Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 2
Chapter 369 — शरीरावयवाः
The Limbs/Organs and Constituents of the Body
पायूपस्थौ करौ पादौ वाग्भवेत् कर्मखुन्तथा उत्सर्गानन्दकादानगतिवागादि कर्म तत्
pāyūpasthau karau pādau vāgbhavet karmakhuntathā utsargānandakādānagativāgādi karma tat
ପାୟୁ ଓ ଉପସ୍ଥ, ଦୁଇ ହାତ, ଦୁଇ ପାଦ ଏବଂ ବାକ୍—ଏଗୁଡ଼ିକ କର୍ମେନ୍ଦ୍ରିୟ ବୋଲି କୁହାଯାଏ। ଏମାନଙ୍କର କର୍ମ କ୍ରମେ ମଳୋତ୍ସର୍ଗ, ରତି-ଆନନ୍ଦ, ଗ୍ରହଣ/ଆଦାନ, ଗତି ଓ ବାକ୍ପ୍ରୟୋଗ ଇତ୍ୟାଦି।
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, per the usual Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Subtle-body and functional anatomy: classifies karmendriyas and their actions, foundational for yogic restraint, ritual purity disciplines, and psycho-physiological mapping.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Karmendriya and their karmas (Organs of action)","lookup_keywords":["karmendriya","pāyu","upastha","pāṇi","pāda","vāk"],"quick_summary":"Defines the five organs of action—anus, genitals, hands, feet, speech—and assigns their functions: excretion, sexual enjoyment, grasping, locomotion, and speaking."}
Dosha: Vata
Concept: Mastery of action-channels (karmendriyas) is prerequisite for self-control; actions bind unless regulated.
Application: Supports yama/niyama and pratyāhāra: moderate sexuality, truthful measured speech, mindful movement, and disciplined elimination habits.
Khanda Section: Yoga & Tantra (Karma-indriya–Vishaya-Nirupana / Subtle-body taxonomy)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A schematic showing five organs of action with icons: anus (excretion), genitals (sexual function), hands (grasping), feet (movement), mouth (speech), arranged around a central subtle-body figure.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: stylized human figure with five highlighted action-centers; Agni or a yogin-teacher instructing; symbolic motifs for each karma; traditional mural palette and ornamentation.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-highlighted icons for the five karmas around a central seated yogin; ornate border; labels in Devanagari for pāyu, upastha, pāṇi, pāda, vāk.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style: clear instructional diagram with gentle shading; teacher pointing to each karmendriya and its function; minimal background for readability.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: a didactic scene of a philosopher explaining a chart of karmendriyas to students; fine detailing, calligraphy captions, indoor scholarly setting."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वाग्भवेत् = वाक् + भवेत्; कर्मखुन्तथा read as कर्म + खु + तथा (particle ‘खु’ uncertain); long compound utsargānandakādānagativāgādi segmented as a list-compound with ‘आदि’.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 369.1 (jñānendriya taxonomy); Agni Purana 369 (avayava/indriya continuation)
FAQs
It gives a yogic-technical classification of the five karma-indriyas (organs of action) and maps each to its primary function—excretion, sexual enjoyment, grasping, locomotion, and speech—used in Tantra/Yoga analysis of the body and practice.
Alongside rituals and mythology, the Agni Purana preserves systematic schemas found in Yoga/Sāṃkhya-style teaching—here, a compact physiological-functional taxonomy—showing its wide coverage of practical and philosophical knowledge.
By identifying actions with their respective organs, the verse supports self-observation and restraint (saṃyama): recognizing how karma arises through bodily channels is foundational for purification of conduct and disciplined spiritual practice.