Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 20
Chapter 376 — ब्रह्मज्ञानम्
Knowledge of Brahman
अहं साक्षी च चिन्मात्रो जाग्रत्स्वप्नादिकस्य च नाज्ञानञ्चैव तत्कार्यं संसारादिकबन्धनं
ahaṃ sākṣī ca cinmātro jāgratsvapnādikasya ca nājñānañcaiva tatkāryaṃ saṃsārādikabandhanaṃ
ମୁଁ ସାକ୍ଷୀ ଆତ୍ମା—କେବଳ ଶୁଦ୍ଧ ଚେତନ୍ୟ—ଜାଗ୍ରତ୍, ସ୍ୱପ୍ନ ଆଦି ଅବସ୍ଥାମାନଙ୍କର। ଅଜ୍ଞାନ ଓ ତାହାର କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ, ଅର୍ଥାତ୍ ସଂସାରାଦି ବନ୍ଧନ, ମୋର ନୁହେଁ।
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vashistha in moksha-vidya passages)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Moksha-vidya","practical_application":"Self-inquiry (ātma-vicāra) and witness-consciousness practice to disidentify from waking/dream states and negate ignorance-based bondage.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Sākṣī-caitanya: the Witness beyond waking and dream","lookup_keywords":["Sākṣī","Chinmātra","Jāgrat","Svapna","Avidyā"],"quick_summary":"Affirms the Self as pure witnessing consciousness of all states; ignorance and saṃsāra-bondage are superimpositions, not attributes of the Self."}
Concept: Ātman as sākṣī (witness) and cinmātra (pure consciousness), untouched by avidyā and its kārya (saṃsāra-bandha).
Application: During experience, note 'seen' (thoughts, sensations, dream images) versus 'seer' (awareness); rest as the seer to weaken identification and fear.
Khanda Section: Moksha-vidya (Advaita Vedanta / Atma-jnana)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A serene figure symbolizing the witness stands behind three layered scenes—waking city, dream imagery, and subtle darkness—unaffected by chains labeled saṃsāra.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central luminous witness-figure with calm eyes, three horizontal registers: waking marketplace, dream surreal lotus-elephant forms, deep indigo sleep field; broken chain motif at the base.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, witness-Atman as radiant silhouette with gold halo, three medallions showing jāgrat and svapna scenes, gold-embossed broken fetters labeled saṃsāra, rich ornamentation.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic composition: central sāksī figure, side panels labeled jāgrat/svapna, faint overlay of 'avidyā' cloud dissolving, soft colors and fine outlines.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, philosopher in contemplation in a study; behind him, framed vignettes of waking court life and dreamlike fantastical scene; a discarded chain on the floor, delicate border work."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चिन्मात्रो = चिन्मात्रः; जाग्रत्स्वप्नादिकस्य = जाग्रत्-स्वप्न-आदिकस्य; नाज्ञानञ्चैव = न + अज्ञानम् + च + एव; तत्कार्यं = तत् + कार्यम्; संसारादिकबन्धनं = संसार-आदि-बन्धनम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Moksha-dharma/Atma-jnana teachings contiguous with 376.21-23
FAQs
It imparts moksha-vidya (Advaita self-knowledge): the practitioner is to recognize the Atman as the sakshi (witness) and cinmātra (pure consciousness), distinct from the changing states of experience; this discrimination is used for liberation-oriented contemplation (nididhyāsana).
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves systematic liberation-teachings: this verse represents its Vedantic psychology (waking/dream etc.) and metaphysics (witness-consciousness vs. ignorance), showing the text’s wide scope as a compendium of practical and spiritual sciences.
By owning one’s identity as the witness-consciousness, the sense of doership and bondage weakens; ignorance and its karmic chain (saṃsāra) are understood as not intrinsic to the Self, supporting detachment, inner freedom, and progress toward moksha.