Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 14
Chapter 381 — यमगीता
Yama-gītā
नास्ति विष्णुसमन्ध्येयं तपो नानशनात्परं नास्त्यारोग्यसमं धन्यं नास्ति गङ्गासमा सरित्
nāsti viṣṇusamandhyeyaṃ tapo nānaśanātparaṃ nāstyārogyasamaṃ dhanyaṃ nāsti gaṅgāsamā sarit
விஷ்ணுவுக்கு இணையான தியானப் பொருள் இல்லை; நோன்பை விட உயர்ந்த தவம் இல்லை; ஆரோக்கியத்துக்கு இணையான பாக்கியம் இல்லை; கங்கைக்கு இணையான நதி இல்லை.
Lord Agni (narrating the Agni Purana’s dharma teachings, traditionally to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Prioritization of core practices: Viṣṇu-dhyāna, fasting as tapas, health as supreme blessing, and Gaṅgā as foremost sacred river for pilgrimage and purification.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Catuṣṭaya-śreṣṭhatā (Four Supreme Comparisons: Dhyeya, Tapas, Dhanya, Sarit)","lookup_keywords":["Viṣṇu-dhyāna","anāśana","ārogya","Gaṅgā","tīrtha-māhātmya"],"quick_summary":"The verse ranks: Viṣṇu as the highest meditation-object, fasting as the highest austerity, health as the highest blessing, and Gaṅgā as the highest river—guiding practice and pilgrimage choices."}
Alamkara Type: Anaphora (repetition of ‘nāsti…samam/param’)
Concept: Dharma is supported by right objects of contemplation and disciplined restraint; bodily well-being is affirmed as a supreme auspicious good enabling sādhanā.
Application: Choose Viṣṇu as iṣṭa-dhyeya; practice periodic upavāsa (fasting) with discernment; protect health as the basis for dharma; undertake Gaṅgā-tīrtha for purification rites.
Khanda Section: Dharma–Tirtha–Mahātmya (Praise of sacred practices and sacred rivers)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Type: River
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Four-panel tableau: (1) devotee meditating on Viṣṇu, (2) ascetic fasting with a water pot, (3) healthy radiant person symbolizing ārogya, (4) Gaṅgā river with pilgrims bathing and offering lamps.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, segmented narrative bands: Viṣṇu-dhyāna scene with conch-disc symbols, fasting ascetic, radiant healthy figure, Gaṅgā with bathers and temple ghats; earthy pigments and bold outlines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Viṣṇu in gold-embossed arch; below, small vignettes: upavāsa ascetic, person with auspicious glow for ārogya, Gaṅgā with lamps and lotuses; heavy gold work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean didactic layout with four labeled scenes, soft colors, fine ornament, emphasis on clarity of practices (dhyāna, upavāsa, health, tīrtha-snāna).","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, riverfront ghat of Gaṅgā with pilgrims, alongside a quiet pavilion where a devotee meditates on Viṣṇu; delicate architecture, detailed water ripples, balanced composition."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Ganga (if available) or Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: nāsti → na + asti; viṣṇusamandhyeyam → viṣṇu-samaṃ + andhyeyam; nānaśanātparaṃ → na + anaśanāt + param; nāstyārogyasamaṃ → na + asti + ārogya-samam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana tīrtha-māhātmya passages (Gaṅgā praise); Agni Purana vrata sections (upavāsa/anāśana); Agni Purana Viṣṇu-stuti/dhyāna materials
FAQs
It ranks practical disciplines: meditate on Viṣṇu as the सर्वोत्तम ध्येय (supreme focus), treat fasting (anaśana) as a premier form of tapas, value health (ārogya) as the most auspicious ‘wealth,’ and honor the Gaṅgā as the foremost tīrtha-river.
In one compact verse it synthesizes multiple domains—upāsanā (meditation theology), vrata/tapas (ritual-ascetic practice), ārogya (a health-centric value aligned with Ayurvedic priorities), and tīrtha-mahātmya (sacred geography)—showing the Purāṇa’s cross-disciplinary scope.
It directs merit (puṇya) toward four high-impact supports of dharma: Viṣṇu-centered contemplation, self-restraint through fasting, preservation of health as a dharmic asset, and purification/merit associated with the Gaṅgā as the supreme sacred river.