Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 23
Adhyāya 379 — अद्वैतब्रह्मविज्ञानम्
Advaita-brahma-vijñāna
ब्राह्मण उवाच शब्दोहमिति दोषाय नात्मन्येष तथैव तत् अनात्मन्यात्मविज्ञानं शब्दो वा भ्रान्तिलक्षणः
brāhmaṇa uvāca śabdohamiti doṣāya nātmanyeṣa tathaiva tat anātmanyātmavijñānaṃ śabdo vā bhrāntilakṣaṇaḥ
ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ—‘ਮੈਂ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਹਾਂ’ ਇਹ ਧਾਰਣਾ ਦੋਸ਼ਕਾਰਕ ਹੈ; ਇਹ ਆਤਮਾ ਨਾਲ ਸੰਬੰਧਿਤ ਨਹੀਂ। ਅਨਾਤਮਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਆਤਮਾ ਦੀ ਬੁੱਧੀ, ਜਾਂ ਕੇਵਲ ਸ਼ਬਦਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਹੀ ਸੱਚ ਮੰਨਣਾ—ਇਹ ਭਰਮ ਦੀ ਨਿਸ਼ਾਨੀ ਹੈ।
Brāhmaṇa (teacher/sage in dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Prevents mistaking linguistic constructs (‘word’, ‘I’-notion) for the Self; supports viveka between atman and anatman and corrects verbal-only understanding.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Shabda-bhranti: Error of Taking Word/Not-Self as Self","lookup_keywords":["anatman","atma-vijnana","shabda-bhranti","ahamkara","viveka"],"quick_summary":"Identifying the Self with ‘sound/word’ or superimposing Self-cognition onto the not-Self is delusion; mere words without direct realization mislead."}
Concept: Adhyasa (superimposition): taking anatman (including shabda/mental constructs) as atman is भ्रान्ति; words are indicators, not the realized Self.
Application: In meditation and inquiry, treat verbal formulas as pointers; verify by direct witnessing awareness and negate body-speech-mind identifications.
Khanda Section: Moksha-shastra / Advaita-Vedanta (Atma-Anatma Viveka)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The Brahmin teacher pointing to a written word on a palm leaf while indicating the heart/inner awareness, showing that the word is not the Self.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, guru holding palm-leaf with syllables, other hand in teaching mudra, a faint luminous atman-symbol in the chest area, subdued temple palette, didactic composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, guru seated with gold halo, palm-leaf manuscript with stylized letters, a separate glowing lotus at the heart indicating atman beyond words, heavy gold ornamentation.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional scene: manuscript labeled ‘shabda’, silhouette labeled ‘anatman’, luminous witness labeled ‘atman’, fine linework and gentle gradients.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar-teacher in a library setting, pointing from calligraphy to a contemplative student, subtle allegory of a translucent light behind the figures, intricate book details."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शब्दोहमिति = शब्दः अहम् इति; नात्मन्येष = न आत्मनि एषः; अनात्मन्यात्मविज्ञानं = अनात्मनि आत्म-विज्ञानम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 379.22 (debate on ‘aham’), 379.24 (one Self in all bodies)
FAQs
It imparts ātma–anātma-viveka (discrimination of Self and not-Self): rejecting identification with verbal constructs (“I am sound/word”) and recognizing such identification as a cognitive error (bhrānti).
Beyond rituals and worldly sciences, the Agni Purana includes mokṣa-śāstra: concise Vedāntic diagnostics of error (superimposition of Self on not-Self and reliance on mere words), showing its coverage of liberation philosophy alongside other disciplines.
By abandoning mistaken self-identifications and verbalism, one reduces avidyā-driven action and bondage; the instruction supports inner purification and progress toward liberating knowledge (jñāna) rather than karma born of delusion.