Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 20
Chapter 371 — Yama-Niyama and Praṇava-Upāsanā (Oṅkāra) as Brahma-vidyā
तज्जयः सर्वधर्मेभ्यः स धर्मः पर उच्यते वाचिकं मन्त्रजप्यादि मानसं रागवर्जनं
tajjayaḥ sarvadharmebhyaḥ sa dharmaḥ para ucyate vācikaṃ mantrajapyādi mānasaṃ rāgavarjanaṃ
त्या (अंतःशत्रू—राग/काम) वर विजय मिळवणे सर्व धर्मांपेक्षा श्रेष्ठ आहे; तोच परम धर्म म्हणतात. वाचिक साधना म्हणजे मंत्रजप इत्यादी; मानसिक साधना म्हणजे राग-आसक्तीचा त्याग.
Lord Agni (narrating to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Yoga-Dharma","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Teaches inner conquest over desire/attachment as supreme dharma; prescribes verbal discipline (mantra-japa) and mental discipline (abandoning rāga).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vācika and Mānasika Sādhana for Rāga-jaya (Conquest of Attachment)","lookup_keywords":["mantra-japa","vācika","mānasika","rāga-vairāgya","para-dharma"],"quick_summary":"Supreme dharma is victory over attachment; practice it through disciplined speech (japa, regulated utterance) and disciplined mind (dropping rāga and clinging)."}
Concept: Para-dharma is inner conquest (rāga-jaya): speech is purified by mantra practice; mind is purified by vairāgya (rāga-vivarjana).
Application: Set a daily japa count (vācika) and pair it with a deliberate practice of letting go (mānasika): observe craving, do not feed it, return attention to mantra/breath.
Khanda Section: Yoga-Dharma (Sādhana and Inner Discipline)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A practitioner chanting mantra with a mālā (verbal discipline) while simultaneously depicted as cutting the knot of attachment in the heart (mental discipline), symbolizing inner conquest as supreme dharma.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, yogi with mālā and softly moving lips (japa), stylized heart-knot being severed by a luminous inner sword of discernment, temple mural palette, strong outlines, shanta-vira blend.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central japa scene with gold halo and gold-highlighted mālā, secondary symbolic motif of a lotus-heart freed from a red thread (rāga), ornate frame, devotional austerity.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional composition: left—vācika practice (mālā, mantra text ribbon); right—mānasika practice (thought-waves settling, rāga symbol fading), fine linework and calm colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate interior of a hermitage: ascetic chanting with rosary, a subtle allegorical inset showing a heart with loosened knot, delicate detailing, subdued tones."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तज्जयः = तत् + जयः; सर्वधर्मेभ्यः = सर्व + धर्मेभ्यः; मन्त्रजप्यादि = मन्त्र + जप्य + आदि.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Dharma-yoga definitions (371.19) and surrounding Yoga-dharma material on inner disciplines
FAQs
It specifies a practical twofold discipline: verbal practice through mantra-japa (recitation), and mental practice through rāga-varjana—systematic relinquishing of passion/attachment.
Alongside ritual and worldly topics, the Agni Purana also codifies inner disciplines of dharma and yoga—classifying practice into speech-based (mantric) and mind-based (detachment) methods.
By prioritizing conquest of attachment as “supreme dharma,” the verse frames inner purification as higher than external observances, implying deeper merit through reduced bondage and clearer spiritual realization.