Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 51
अध्याय ३८० — गीतासारः
The Essence of the Gītā
अधिष्ठानं तथा कर्ता करणञ्च पृथग्विधम् त्रिविधाश् च पृथक् चेष्टा दैवञ्चैवात्र पञ्चमं
adhiṣṭhānaṃ tathā kartā karaṇañca pṛthagvidham trividhāś ca pṛthak ceṣṭā daivañcaivātra pañcamaṃ
येथे पाच (कारक) आहेत—अधिष्ठान (कर्माचा आधार), कर्ता, विविध प्रकारची करणे (उपकरणे), त्रिविध भिन्न चेष्टा (क्रिया), आणि पाचवे—दैव (दैवी/भाग्यतत्त्व)।
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha, consistent with Agni Purana’s dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Causal analysis of any undertaking: check the five factors—base/context, agent, tools, effort pattern, and uncontrollable/divine element—to plan responsibly without fatalism.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Pañca kāraṇāni (Five factors of action)","lookup_keywords":["adhiṣṭhāna","kartā","karaṇa","ceṣṭā","daiva"],"quick_summary":"Every action depends on five constituents: locus, agent, instruments, effort/activity, and the divine factor. This framework balances personal responsibility with recognition of conditions beyond control."}
Concept: Karma-causation model: action is multi-factorial, not reducible to a single doer or fate alone.
Application: In governance, ritual, craft, or daily work: ensure proper place/resources (adhiṣṭhāna), competent agent, adequate tools, disciplined effort, and contingency planning for daiva.
Khanda Section: Moksha-shastra / Karma-yoga (Gita-style doctrinal summary within Agni Purana)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A schematic showing five pillars supporting an act: a platform (locus), a person (agent), tools, a threefold motion/effort motif, and a subtle celestial emblem for daiva.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, five symbolic icons arranged as a mandala—earthy base for adhiṣṭhāna, human figure for kartā, implements for karaṇa, three swirling strokes for ceṣṭā, small celestial disc for daiva—bold outlines, didactic clarity","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style with gold leaf, five-panel composition like a temple prabhavali: each panel depicts one factor (locus, agent, instruments, effort, divine), ornate borders, luminous finish","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional diagram aesthetic, labeled icons with neat Sanskrit captions, calm hermitage classroom, emphasis on clarity and proportion","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar presenting a folio with five illustrated vignettes to a patron, fine brushwork, architectural interior, subtle celestial motif for daiva"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: karaṇañca = karaṇam ca; pṛthagvidham = pṛthak-vidham; trividhāś ca = tri-vidhāḥ ca; pṛthak ceṣṭā = pṛthak ceṣṭā; daivañcaiva = daivam ca eva; caivātra = ca eva atra.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 380.50; Agni Purana 380.52; Agni Purana 380.53
FAQs
It teaches the pañca-kāraṇa doctrine: five necessary factors behind any action—basis (adhiṣṭhāna), agent (kartā), instruments (karaṇa), threefold activity/effort (ceṣṭā), and the divine/fated factor (daiva).
Beyond rituals and legends, the Agni Purana also preserves systematic philosophical frameworks—here, a technical causal analysis of action that supports ethics, governance, and liberation teachings across its wide-ranging subjects.
It balances personal responsibility (agent, effort, instruments) with the maturation of past karma (daiva), guiding disciplined action without egoism and supporting a karma-yoga approach toward purification and liberation.