Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 39
Adhyāya 379 — अद्वैतब्रह्मविज्ञानम्
Advaita-brahma-vijñāna
रजोवाच श्रेयो ऽर्थमुद्यतः प्रष्टुं कपिलर्षिमहं द्विज तस्यांशः कपिलर्षेस्त्वं मत् कृते ज्ञानदो भुवि ज्ञानवीच्युदछेर्यस्माद्यच्छ्रेयस्तच्च मे वद
rajovāca śreyo 'rthamudyataḥ praṣṭuṃ kapilarṣimahaṃ dvija tasyāṃśaḥ kapilarṣestvaṃ mat kṛte jñānado bhuvi jñānavīcyudacheryasmādyacchreyastacca me vada
ରାଜା କହିଲେ—ହେ ଦ୍ୱିଜ, ଶ୍ରେୟସ୍ ପାଇଁ ମୁଁ କପିଲ ଋଷିଙ୍କୁ ପ୍ରଶ୍ନ କରିବାକୁ ଉଦ୍ୟତ ହୋଇଥିଲି। ତୁମେ ସେଇ କପିଲ ଋଷିଙ୍କ ଅଂଶ; ମୋ ପାଇଁ ପୃଥିବୀରେ ଜ୍ଞାନଦାତା। ତେଣୁ ତୁମଠାରୁ ଜ୍ଞାନତରଙ୍ଗ ଉଦ୍ଭବିଛି; ଯାହା ଶ୍ରେୟସ୍ ସେହିଟି ମୋତେ କୁହ।
Rajo (Raja/Rajo as a questioning interlocutor in the Kapila-jnana context)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Establishing the student’s intent (śreyas) and the authority-lineage (Kapila) to frame a Sankhya-oriented liberation inquiry.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Śreyas inquiry and Kapila lineage of knowledge","lookup_keywords":["śreyas","kapila","jnana","samvada","adhikara"],"quick_summary":"The king declares his pursuit of the highest good and recognizes the teacher as Kapila’s representative, setting the stage for a structured teaching on ultimate welfare."}
Alamkara Type: Stuti (praise) within dialogue; metaphor ‘knowledge-wave’ (jnana-vici)
Concept: Mumukshutva (desire for the highest good) and guru-sambandha (right teacher connection) are prerequisites for liberating knowledge.
Application: Before study, articulate the goal (‘śreyas/paramārtha’) and approach a competent teacher with humility and precise questions.
Khanda Section: Jnana-yoga / Sankhya-oriented Upadesha (Kapila-samvada context)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king respectfully petitions a Brahmin teacher identified with Kapila’s wisdom, with a visual motif of ‘waves of knowledge’ emanating from the teacher’s speech.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, king with folded hands, sage seated, stylized blue-white wave patterns flowing from the sage’s mouth as symbolic jnana-vici, palm trees and hermitage backdrop.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, teacher under a canopy-like arch, gold leaf radiance around the sage, the king offering a garland, decorative wave motifs in the border to signify knowledge.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, classroom-like hermitage scene with palm-leaf manuscripts, the king pointing to a manuscript as he asks about śreyas, gentle shading and precise linework.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined dialogue in a garden pavilion, the king’s attendants behind, the sage calm, subtle cloud-like wave forms near the sage to indicate ‘knowledge-wave’."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: राजोवाच = राजा + उवाच; श्रेयोऽर्थम् = श्रेयः + अर्थम्; अर्थमुद्यतः = अर्थम् + उद्यतः; कपिलर्षिमहम् = कपिलऋषिम् + अहम्; कपिलर्षेस्त्वम् = कपिलऋषेः + त्वम्; मৎ कृते (पाठ) = मत् + कृते; ज्ञानवीच्युदचेर् (पाठ) = ज्ञानवीचि + उदचेर्; यच्छ्रेयः = यत् + श्रेयः; तच्च = तत् + च.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Kapila/Sankhya-related chapters and moksha-dharma discussions; Agni Purana sections on guru, vrata, and discipline as preparatory means
FAQs
This verse frames a jñāna-vidyā inquiry: the seeker asks for the definition and means of attaining śreyas (ultimate welfare/liberation), invoking Kapila’s authority (Sāṅkhya-style spiritual knowledge) rather than a specific ritual procedure.
It exemplifies how the Agni Purana includes philosophical instruction alongside ritual, law, and other sciences—here, it positions a formal inquiry into śreyas and knowledge-lineage (Kapila) as part of its broad compendium of Puranic learning.
Spiritually, it emphasizes śreyas over mere worldly gain and presents sincere inquiry (jijñāsā) and reception of true knowledge from an authentic source as a direct purifier and a gateway to liberation-oriented living.