña–Paramātman aikya","lookup_keywords":["vṛtti-hīna manas","kṣetrajña","paramātman","aikya","mokṣa yoga"],"quick_summary":"Make the mind free of modifications and unify the individual knower (kṣetrajña) with the Supreme Self. This culminates in release from bondage and is declared the highest yoga."}
Concept: Liberation arises when mind becomes vṛtti-less and the kṣetrajña is realized as non-separate from Paramātman; bondage is mental superimposition sustained by vṛttis.
Application: Adopt a sequence: (1) śama–dama and meditation to quiet vṛttis, (2) witness-awareness of kṣetrajña, (3) non-dual contemplation (aikya-bhāvanā), (4) stabilize in absorption.
Khanda Section: Yoga-vidya (Moksha-dharma / Adhyatma)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A yogin seated in deep samādhi; the mind depicted as a calm, unruffled lake; a subtle merging of a small inner light (kṣetrajña) into a vast luminous presence (Paramātman).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, meditating yogin under stylized tree, serene lake motif for vṛtti-nirodha, luminous mandala behind representing Paramātman; minimal narrative, strong śānta bhāva.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central samādhi yogin with expansive gold aura; concentric gold rings symbolizing absorption; lotus and lamp motifs; emphasis on radiance and stillness.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional diagram-like scene: calm lake labeled ‘vṛtti-hīna’, inner flame labeled ‘kṣetrajña’, vast sky labeled ‘Paramātman’; gentle colors, precise lines.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, quiet hermitage interior; yogin in meditation, attendants absent; delicate rendering of light merging into light, subtle gradients and fine detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: बन्धाद्योगोऽयम् = बन्धात् + योगः + अयम्; (त् + य → द्य)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 165.12 (pratyāhāra as prerequisite); Agni Purana 165.8 (true yoga as Brahman-abidance)
FAQs
It teaches Yoga-vidyā as mental discipline: still the mind by removing vṛttis and contemplate the kṣetrajña as non-separate from Paramātman, which is presented as the operative method for liberation.
Alongside its wide coverage of ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also systematizes liberation-doctrines; this verse encapsulates its adhyātma/yoga component by giving a concise mokṣa-method grounded in classical Sankhya–Vedanta terminology (kṣetrajña/Paramātman, bandha, yoga).
By dissolving mental fluctuations and realizing unity of the individual knower with the Supreme Self, bondage to karma and saṃsāra is cut, culminating in mokṣa (freedom).