Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 17
Chapter 376 — ब्रह्मज्ञानम्
Knowledge of Brahman
भिन्नाभिन्नं ह्य् अनिर्वाच्यं बन्धसंसारकारकं एकं स ब्रह्म विज्ञानात् प्राप्तं नैव च कर्मभिः
bhinnābhinnaṃ hy anirvācyaṃ bandhasaṃsārakārakaṃ ekaṃ sa brahma vijñānāt prāptaṃ naiva ca karmabhiḥ
Brahman yang satu itu—yang tampak sekaligus berbeza dan tidak berbeza, serta tidak terungkapkan—menjadi sebab ikatan dan putaran saṃsāra selagi Ia belum dikenal dengan benar. Ia dicapai melalui vijñāna, yakni pengetahuan yang terealisasi, dan sama sekali bukan melalui karma berupa tindakan ritual.
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, in the Agni Purana’s teaching dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Shift spiritual effort from mere ritualism to direct knowledge: prioritize śravaṇa–manana–nididhyāsana to end bondage rooted in misapprehension.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Brahman, Anirvacanīya Bhedābheda; Mokṣa by Vijñāna not Karma","lookup_keywords":["brahman","bhedābheda","bandha","vijñāna","karma"],"quick_summary":"Brahman appears as difference and non-difference and is inexpressible; bondage persists through ignorance and ends by realized knowledge, not by ritual action alone."}
Concept: Bandha is sustained by not knowing Brahman; mokṣa is through vijñāna (direct realization), not through karma as an end in itself.
Application: Reframe dharma: perform karma as purification (sādhana-catuṣṭaya support), but seek liberation through inquiry and realization.
Khanda Section: Moksha-jnana / Vedanta (Brahma-vijnana, Bandha-moksha-vicara)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A bound figure encircled by a wheel labeled saṃsāra; a beam of light labeled vijñāna cuts the bonds, while ritual implements lie respectfully aside as supportive but not liberating.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, saṃsāra-chakra around a human figure, chains dissolving under a descending white-gold ray marked 'vijñāna', ritual fire-altars and ladles at the side, solemn temple aesthetic","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-highlighted ray of knowledge breaking golden chains, central serene liberated figure, ritual items (kuśa, sruk, agni-kunda) rendered with ornament but placed lower, rich reds and greens","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, didactic composition: left panel karma/ritual scene, right panel meditation and inquiry, center shows bond-breaking by 'vijñāna', fine lines and soft shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, allegorical court scene: a sage presents a luminous manuscript (knowledge) freeing a chained seeker; ritual paraphernalia on a carpet; detailed textiles and architecture"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: भिन्नाभिन्नं = भिन्न + अभिन्नम् (dvandva); ह्य् = हि; नैव = न + एव; कर्मभिः = कर्मन्-तृतीया बहुवचन.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 376 (bandha-mokṣa-vicāra)
FAQs
It imparts Brahma-vijñāna (realized knowledge of Brahman): liberation is achieved by direct insight into the inexpressible, one reality, rather than by performing ritual karma.
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves Vedāntic mokṣa-doctrine; this verse is a compact philosophical entry explaining the limits of ritualism and the primacy of jñāna for liberation.
It redirects spiritual effort from merit-accumulating rites toward transformative knowledge: bondage and saṃsāra persist without right understanding, while mokṣa comes through vijñāna, not karma.