Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 37
Chapter 381 — यमगीता
Yama-gītā
अग्निर् उवाच वशिष्ठ यमगीतोक्ता पठतां भुक्तिमुक्तिदा आत्यन्तिको लयः प्रोक्तो वेदान्तब्रह्मधीमयः
agnir uvāca vaśiṣṭha yamagītoktā paṭhatāṃ bhuktimuktidā ātyantiko layaḥ prokto vedāntabrahmadhīmayaḥ
Agni bersabda: Wahai Vasiṣṭha, ajaran yang dikenali sebagai “Yama-gītā” ini—apabila dilagukan atau dibaca—menganugerahkan kenikmatan duniawi serta pembebasan (mokṣa). Di sini dinyatakan “ātyantika laya”, yakni peleraian muktamad, berupa wawasan Vedānta tentang Brahman.
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Moksha-śāstra / Vedānta","practical_application":"Use the Yama-gītā as a recitation-and-contemplation text to cultivate brahma-jñāna while sustaining dharmic life; orient practice toward ‘ātyantika laya’ (final cessation of saṃsāric identification).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Ātyantika-laya through Vedānta Brahma-dhī (Yama-gītā phala)","lookup_keywords":["Yama-gītā","ātyantika laya","brahma-jñāna","bhukti-mukti","Vedānta"],"quick_summary":"The Yama-gītā is presented as a recitable teaching that yields both bhukti (worldly well-being) and mukti (liberation). ‘Ultimate dissolution’ is defined as Vedāntic insight into Brahman, dissolving the root of bondage."}
Concept: Ātyantika-laya is not mere cosmic dissolution but the cessation of avidyā through brahma-dhī (Vedāntic realization of Brahman), granting mukti while supporting bhukti as a secondary fruit.
Application: Daily pāṭha (recitation) with nididhyāsana: reflect ‘I am not the perishing upādhis; the Akṣara Brahman alone is real’; use the promise of bhukti-mukti to stabilize sādhana without escapism.
Khanda Section: Moksha-śāstra / Vedānta (Liberation teachings; laya and brahma-jñāna)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Agni, as teacher, addresses Vasiṣṭha, declaring the Yama-gītā’s fruit of bhukti and mukti and defining ‘ātyantika laya’ as Brahman-realization; the atmosphere is austere and luminous, suggesting dissolution of ego into pure light.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style: Agni-deva with radiant aureole and stylized flames, seated as guru; Vasiṣṭha with matted locks and kamaṇḍalu listens; background minimal with lotus motifs; emphasize serene śānta mood and golden-red palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting: central Agni with embossed gold halo and flame ornaments; Vasiṣṭha in reverent posture; include palm-leaf manuscript labeled ‘Yama-gītā’; rich reds and greens, heavy gold work to symbolize Brahman-luster.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting: instructional composition—Agni pointing to a manuscript while a subtle white-gold field represents ‘Brahman’; delicate linework, soft shading; include small caption panels ‘bhukti’ and ‘mukti’ as symbolic fruits.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtly yet ascetic teaching scene in a pavilion; Agni as luminous sage-like figure, Vasiṣṭha seated; fine detailing of manuscript and rosary; subdued background wash transitioning into blank light to suggest laya."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अग्निर् उवाच → अग्निः उवाच (र्-सन्धि); यमगीतोक्ता → यमगीता उक्ता (आ + उ → ओ); भुक्तिमुक्तिदा → भुक्ति-मुक्ति-दा; प्रोक्तो → प्रोक्तः (o = visarga sandhi before voiced sound in pausa/metrical).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 381 (Yama-gītā); Agni Purana 382 (Agneya-purāṇa-māhātmya; vidyā-dvaya)
FAQs
It imparts Vedāntic mokṣa-vidyā: recitation/study of the Yama-gītā is presented as a practical means that yields both bhukti (worldly fruition) and mukti (liberation), culminating in ātyantika laya—final absorption through Brahman-knowledge.
Alongside its many applied sciences, the Agni Purāṇa also preserves philosophical soteriology: this verse indexes a Vedānta-based liberation doctrine (Brahman-realization and final dissolution), showing the text’s scope from practical instruction to ultimate metaphysics.
The verse attributes twofold fruit to the teaching—prosperity/experience in life (bhukti) and release from saṃsāra (mukti)—and frames the highest goal as ātyantika laya, attained by steady Brahman-insight rather than mere ritual action.