Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 23
Chapter 378: Brahma-jñāna
Knowledge of Brahman
विषयात्तत्समाकृष्य ब्रह्मभूतं हरिं स्मरेत् आत्मभावं नयत्येनं तद्ब्रह्मध्यायिनं मुने
viṣayāttatsamākṛṣya brahmabhūtaṃ hariṃ smaret ātmabhāvaṃ nayatyenaṃ tadbrahmadhyāyinaṃ mune
ବିଷୟମାନଙ୍କୁ ଛାଡ଼ି ମନକୁ ଟାଣି ଆଣି ବ୍ରହ୍ମସ୍ୱରୂପ ହରିଙ୍କୁ ସ୍ମରଣ କର। ହେ ମୁନି, ଏହି ସାଧନା ବ୍ରହ୍ମଧ୍ୟାନୀକୁ ଆତ୍ମଭାବ-ସ୍ଥିତିକୁ ନେଇଯାଏ।
Lord Agni (narrating Purāṇic instruction to a sage, traditionally Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Yoga","practical_application":"Practice pratyahara (withdrawing attention from sense-objects) and brahma-smriti (remembrance of Hari as Brahman) to stabilize inner awareness toward Atma-bhava.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pratyahara leading to Hari-as-Brahman Smriti and Atma-bhava","lookup_keywords":["pratyahara","vishaya-nivritti","hari-brahman","atma-bhava","brahma-dhyana"],"quick_summary":"Withdraw the mind from sense-objects and recollect Hari as Brahman; this contemplative recollection matures into abidance in the Self for the Brahman-meditator."}
Concept: Sense-withdrawal and Brahman-remembrance culminate in Atma-bhava (Self-state).
Application: Daily meditation: disengage from sensory inputs, fix the mind on Hari as Brahman, and remain as witnessing awareness until identification shifts from objects to Self.
Khanda Section: Yoga & Brahma-dhyana (Meditation on Hari as Brahman; Antahkarana-shuddhi)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A yogin seated in meditation withdraws attention from sensory objects; the mind turns inward to contemplate Hari as Brahman, culminating in luminous Self-awareness.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, serene yogi in padmasana, muted earth reds and greens, stylized lotus seat, faint haloed Vishnu/Hari as Brahman in the heart-lotus, senses depicted as subdued animals at the periphery, sacred calm atmosphere","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central meditating sage with ornate aureole, gold-leaf highlights around a subtle Vishnu form emerging from a heart-lotus, rich maroons and greens, temple-like framing, emphasis on divine radiance and inward recollection","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework and soft shading, instructional composition showing sense-objects fading into the background while the yogin’s gaze turns inward, small icon of Hari above the heart, calm palette and precise detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined interior hermitage scene, yogin seated on a carpet, worldly objects (fruits, music, ornaments) placed outside a threshold, a translucent divine presence symbolizing Brahman-Hari near the yogin, delicate brushwork and subdued gold"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विषयात् + तत् → विषयात्तत्; स्मरेत् आत्मभावम् (पदसन्धिः); नयति + एनम् → नयत्येनम्; तत् + ब्रह्मध्यायिनम् → तद्ब्रह्मध्यायिनम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 378.25 (yoga as brahma-samyoga); Agni Purana 378.26 (yama-niyama etc.); Agni Purana 378.27 (saguna/nirguna support)
FAQs
It teaches a yogic method: withdraw the mind from sense-objects (pratyāhāra) and practice remembrance/meditation on Hari as Brahman (brahma-dhyāna) to attain ātmabhāva (Self-state).
Alongside ritual, law, and other sciences, the Agni Purana also preserves practical yoga and Vedāntic contemplation—showing it functions as a compendium that includes liberation-oriented disciplines like pratyāhāra and Brahman-meditation.
By turning attention away from sensory engagement and fixing it on Hari as Brahman, the practitioner is purified and guided toward Self-realization (ātmabhāva), a direct means toward mokṣa.