Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 28
Adhyāya 375 — समाधिः
Samādhi
सत्त्वं रजस्तमश् चैव गुणास्तस्यैव कीर्तिताः रजस्तमोभ्यामाविष्टश् चक्रवद्भ्राभ्यते हि सः
sattvaṃ rajastamaś caiva guṇāstasyaiva kīrtitāḥ rajastamobhyāmāviṣṭaś cakravadbhrābhyate hi saḥ
സത്ത്വം, രജസ്, തമസ്—ഇവയാണ് അതിന്റെ ഗുണങ്ങളെന്ന് പ്രസ്താവിക്കുന്നു. രജസ്-തമസ് പിടിച്ചാൽ അവൻ ചക്രംപോലെ തിരിഞ്ഞു അലഞ്ഞുതിരിയും.
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s didactic dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Self-observation and ethical discipline: recognize when rajas/tamas dominate and apply sattva-increasing practices (restraint, clarity, right diet, study) to stop compulsive mental cycling.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Triguna and the Wheel-like Wandering under Rajas–Tamas","lookup_keywords":["triguna","sattva rajas tamas","manas bhramana","chakra-vat","rajas-tamas avista"],"quick_summary":"Mind/embodied experience is characterized by sattva, rajas, and tamas. When rajas and tamas seize the person, life becomes repetitive wandering like a wheel; cultivating sattva stabilizes and clarifies."}
Alamkara Type: Upama
Concept: Bondage is driven by rajas–tamas; sattva brings steadiness and discernment.
Application: Use guna-diagnosis in daily conduct: when agitation/dullness arises, shift to sattvic actions (silence, japa, clean diet, truthful speech).
Khanda Section: Sankhya–Yoga / Triguna (Philosophical Doctrine of the Three Gunas)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Vairagya
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A human figure caught in a turning wheel symbolizing samsaric wandering, with three colored strands (white sattva, red rajas, black tamas) binding and pulling the mind.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural, flat vibrant colors, central wheel of samsara with three guna bands (white/red/black), a contemplative yogin stepping away into a calm lotus aura, traditional ornamental borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf, stylized wheel motif behind a serene sage, three guna ribbons in enamel-like colors, rich jewelry-like highlights, embossed gold for the wheel spokes","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, delicate linework, instructional labels for sattva/rajas/tamas near the wheel, a calm teacher-figure pointing to the rajas-tamas pull, soft pastel background","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtly figure shown in inner turmoil circling a wheel, fine brushwork, subtle shading, calligraphic caption of triguna, landscape margin with symbolic clouds"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: रजस्तमश् → रजः तमः (visarga sandhi); गुणास्तस्यैव → गुणाः तस्य एव; रजस्तमोभ्यामाविष्टश् → रजस्-तमोभ्याम् आविष्टः; चक्रवद्भ्राभ्यते → चक्रवत् भ्राभ्यते (final -t before bh-).
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Sankhya-Yoga/Triguna discussions (related sections on gunas and mind-control); Agni Purana: Moksha-dharma style passages on vairagya and sattva
FAQs
It imparts Sāṅkhya–Yoga psychological knowledge: the three guṇas structure experience, and domination by rajas and tamas causes cyclic restlessness and deluded wandering—guiding practice toward increasing sattva for steadiness and discernment.
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves systematic philosophy. This verse is a compact doctrinal statement of triguṇa theory (a core Sāṅkhya framework) used to explain behavior, bondage, and the method of inner refinement.
Rajas and tamas drive karmic entanglement through agitation and ignorance, producing repetitive cycles of thought and action. Recognizing this supports vairāgya (dispassion) and disciplined cultivation of sattva, which aids clarity, right action, and progress toward liberation.