Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 5
Chapter 371 — Yama-Niyama and Praṇava-Upāsanā (Oṅkāra) as Brahma-vidyā
एवं सर्वमहिंसायां धर्मार्थमभिधीयते उद्वेगजननं हिंसा सन्तापकरणन्तथा
evaṃ sarvamahiṃsāyāṃ dharmārthamabhidhīyate udvegajananaṃ hiṃsā santāpakaraṇantathā
ਇਸ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਪੂਰਨ ਅਹਿੰਸਾ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਸੰਗ ਵਿੱਚ ਧਰਮ ਦਾ ਉਦੇਸ਼ ਕਿਹਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। ਹਿੰਸਾ ਉਹ ਹੈ ਜੋ ਉਦਵੇਗ (ਡਰ-ਵਿਆਕੁਲਤਾ) ਪੈਦਾ ਕਰੇ ਅਤੇ ਜੋ ਸੰਤਾਪ (ਦੁੱਖ) ਕਰੇ।
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Define and avoid hiṃsā by recognizing its psychological markers—creating fear, agitation, and suffering; cultivate conduct that minimizes distress to others.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Hiṃsā Defined as Causing Udvega (Agitation) and Santāpa (Suffering)","lookup_keywords":["hiṃsā","udvega","santāpa","ahiṃsā","dharma-lakṣaṇa"],"quick_summary":"Violence is characterized not only by physical injury but by generating fear/agitation and causing suffering; dharma is clarified through the lens of complete non-violence."}
Concept: Hiṃsā is that which produces udvega (inner disturbance/fear) and santāpa (pain/suffering); ahiṃsā is the dharmic baseline.
Application: In speech and action, avoid intimidation, humiliation, coercion, and cruelty; measure choices by whether they increase another’s anxiety or pain.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Ahimsa and Himsa (Ethics and Conduct)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Contrasting tableau: on one side, harsh words/acts causing visible fear and distress in beings; on the other, gentle conduct bringing calm—illustrating udvega and santāpa as markers of hiṃsā.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural diptych: left panel shows agitated figures and animals recoiling (udvega), right panel shows soothing, protective gestures (ahiṃsā), stylized expressions and traditional color blocks.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, moral contrast with gold-bordered panels: ‘hiṃsā’ side darker tones with distressed faces, ‘ahiṃsā’ side luminous with gold highlights, central inscription of udvega and santāpa.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional ethics chart: labeled arrows from ‘hiṃsā’ to ‘udvega’ and ‘santāpa’, with small illustrative scenes; clean composition for teaching.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, narrative contrast in a single garden-courtyard: a stern figure causing fear in one corner, a compassionate sage calming others in another; fine facial detail to show agitation vs relief."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Darbari Kanada","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: sarvamahiṃsāyāṃ → sarva-ahiṃsāyām; dharmārthamabhidhīyate → dharma-artham abhidhīyate; santāpakaraṇantathā → santāpa-karaṇam tathā.
Related Themes: Agni Purana ahiṃsā/hiṃsā discussion continuing in the same adhyāya; Agni Purana dharma-lakṣaṇa passages in Dharmashāstra sections
FAQs
It gives a practical dharma-definition: hiṃsā is identified by its effect—creating udvega (fear/agitation) or santāpa (suffering)—which functions as an ethical test for conduct.
Beyond rituals and cosmology, the Agni Purāṇa also preserves dharma-śāstra style definitions; here it codifies ethical criteria for violence/non-violence used in law, vows, penance, and daily conduct.
By framing violence as causing fear and suffering, it implies that actions generating udvega and santāpa accrue negative karma, while restraint aligned with ahiṃsā supports dharma and purification.