Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 1
Chapter 373 — ध्यानम्
Dhyāna / Meditation
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे आसनप्राणायामप्रत्याहारा नाम द्विसप्तत्यधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः अथ त्रिसप्तत्यधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः ध्यानम् अग्निर् उवाच ध्यै चिन्तायां स्मृतो धातुर्विष्णुचिन्ता मुहूर्मुहुः अनाक्षिप्तेन मनसा ध्यानमित्यभिधीयते
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe āsanaprāṇāyāmapratyāhārā nāma dvisaptatyadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha trisaptatyadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ dhyānam agnir uvāca dhyai cintāyāṃ smṛto dhāturviṣṇucintā muhūrmuhuḥ anākṣiptena manasā dhyānamityabhidhīyate
Demikianlah dalam Agni Mahāpurāṇa berakhir bab yang dinamakan “Āsana, Prāṇāyāma dan Pratyāhāra”, iaitu bab ke-372. Kini bermula bab ke-373: “Dhyāna (Meditasi)”. Agni bersabda: Akar kata dhyai diingati dalam erti “perenungan”. Mengingati Viṣṇu berulang-ulang, dengan minda yang tidak terpesong—itulah yang disebut dhyāna.
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vyakarana","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Use the definitional cue (dhātu ‘dhyai’ = cintā) to structure meditation: repeated Viṣṇu-smṛti with an undistracted mind as the operational criterion for dhyāna.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Dhyāna: Undistracted Repeated Contemplation of Viṣṇu (from dhātu ‘dhyai’)","lookup_keywords":["dhyāna","dhyai dhātu","cintā","viṣṇu-cintā","anākṣipta manas"],"quick_summary":"Meditation is defined via etymology: ‘dhyai’ means contemplation. Practically, dhyāna is repeated Viṣṇu-focused thought maintained with a mind not pulled away by distractions."}
Concept: Dhyāna as sustained, repeated contemplation with avikṣepa (non-distraction), here framed as Viṣṇu-smṛti.
Application: Choose a Viṣṇu form/mantra as anchor; practice short cycles of repeated recollection, gently returning whenever the mind is ‘ākṣipta’ (pulled away).
Khanda Section: Yoga-vidya (Asana–Pranayama–Pratyahara–Dhyana)
Primary Rasa: Śānta
Secondary Rasa: Bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Agni as teacher speaks; a yogin sits with steady gaze, mentally repeating Viṣṇu’s form; distractions appear as faint drifting shapes that do not seize the mind.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Agni ṛṣi-like figure teaching, seated yogi before a luminous Viṣṇu mandala, stylized distraction-forms fading at the periphery, bold flat colors, sacred composure","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Viṣṇu with gold halo and ornaments, smaller meditating yogi below, Agni as narrator to the side, gold-leaf emphasis on Viṣṇu, devotional stillness","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional composition: Agni pointing to the word ‘dhyai=cintā’, yogi with thought-stream repeating Viṣṇu icon, subtle decorative borders, clarity-focused","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholarly setting with Agni instructing, yogi in quiet chamber, a delicate cloud-vision of Viṣṇu above, fine linework, restrained palette"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: uddharedātmanātmānaṃ (in IAST line) belongs to previous verse; here: ity āgneye = iti + āgneye; adhyāyo 'dhyāyaḥ = adhyāyaḥ (visarga before vowel); agnir uvāca = agniḥ uvāca; dhāturviṣṇucintā = dhātuḥ viṣṇu-cintā; dhyānamityabhidhīyate = dhyānam iti abhidhīyate.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 372 (pratyāhāra prerequisite); Agni Purana 373 (continuing dhyāna definitions in 373.2–373.3)
FAQs
It gives a technical definition of dhyāna: sustained, repeated contemplation—specifically Viṣṇu-cintā—performed with an undistracted mind, following pratyāhāra.
It shows the text’s yogic-technical scope by defining meditation using grammatical (dhātu) explanation and practical yogic sequencing (āsana–prāṇāyāma–pratyāhāra–dhyāna), alongside devotional focus on Viṣṇu.
By prescribing undistracted remembrance of Viṣṇu, the verse frames meditation as a purifying, stabilizing practice that disciplines the mind and supports spiritual liberation-oriented devotion.