Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 23
Chapter 373 — ध्यानम्
Dhyāna / Meditation
ज्ञात्वा पद्मासनं सर्वं सर्वदुःखान्तमाप्नुयात् तत्पद्मकर्णिकामध्ये शुद्धदीपशिखाकृतिं
jñātvā padmāsanaṃ sarvaṃ sarvaduḥkhāntamāpnuyāt tatpadmakarṇikāmadhye śuddhadīpaśikhākṛtiṃ
പദ്മാസനം പൂർണ്ണമായി അറിഞ്ഞ് (സാധിച്ച്) സർവ്വദുഃഖങ്ങളുടെ അവസാനം പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു. ആ പദ്മത്തിന്റെ കർണികാമദ്ധ്യേ ദീപശിഖാസദൃശമായ ശുദ്ധരൂപം ധ്യാനിക്കണം.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in a didactic sequence on yoga/dhyāna)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Combines yogic mastery (padmāsana) with inner visualization: steadiness of posture as a means to duḥkha-nirodha, then focusing on a pure lamp-flame form in the lotus center for dhyāna.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Padmāsana-siddhi and Dīpa-śikhā-dhyāna in the lotus center","lookup_keywords":["padmāsana","sarva-duḥkha-anta","karnikā-madhya","dīpa-śikhā-ākṛti","śuddha-dhyāna"],"quick_summary":"Perfecting lotus posture supports the ending of suffering through stable meditation; then visualize a pure lamp-flame form in the lotus’s central pericarp as the focal point for absorption."}
Concept: Duḥkha-anta through disciplined posture and one-pointed inner light meditation; bodily steadiness supports mental cessation.
Application: Practice padmāsana safely and steadily; then fix attention on an imagined steady lamp-flame at the lotus center to cultivate dhāraṇā → dhyāna → samādhi.
Khanda Section: Yoga-vidya (Dhyana and inner visualization practices)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A yogin seated in perfect padmāsana; within a stylized lotus at the heart/inner altar, a steady, pure lamp-flame glows at the center, symbolizing focused consciousness and the end of suffering.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, yogin in padmāsana with serene face, stylized inner lotus shown as a symbolic overlay, central lamp-flame glowing white-gold, calm shanta palette with traditional mural ornament.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, yogin seated on lotus, heavy gold work around a central flame motif, embossed halo, rich maroon background, the flame rendered as a jewel-like tejas in the lotus pericarp.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional yoga scene: correct padmāsana alignment, subtle depiction of inner lotus at chest with a small steady flame, fine lines and soft colors for clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined yogin portrait in padmāsana in a quiet chamber, a symbolic lotus-and-flame motif delicately painted at the center, precise detailing and subdued tones."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सर्व-दुःख-अन्तम् + आप्नुयात् → सर्वदुःखान्तमाप्नुयात्; तत्-पद्म-कर्णिका-मध्ये (समास); शुद्ध-दीप-शिखा-आकृतिम् (समास)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 373.19 (śuddha-dhyeya); Agni Purana 373.20 (padma form); Agni Purana 373.21-22 (symbolic lotus mapping; dharma-jñāna-vairāgya)
FAQs
It teaches a yogic method: mastery of padmāsana combined with dhyāna—visualizing a pure lamp-flame form in the lotus’s central core (a subtle inner focal-point).
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and poetics, the Agni Purana also preserves practical yoga and meditation instructions—here giving an applied dhyāna technique linked to a specific āsana and visualization.
The verse frames padmāsana and inner flame-contemplation as a soteriological practice: it is said to lead to sarva-duḥkha-anta—cessation of suffering—through purification and one-pointed awareness.