Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 34
Adhyāya 379 — अद्वैतब्रह्मविज्ञानम्
Advaita-brahma-vijñāna
परमार्थभेदो न नगो न पशुर्नच पादपः शरीराश् च विभेदाश् च य एते कर्मयोनयः
paramārthabhedo na nago na paśurnaca pādapaḥ śarīrāś ca vibhedāś ca ya ete karmayonayaḥ
ਪਰਮਾਰਥ ਵਿੱਚ ਕੋਈ ਭੇਦ ਨਹੀਂ—ਨਾ ਸੱਪ, ਨਾ ਪਸ਼ੂ, ਨਾ ਰੁੱਖ; ਅਤੇ ਇੱਥੇ ਦਿੱਸਦੇ ਵੱਖ-ਵੱਖ ਸਰੀਰ ਤੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਭੇਦ ਕੇਵਲ ਕਰਮ-ਜਨਿਤ ਜਨਮ-ਰੂਪ ਹਨ।
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s didactic dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Non-dual contemplation: seeing species/body-differences as karma-born appearances, reducing hatred/fear and strengthening equanimity.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Paramārtha-abheda and karma-yoni embodiment","lookup_keywords":["paramārtha","abheda","karma-yoni","deha-bheda","jāti-bheda"],"quick_summary":"Ultimately there is no real difference among serpent, beast, or tree; bodily distinctions are karmically conditioned embodiments, useful only at the empirical level."}
Alamkara Type: Nishedha (series of negations)
Concept: Paramārtha-abheda (non-difference in ultimate reality) and vyavahāra-bheda (empirical differences) arising from karma-born embodiment.
Application: Practice equal regard: when encountering any being, recall shared consciousness/being; reduce cruelty and fear by seeing forms as transient karmic masks.
Khanda Section: Moksha-Dharma / Vedanta (Non-dual metaphysics and karmic embodiment)
Primary Rasa: Śānta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A single luminous reality in the center radiates into forms—a serpent, a wild animal, and a tree—shown as translucent overlays; beneath them, a wheel labeled ‘karma’ turns, producing bodies.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central golden-white jyoti, surrounding serpent, beast, and tree in stylized forms, a karmic wheel motif, deep reds and greens, serene śānta expressions in attendant sages","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central radiant Brahman-like light with gold leaf, three surrounding life-forms as decorative medallions, embossed karma-chakra at the base, rich ornamentation","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic diagrammatic clarity: central light, arrows to serpent/beast/tree, karma wheel annotated, soft colors and fine lines, contemplative tone","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, naturalistic serpent, animal, and tree around a luminous center, delicate landscape, subtle symbolic wheel of karma, refined detailing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Darbari Kanada","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पशुर्नच = पशुः + न + च; शरीराश् च = शरीराः + च; विभेदाश् च = विभेदाः + च
Related Themes: Agni Purana 379.32; Agni Purana 379.35
FAQs
It imparts Vedāntic self-knowledge (ātma-jñāna): apparent categories like animal, serpent, or tree are not ultimate realities but karmically assumed embodiments.
Alongside rituals, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also teaches mokṣa-śāstra: a philosophical account of rebirth and the non-ultimate status of bodily classifications.
It redirects identity from body-species distinctions to the absolute Self, framing embodiment as karma-driven and encouraging detachment and liberation-oriented discernment.