Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 51
अध्याय ३८० — गीतासारः
The Essence of the Gītā
अधिष्ठानं तथा कर्ता करणञ्च पृथग्विधम् त्रिविधाश् च पृथक् चेष्टा दैवञ्चैवात्र पञ्चमं
adhiṣṭhānaṃ tathā kartā karaṇañca pṛthagvidham trividhāś ca pṛthak ceṣṭā daivañcaivātra pañcamaṃ
अत्र पञ्च—अधिष्ठानं, कर्ता, करणं पृथग्विधम्, त्रिविधा पृथक् चेष्टा, दैवं च पञ्चमम्।
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha, consistent with Agni Purana’s dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Causal analysis of any undertaking: check the five factors—base/context, agent, tools, effort pattern, and uncontrollable/divine element—to plan responsibly without fatalism.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Pañca kāraṇāni (Five factors of action)","lookup_keywords":["adhiṣṭhāna","kartā","karaṇa","ceṣṭā","daiva"],"quick_summary":"Every action depends on five constituents: locus, agent, instruments, effort/activity, and the divine factor. This framework balances personal responsibility with recognition of conditions beyond control."}
Concept: Karma-causation model: action is multi-factorial, not reducible to a single doer or fate alone.
Application: In governance, ritual, craft, or daily work: ensure proper place/resources (adhiṣṭhāna), competent agent, adequate tools, disciplined effort, and contingency planning for daiva.
Khanda Section: Moksha-shastra / Karma-yoga (Gita-style doctrinal summary within Agni Purana)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A schematic showing five pillars supporting an act: a platform (locus), a person (agent), tools, a threefold motion/effort motif, and a subtle celestial emblem for daiva.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, five symbolic icons arranged as a mandala—earthy base for adhiṣṭhāna, human figure for kartā, implements for karaṇa, three swirling strokes for ceṣṭā, small celestial disc for daiva—bold outlines, didactic clarity","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style with gold leaf, five-panel composition like a temple prabhavali: each panel depicts one factor (locus, agent, instruments, effort, divine), ornate borders, luminous finish","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional diagram aesthetic, labeled icons with neat Sanskrit captions, calm hermitage classroom, emphasis on clarity and proportion","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar presenting a folio with five illustrated vignettes to a patron, fine brushwork, architectural interior, subtle celestial motif for daiva"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: karaṇañca = karaṇam ca; pṛthagvidham = pṛthak-vidham; trividhāś ca = tri-vidhāḥ ca; pṛthak ceṣṭā = pṛthak ceṣṭā; daivañcaiva = daivam ca eva; caivātra = ca eva atra.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 380.50; Agni Purana 380.52; Agni Purana 380.53
FAQs
It teaches the pañca-kāraṇa doctrine: five necessary factors behind any action—basis (adhiṣṭhāna), agent (kartā), instruments (karaṇa), threefold activity/effort (ceṣṭā), and the divine/fated factor (daiva).
Beyond rituals and legends, the Agni Purana also preserves systematic philosophical frameworks—here, a technical causal analysis of action that supports ethics, governance, and liberation teachings across its wide-ranging subjects.
It balances personal responsibility (agent, effort, instruments) with the maturation of past karma (daiva), guiding disciplined action without egoism and supporting a karma-yoga approach toward purification and liberation.