Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 42
Adhyāya 379 — अद्वैतब्रह्मविज्ञानम्
Advaita-brahma-vijñāna
विवेकिनस्तु संयोगः श्रेयो यः परमात्मनः यज्ञादिका क्रिया न स्यात् नास्ति द्रव्योपपत्तिता
vivekinastu saṃyogaḥ śreyo yaḥ paramātmanaḥ yajñādikā kriyā na syāt nāsti dravyopapattitā
Для человека рассудительного высшее благо — соединение с Высшим Я (Параматманом). Ритуальные действия, такие как жертвоприношение, не следует предпринимать, ибо требуемые материальные средства в действительности недостижимы (или в конечном счёте лишены сущности).
Lord Agni (traditional narrator of the Agni Purana, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Moksha-dharma","practical_application":"Guiding a seeker from external, resource-dependent ritualism toward inner discrimination (viveka) and non-dual contemplation as the highest good.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Vivekināṃ paramātma-saṃyogaḥ śreyaḥ; kriyā-nivṛtti","lookup_keywords":["viveka","paramātma-saṃyoga","yajña","kriyā-nivṛtti","dṛvya-anupapatti"],"quick_summary":"For the discerning, the supreme good is union with the Supreme Self; ritual actions like sacrifice are de-emphasized as ultimately dependent on insubstantial or unattainable material supports. The teaching redirects effort to jñāna and inner yoga."}
Concept: Viveka-centered mokṣa: paramātma-saṃyoga as śreyas; critique of yajñādi-kriyā as non-essential for the jñānī, with emphasis on the unreliability/insubstantiality of dravya as a basis for liberation.
Application: Adopt a sādhanā of śravaṇa–manana–nididhyāsana (or dhyāna on the Self) and reduce dependence on costly external rites when the aim is liberation.
Khanda Section: Moksha-dharma / Jnana-yoga (Non-dual realization and critique of external ritualism)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: vairāgya
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A contemplative sage instructs a student: the inner union with the Supreme is shown as a luminous presence, while sacrificial implements fade into the background as secondary.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, seated guru and disciple under a stylized tree, a soft halo-like aura symbolizing paramātman above, yajña-kuṇḍa and ladles shown dim and distant, calm ascetic palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central luminous oval aura representing the Supreme Self, guru pointing inward to the heart, minimal ritual objects at the margins, gold work emphasizing the inner light","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional composition: guru explaining viveka, a small vignette of yajña implements crossed out or placed aside, gentle colors and precise outlines","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, veranda scene with a philosopher-sage and student, delicate rendering of ritual paraphernalia set aside, a subtle glowing wash around the sage indicating inner realization"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विवेकिनस्तु = विवेकिनः + तु; नास्ति = न + अस्ति; द्रव्योपपत्तिता = द्रव्य + उपपत्तिता (स्वर-सन्धि/समास-रूप).
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Mokṣa-dharma/Jñāna-yoga discussions contrasting karma and jñāna; Agni Purana: Vedānta-lakṣaṇa verses immediately following (379.43–44)
FAQs
It teaches Jñāna-vidyā: prioritizing Paramātman-realization (saṃyoga) through discrimination (viveka) over external rites like yajña, especially when ritual requisites (dravyas) are unavailable or deemed ultimately insubstantial.
Alongside practical sections (ritual manuals, polity, medicine, arts), the Agni Purana also preserves mokṣa-śāstra material. This verse exemplifies its Vedāntic strand—mapping the spectrum from karma-kāṇḍa (ritual action) to jñāna-kāṇḍa (liberating knowledge).
It asserts that liberation-oriented welfare (śreyas) culminates in union with the Supreme Self; thus, when one has true discrimination, external karmic rites are secondary and may be relinquished in favor of direct realization.