Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 9
Adhyāya 379 — अद्वैतब्रह्मविज्ञानम्
Advaita-brahma-vijñāna
वक्षःस्थलं तथा वाहू स्कन्धौ चोदरसंस्थितौ स्कन्धस्थितेयं शिविका मम भावो ऽत्र किं कृतः
vakṣaḥsthalaṃ tathā vāhū skandhau codarasaṃsthitau skandhasthiteyaṃ śivikā mama bhāvo 'tra kiṃ kṛtaḥ
O peito e os braços, e também os ombros, assentam sobre o ventre; este palanquim repousa nos ombros—que realizou, então, aqui a minha própria intenção (ou esforço)?
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as the default dialogue frame of the Agni Purana)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Alamkara","practical_application":"Contemplation on agency and ‘I’-sense: the body’s parts support each other like a palanquin system, undermining egoic ownership of action.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Śarīra-śivikā-nyāya: Mutual support of limbs and the question of agency","lookup_keywords":["sharira","shivika-nyaya","ahamkara","anga-adhara","kartṛtva"],"quick_summary":"Uses the palanquin metaphor to show layered dependence of body parts; prompts inquiry into what ‘my effort’ truly means when action is distributed."}
Alamkara Type: Rupaka
Concept: Kartṛtva-vicāra: when supports are interdependent, the ego’s claim ‘I did’ becomes questionable; invites discrimination between self and body-complex.
Application: Self-inquiry practice: observe actions as arising from coordinated parts/conditions; reduce pride, blame, and anxiety by loosening identification.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Kavya/Alankara: Poetics and dramaturgical imagery)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: hasya
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A conceptual scene: the body depicted as a palanquin—abdomen as base, shoulders as supports, chest and arms resting—while a thinker questions ‘what did I do?’","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, symbolic anatomy integrated with palanquin motif, shoulders bearing a stylized palanquin frame, contemplative sage nearby, muted sacred palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, allegorical composition with gold-outlined palanquin superimposed on a human figure, central contemplative face, ornate borders, emphasis on symbolism","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, didactic illustration: labeled or clearly segmented torso/shoulders/arms with palanquin resting, a small narrator-figure gesturing to explain agency","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, philosophical salon scene: scholar points to an illustrated palanquin-body diagram on a folio, attendants listening, refined interior details"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: codarasaṃsthitau = ca + udara-saṃsthitau; skandhasthiteyaṃ = skandha-sthitā + iyam; bhāvo 'tra = bhāvaḥ + atra.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Nyāya/Vāda discussions on aham/ahamkāra and vyavahāra (general); Agni Purana Yoga passages on deha-buddhi and viveka (general)
FAQs
This verse primarily conveys Sahitya-shastra (poetics): it uses a concrete bodily image (shoulders, chest, belly, palanquin) to express reflection on agency/effort—how “my doing” may be negligible when structure and support are already determined.
Beyond ritual and dharma, the Agni Purana includes literary theory and refined expression; this verse exemplifies its poetics-oriented material by modeling compact, image-driven reasoning suitable for kavya and didactic discourse.
It points toward humility about personal agency: actions and outcomes often depend on supporting conditions; recognizing this reduces ego-driven attachment and aligns one’s effort with discernment and dharmic restraint.