Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 66
Adhyāya 379 — अद्वैतब्रह्मविज्ञानम्
Advaita-brahma-vijñāna
अग्निर् उवाच मुक्तिं ह्य् अवाप भवतो ज्ञानसारेण भूपतिः संसाराज्ञानवृक्षारिज्ञानं ब्रह्मेति चिन्तय
agnir uvāca muktiṃ hy avāpa bhavato jñānasāreṇa bhūpatiḥ saṃsārājñānavṛkṣārijñānaṃ brahmeti cintaya
अग्निरुवाच—भवता ज्ञानसारबलात् भूपतिः मुक्तिमवाप। संसाराज्ञानवृक्षच्छेदकं यद् अरिज्ञानं तदेव ब्रह्मेति चिन्तय।
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Moksha-shastra","practical_application":"Use brahma-vicara (contemplation of Brahman) as a direct antidote to avidya by repeatedly identifying liberating knowledge as the sole reality and cutting off samsaric misapprehension.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Jñāna as the axe that fells the tree of saṃsāra-avidyā","lookup_keywords":["brahma-jñāna","avidyā-vṛkṣa","mokṣa","brahma-vicāra","jñāna-sāra"],"quick_summary":"Liberation is attained through the essence of true knowledge; that knowledge is to be contemplated as Brahman itself, because it destroys the rooted structure of worldly ignorance."}
Alamkara Type: Rupaka
Concept: Brahman is realized through jñāna; brahma-jñāna alone destroys avidyā, the root of saṃsāra.
Application: Daily nididhyāsana: repeatedly contemplate ‘this liberating knowledge is Brahman’ and treat ignorance as a removable superimposition rather than a real entity.
Khanda Section: Jnana-yoga / Moksha-shastra (Brahma-jnana and liberation teaching)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Agni as teacher instructs a king; behind them a vast tree labeled ‘saṃsāra/avidyā’ is being felled by a radiant axe of ‘jñāna’, with Brahman depicted as formless light.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, Agni rishi with flaming aura teaching a crowned king seated respectfully, symbolic dark banyan tree of avidyā being cut by a glowing jñāna-axe, flat warm palette, ornate borders, serene śānta mood","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Agni as divine sage with gold halo, king with jeweled crown, central golden radiance representing Brahman, embossed gold work on the jñāna-axe and aureoles, stylized tree of saṃsāra in the background","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional composition: labeled elements ‘avidyā-vṛkṣa’, ‘jñāna’, ‘brahman’, delicate linework, soft shading, calm teacher-disciple posture, minimal background architecture","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly setting with Agni as ascetic teacher, king listening, allegorical tree being cut in a garden, fine detailing, subdued colors, calligraphic labels for jñāna and avidyā"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अग्निर् उवाच → अग्निः + उवाच; ह्य् → हि; ब्रह्मेति → ब्रह्म + इति.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 379 (Advaita-brahma-vijñāna context); Agni Purana 380 (Gītā-sāra opening)
FAQs
It imparts jñāna-vidyā (Brahma-jñāna): the disciplined contemplation that true knowledge is Brahman, and that such knowledge destroys ignorance which sustains saṃsāra.
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves Vedāntic moksha-teachings; this verse exemplifies its inclusion of jñāna-yoga philosophy as a complete spiritual science.
By identifying liberating knowledge with Brahman and meditating on it, one uproots ignorance—the root cause of karma-bound rebirth—thereby moving toward moksha.