Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 20
Āsana–Prāṇāyāma–Pratyāhāra
Posture, Breath-control, and Withdrawal of the Senses
इन्द्रियाणि प्रसक्तानि प्रविश्य विषयोदधौ कन्यस इति ञ प्राणायामो ऽङ्कुश इति झ आहृत्य यो निगृह्णाति प्रत्याहारः स उच्यते
indriyāṇi prasaktāni praviśya viṣayodadhau kanyasa iti ña prāṇāyāmo 'ṅkuśa iti jha āhṛtya yo nigṛhṇāti pratyāhāraḥ sa ucyate
इंद्रिये विषयासक्त होऊन विषय-समुद्रात शिरली असता, जो साधक प्राणायाम-रूपी अंकुशाने त्यांना परत ओढून संयमित करतो, त्यास प्रत्याहार म्हणतात।
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition of Agni Purana, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Practice pratyāhāra by consciously withdrawing the senses from their objects, using breath-regulation as a restraining aid, to stabilize attention for dhāraṇā/dhyāna.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Pratyāhāra (Withdrawal of the Senses) likened to an Aṅkuśa (Goad)","lookup_keywords":["pratyāhāra","indriya-nigraha","viṣaya-udadhi","prāṇāyāma","aṅkuśa"],"quick_summary":"When senses rush into sense-objects like into an ocean, drawing them back and restraining them is pratyāhāra. Prāṇāyāma functions as a practical ‘goad’ to check outward movement and return attention inward."}
Alamkara Type: Rūpaka
Concept: Indriya-nigraha as pratyāhāra; breath-control as an auxiliary restraint for turning the mind inward.
Application: Use breath awareness to interrupt sensory chasing; periodically ‘reel in’ attention from sights/sounds/tastes and rest it in the inner field (antar-mukhatā).
Khanda Section: Yoga-vidya (Aṣṭāṅga-yoga: Prāṇāyāma, Pratyāhāra)
Primary Rasa: Śānta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A yogin sits steady while the five senses, depicted as creatures rushing into a vast ocean of objects, are pulled back by a symbolic goad labeled prāṇāyāma, returning toward the heart-lotus.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, seated yogi in padmāsana, stylized ocean of viṣayas with fish-like sense-icons, aṅkuśa motif as golden hook of prāṇāyāma drawing them inward, flat bold colors, ornate borders, sacred calm","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central yogi with halo, gold-leaf aṅkuśa symbol, miniature ocean of sense-objects at the bottom, rich reds and greens, embossed ornaments, devotional serenity","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional diagram feel: yogi, arrows from senses to objects and back, labeled ‘pratyāhāra’ and ‘prāṇāyāma-aṅkuśa’, delicate lines, muted palette, clarity and precision","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined courtly palette: yogi by a stylized sea, personified senses as attendants moving outward then turning back under a small goad in yogi’s hand, fine detailing, calm atmosphere"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: viṣayodadhau = viṣaya-udadhau (tatpuruṣa); prāṇāyāmo 'ṅkuśaḥ = prāṇāyāmaḥ aṅkuśaḥ; dhātu-based gerunds: praviśya, āhṛtya. The markers ña/jha are technical alphabetic labels in the source.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 372 (Āsana–Prāṇāyāma–Pratyāhāra); Agni Purana 373 (Dhyāna definitions)
FAQs
Yoga-vidyā: it gives a technical definition of pratyāhāra—drawing back and restraining the senses after they have run toward sense-objects—using prāṇāyāma as a controlling “goad” (aṅkuśa).
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves concise yogic psychology and practice-lakṣaṇas; this verse functions like a handbook definition within the broader compendium.
Withdrawing the senses from cravings reduces saṅga (attachment), steadies the mind for dhāraṇā/dhyāna, and supports purification by preventing new karmic entanglement through uncontrolled sense-contact.