Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 9
Chapter 378: Brahma-jñāna
Knowledge of Brahman
वेदादिविद्या ह्य् अपरमक्षरं ब्रह्मसत्परम् तदेतद्भगवद्वाच्यमुपचारे ऽर्चने ऽन्यतः
vedādividyā hy aparamakṣaraṃ brahmasatparam tadetadbhagavadvācyamupacāre 'rcane 'nyataḥ
वेदादी विद्या खरोखरच परम अक्षर—परम सत्य ब्रह्म—यात पर्यवसित होतात. तेच परम अर्चना-उपचारात व अन्य प्रसंगी भक्तिरूढीने ‘भगवान्’ या शब्दाने संबोधिले जाते.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Clarify that all learning culminates in the Imperishable Brahman and understand the devotional/ritual usage of the epithet “Bhagavān” as a conventional designation in worship.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Bhagavān as Upacāra-nāma for the Imperishable Brahman","lookup_keywords":["akṣara brahman","bhagavān","upacāra","arcana","veda-vidyā"],"quick_summary":"Vedic disciplines point to the imperishable Brahman; in worship and offerings, that supreme reality is conventionally addressed as “Bhagavān.” The verse frames a bridge between metaphysical Brahman and ritual language."}
Alamkara Type: Arthāntaranyāsa (supporting statement)
Concept: Ritual speech (arcana/upacāra) legitimately names the supreme imperishable Brahman as Bhagavān, aligning devotion with metaphysical truth.
Application: In pūjā and offerings, treat the name “Bhagavān” as pointing to the highest reality, preventing sectarian narrowing and keeping worship oriented to Brahman.
Khanda Section: Brahma-vidya / Nama-vidya (Sacred Syllables and Theological Definitions)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual scene of arcana: offerings before a sanctified symbol while a teacher explains that the worshiped ‘Bhagavān’ denotes the imperishable Brahman beyond form.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, temple worship with lamp and offerings, priest and rishi indicating a radiant abstract Brahman behind the deity-symbol, traditional floral borders, warm ochres and greens","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, altar with kalasha and lamps, gold-leaf radiance behind the central symbol signifying akṣara brahman, devotees with folded hands, ornate jewelry and gold embossing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional depiction of pūjā items (flowers, lamp, water vessel) with a subtle luminous backdrop labeled akṣara, fine detailing and soft palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, indoor shrine with offerings, scholar explaining to a patron that ‘Bhagavān’ is a devotional designation, delicate textiles, precise objects, calligraphic cartouche"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: hy = hi; aparamakṣaram = aparam akṣaram; brahmasatparam = brahma-sat-param; tadetadbhagavadvācyam = tat etat bhagavat-vācyam; 'upacāre 'rcane 'nyataḥ' = upacāre arcane anyataḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 378.10; Agni Purana 378.11; Agni Purana 378.12
FAQs
It teaches the ritual-theological usage that, during upacāra (offerings) and arcana (formal worship), the supreme Akṣara-Brahman is conventionally addressed by the appellation “Bhagavān,” aligning worship-language with Vedāntic ultimate reality.
It bridges two domains—philosophical Brahma-vidyā (Akṣara/Brahman) and practical pūjā vocabulary (upacāra/arcana)—showing how the Agni Purana integrates metaphysics with applied ritual terminology.
By identifying the worshipped “Bhagavān” with the supreme Brahman, the verse frames ritual devotion as directed to the highest reality, supporting purified intention (bhāva) and elevating worship from mere formality to liberating knowledge-oriented devotion.