Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 27
Yati-dharma
The Dharma of the Renunciate Ascetic
देहेन्द्रियमनोबुद्धिप्राणाहङ्कारवर्जितं जाग्रत्स्वप्नसुसुप्त्यादिमुक्तं ब्रह्म तुरोयकं
dehendriyamanobuddhiprāṇāhaṅkāravarjitaṃ jāgratsvapnasusuptyādimuktaṃ brahma turoyakaṃ
பிரம்மம் உடல், புலன்கள், மனம், புத்தி, பிராணன், அகங்காரம் இவற்றிலிருந்து விலகியது; ஜாக்ரத், ஸ்வப்ன, ஸுஷுப்தி முதலியவற்றின் கட்டுப்பாடுகளிலிருந்து விடுபட்டது—அதுவே துரீயம் (நான்காம் நிலை).
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purana’s standard dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Yoga and Mantra-Sadhana (Japa, Pratyahara, Dhyana)","practical_application":"Apply neti-neti discrimination: negate body–sense–mind–intellect–prāṇa–ahaṅkāra and the three states to recognize turiya as Brahman; use as a meditation checklist for de-identification.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Turiya-Brahman: Beyond Body, Instruments, and the Three States","lookup_keywords":["turiya","jāgrat svapna suṣupti","neti neti","ahaṅkāra","brahman"],"quick_summary":"Brahman is defined by negation of all limiting adjuncts—body through ego—and by transcendence of waking, dream, and deep sleep. That transcendent reality is turiya."}
Concept: Turiya is Brahman free from upādhis (body-mind complex) and beyond the three avasthās; realization comes through dis-identification and recognition of the witness-consciousness.
Application: During meditation, sequentially negate identifications (‘not body… not prāṇa… not ego…’) and observe the three states as objects, resting as the state-transcending awareness.
Khanda Section: Vedanta / Atma-Brahma-Jnana (Non-dual metaphysics; Turiya description)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A meditating figure with three surrounding vignettes—waking, dream, deep sleep—dissolving into a fourth, formless field of light labeled turiya; body-sense-mind layers shown as shed coverings.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, concentric layers around a central sage: outer ring shows jāgrat/svapna/suṣupti scenes, inner ring dissolves into a dark-blue luminous void for turiya, bold outlines and symbolic motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central gold aura representing turiya, three smaller framed panels below for the three states, ornate gold work emphasizing transcendence, minimal narrative clutter.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic chart-like painting: labels for deha/indriya/manas/buddhi/prāṇa/ahaṅkāra as detachable sheaths, three-state icons, and a serene luminous turiya center.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, allegorical composition: a sage in a pavilion, three dreamlike cloud medallions for the states, and an open sky of pure light beyond, fine brushwork and subtle gradients."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Darbari Kanada","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: dehendriyamanobuddhiprāṇāhaṅkāravarjitaṃ resolved as deha-indriya-manas-buddhi-prāṇa-ahaṅkāra-varjitam; jāgratsvapnasusuptyādimuktaṃ resolved as jāgrat-svapna-suṣupti-ādi-muktam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 161 (turiya/advaita definitions)
FAQs
It imparts Vedāntic jñāna-vidyā: Brahman is defined apophatically as beyond body–sense–mind–intellect–prāṇa–ego and beyond the three experiential states, pointing to Turīya as the meditative insight for liberation.
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also codifies Upaniṣadic-style metaphysics; this verse exemplifies its coverage of consciousness theory (states of experience) and non-dual ontology (Brahman/Turīya).
By shifting identification away from body, prāṇa, and ego toward Turīya/Brahman, the verse directs the seeker to detachment and self-knowledge, which is taught as the direct means to mokṣa (release from bondage rooted in misidentification).