Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 15
अध्याय ३८० — गीतासारः
The Essence of the Gītā
भूतभावोद्भवकरो विसर्गः कर्मसंज्ञितः अधिभूतं क्षरोभावः पुरुषश्चाधिदैवतं
bhūtabhāvodbhavakaro visargaḥ karmasaṃjñitaḥ adhibhūtaṃ kṣarobhāvaḥ puruṣaścādhidaivataṃ
Essa “projeção emanativa” (visarga), que faz surgir estados e seres, é chamada karma (ação). A condição perecível (kṣara-bhāva) é denominada adhibhūta (o domínio dos elementos), e o Puruṣa é chamado adhidaivata (o princípio divino regente).
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Use the adhibhuta–adhidaiva–adhyatma framework to interpret experience: elements (perishable field), presiding divinities (governing intelligence), and action/visarga (causal projection) for self-inquiry and ritual-theology mapping.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Adhibhūta–Adhidaivata and Visarga (Karma) Definitions","lookup_keywords":["visarga","karma-samjñā","adhibhūta","kṣara-bhāva","adhidaivata-puruṣa"],"quick_summary":"Defines visarga as karma (emanative projection causing becoming), identifies the perishable condition as adhibhūta, and names Puruṣa as adhidaivata—useful for classifying phenomena into elemental, divine, and causal registers."}
Concept: Triadic hermeneutic: perishable field (adhibhūta), presiding principle (adhidaivata/Puruṣa), and causal projection as karma (visarga).
Application: Apply the triad to detach from kṣara-bhāva (perishability) and recognize governance by Puruṣa; supports meditation and ritual correspondences.
Khanda Section: Sankhya–Vedanta / Tattva-nirupana (Cosmology and technical definitions: adhibhuta–adhidaiva–adhyatma)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A schematic cosmic tableau: perishable elemental world labeled adhibhūta, a luminous Puruṣa as adhidaivata presiding above, and a flowing stream of visarga/karma projecting beings and states.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat vibrant colors, central radiant Puruṣa haloed as adhidaivata, below him the pañca-bhūta realm marked kṣara-bhāva, a swirling emanation stream labeled visarga/karma producing creatures; traditional ornamental borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf, enthroned luminous Puruṣa with ornate prabhāmaṇḍala, gold-highlighted emanation waves (visarga) descending into a richly patterned elemental world (adhibhūta), inscriptions in Devanagari-style cartouches.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, delicate linework and soft shading, diagrammatic yet devotional: Puruṣa above, elemental sphere below, arrows showing visarga/karma; minimal background with instructional labels.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine detailing: a cosmological court-scene metaphor where the Puruṣa as presiding sovereign (adhidaivata) oversees artisans of creation; below, the transient elemental city (adhibhūta) with a flowing ribbon of visarga/karma generating forms."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: भूतभावोद्भवकरो→भूतभावोद्भवकरः; पुरुषश्चाधिदैवतं→पुरुषः च अधिदैवतम्; क्षरोभावः is taken as क्षरः भावः (sandhi).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 380.16-380.19 (anta-kāla-smaraṇa and mokṣa-yoga continuation)
FAQs
It imparts metaphysical taxonomy: visarga (cosmic projection) is identified with karma as the causal activity that generates beings and states; it also defines adhibhūta as the perishable, elemental field and adhidaivata as the presiding Puruṣa.
By giving compact, technical definitions (karma, visarga, adhibhūta, adhidaivata, puruṣa), it functions like a doctrinal glossary—one of the Agni Purana’s hallmark encyclopedic features spanning philosophy alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts.
It directs the reader to see worldly change as kṣara (perishable adhibhūta) while recognizing a higher presiding principle (Puruṣa as adhidaivata), encouraging detachment from transient phenomena and clarity about how karma operates as a cosmic causal force.