Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 19
Chapter 378: Brahma-jñāna
Knowledge of Brahman
देहश्चान्यो यदा पुंसस्तदा बन्धाय तत्परं निर्वाणमय एवायमात्मा ज्ञानमयो ऽमलः
dehaścānyo yadā puṃsastadā bandhāya tatparaṃ nirvāṇamaya evāyamātmā jñānamayo 'malaḥ
Apabila seseorang menganggap tubuh terpisah (daripada Diri), keterikatan itu sendiri menjadi sebab perhambaan. Namun Diri ini sesungguhnya bersifat nirvāṇa—terdiri daripada pengetahuan (kesedaran murni) dan tidak bernoda.
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Use viveka (discrimination) to avoid body-fixation; meditate on the Self as pure knowledge to reduce fear, craving, and identity-based suffering.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Bandha from Dehābheda-fixation; Ātman as Nirvāṇa-jñāna","lookup_keywords":["bandha","deha-abhimāna","nirvāṇa-maya ātman","jñāna-maya","amala"],"quick_summary":"Fixation on the body—even as ‘other’ yet obsessively referenced—binds; the Self is stainless consciousness, of the nature of nirvāṇa, realized through knowledge."}
Concept: Ātman is amala-jñāna (stainless consciousness), nirvāṇa-svarūpa; bondage arises from deha-abhimāna/fixation.
Application: Daily inquiry: ‘Who is aware of the body?’; reduce self-referential narratives around the body; stabilize attention in witnessing awareness (sākṣitva).
Khanda Section: Moksha-dharma / Atma-jnana (Liberation theology and Self-knowledge)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A meditator sits with the body shown as a translucent outer sheath, while a luminous inner Self (light) remains stainless; chains labeled ‘bandha’ dissolve with ‘jñāna’.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, yogi in padmāsana, subtle aura radiating from heart, outer body rendered as a sheath, symbolic chains breaking, stylized lotus and mandala motifs, tranquil palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central yogi with bright gold halo representing jñāna-maya ātman, outer bodily layer indicated with ornate border, gold embossing for ‘nirvāṇa’ radiance, deep maroon background","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic split-scene: left—person clinging to body with dark tones (bandha); right—same person in meditation with luminous inner light (amala), fine detailing and soft gradients","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar-saint teaching disciples; a diagram-like motif shows body vs. Self as concentric circles, delicate calligraphy panels for ‘jñāna’ and ‘nirvāṇa’"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: देहश्चान्यो = देहः च अन्यः; पुंसस्तदा = पुंसः तदा; एवायम् = एव अयम्; आत्मा ज्ञानमयोऽमलः = आत्मा ज्ञानमयः अमलः (ऽ = अ).
Related Themes: Agni Purana: adjacent Moksha-dharma verses on prakṛti-saṅga and vairāgya (378.20–22)
FAQs
Ātma-jñāna (Self-knowledge) via deha–ātma-viveka: the discipline of discerning the pure Self as consciousness (jñānamaya) rather than identifying with bodily notions that generate bondage.
Beyond rituals and worldly sciences, the Agni Purana also preserves mokṣa-śāstra: concise Vedāntic-style definitions of bondage and liberation, showing its scope from practical rites to highest metaphysics.
It redirects identity from body-based fixation (a root of karmic bondage) to the stainless, knowledge-natured Self, which is presented as intrinsically liberative (nirvāṇamaya).