Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 13
Adhyāya 379 — अद्वैतब्रह्मविज्ञानम्
Advaita-brahma-vijñāna
आत्मा शुद्धो ऽक्षरः शान्तो निर्गुणः प्रकृतेः परः प्रवृद्ध्यपचयौ नास्य एकस्याखिलजन्तुषु
ātmā śuddho 'kṣaraḥ śānto nirguṇaḥ prakṛteḥ paraḥ pravṛddhyapacayau nāsya ekasyākhilajantuṣu
ਆਤਮਾ ਸ਼ੁੱਧ, ਅਖੰਡ (ਅਕਸ਼ਰ) ਅਤੇ ਸ਼ਾਂਤ ਹੈ; ਉਹ ਨਿਰਗੁਣ ਅਤੇ ਪ੍ਰਕ੍ਰਿਤੀ ਤੋਂ ਪਰੇ ਹੈ। ਸਭ ਜੀਵਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਵੱਸਦੀ ਉਸ ਇਕ ਆਤਮਾ ਲਈ ਨਾ ਵਾਧਾ ਹੈ ਨਾ ਘਾਟ।
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Directs meditation toward the nirguṇa ātman beyond prakṛti; stabilizes equanimity by negating growth/decay for the Self.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Ātman: śuddha, akṣara, śānta, nirguṇa, prakṛteḥ para","lookup_keywords":["ātman nirguṇa","akṣara","śuddha śānta","prakṛteḥ para","na upacaya na apacaya"],"quick_summary":"The Self is pure, imperishable, tranquil, and beyond prakṛti and guṇas; being one in all beings, it neither increases nor decreases—supporting non-identification with bodily change."}
Alamkara Type: Guṇa-nirdeśa (lakṣaṇa)
Concept: Nirguṇa-ātman is beyond prakṛti; though appearing in all beings, it is one and changeless (no growth/decay).
Application: Neti-neti contemplation; shift identity from body-mind changes to witnessing consciousness; cultivate sama-darśana toward all beings.
Khanda Section: Moksha-Dharma / Vedanta (Atma-Brahma-Nirupana)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A luminous, formless light (ātman) pervades many beings equally, while prakṛti appears as a shifting field of colors below; the light remains unchanged despite bodily growth/decay imagery.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central radiant oval of light symbolizing ātman, surrounding figures of humans/animals with identical inner glow, prakṛti as patterned tapestry of three colors beneath, serene śānta composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf aura representing akṣara ātman behind multiple beings, ornate lotus motifs, minimal narrative, emphasis on tranquil transcendence","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic composition: beings in rows with same inner lamp-flame, labels ‘ātman’ and ‘prakṛti’, subtle gradients, calm palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, philosophical allegory: sage shows king a painting of identical lamps inside diverse beings, fine detailing, restrained symbolism"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शुद्धो ऽक्षरः = शुद्धः + अक्षरः; प्रवृद्ध्यपचयौ = प्रवृद्धि + अपचयौ; नास्य = न + अस्य; एकस्याखिलजन्तुषु = एकस्य + अखिलजन्तुषु.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 379.14
FAQs
It imparts Vedāntic ātma-vidyā: the Self is nirguṇa (beyond the three guṇas), transcends Prakṛti, and is unaffected by bodily change (no increase or decrease).
Alongside ritual, governance, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves systematic metaphysics—here summarizing core Vedānta/Sāṅkhya vocabulary (Prakṛti, guṇas, changeless ātman), showing its broad, encyclopedic scope.
By discerning the changeless Self within all beings, one loosens identification with birth, decay, and loss—supporting detachment (vairāgya) and liberation-oriented understanding (mokṣa-buddhi).