Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 20
Chapter 381 — यमगीता
Yama-gītā
स विष्णुः परमं ब्रह्म यतो नावर्तते पुनः सुवर्णादिमहादानपुण्यतीर्थावगाहनैः
sa viṣṇuḥ paramaṃ brahma yato nāvartate punaḥ suvarṇādimahādānapuṇyatīrthāvagāhanaiḥ
அந்த விஷ்ணுவே பரமப் பிரம்மம்; அவரிடமிருந்து மீண்டும் (சம்சாரத்திற்கு) திரும்புதல் இல்லை. பொன் முதலிய மகாதானங்களாலும் புண்ணிய தீர்த்தங்களில் மூழ்கி நீராடுதலாலும் (அந்நிலை அடையப்படுகிறது).
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s primary dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Guide religious practice: combine dāna (notably suvarṇa-dāna) and tīrtha-snāna as merit-producing supports for purification and liberation-oriented life.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Means to Moksha: Great Gifts and Tirtha Immersion","lookup_keywords":["suvarṇa-dāna","mahā-dāna","tīrtha-avagāhana","mokṣa","parama-brahma"],"quick_summary":"Viṣṇu as Supreme Brahman is the non-returning goal; traditional supports include major gifts (e.g., gold) and bathing/immersion in sacred tīrthas as purificatory merit."}
Concept: Apunarāvṛtti (non-return) as the mokṣa goal; karma-yoga supports (dāna, tīrtha-snāna) as purifiers leading toward realization of Brahman/Viṣṇu.
Application: Adopt ethical wealth-use (dāna) and periodic pilgrimage/bathing with vows and restraint; treat them as supports to inner transformation, not mere transaction.
Khanda Section: Moksha-dharma / Tirtha-Dana-Mahatmya (Liberation teachings; merit of gifts and sacred bathing)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Shraddha-bhakti (devotional mood)
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee offers gold in charity to a worthy recipient; another scene shows immersion at a sacred river-ghāṭa with temple silhouettes, both oriented toward a distant luminous Viṣṇu/Brahman symbol.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: river tīrtha with stone ghāṭa, devotees bathing, priests receiving suvarṇa-dāna, distant temple and a subtle Viṣṇu aura in the sky, rich earthy palette and decorative borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: donor presenting gold with ornate vessels, gold leaf accents on the gift and divine halo, secondary panel of tīrtha-snāna at a stylized ghāṭa, devotional symmetry","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: gentle colors, clear narrative panels—(1) suvarṇa-dāna ritual, (2) tīrtha immersion—fine detailing of garments and ritual implements, didactic clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: riverside bathing scene with architectural ghāṭa, finely dressed donor giving gold, attendants and priests, delicate landscape and water texture, subtle spiritual radiance"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यतो नावर्तते = यतः + न + आवर्तते; सुवर्णादिमहादानपुण्यतीर्थावगाहनैः = सुवर्ण-आदि-महा-दान-पुण्य-तीर्थ-अवगाहनैः
Related Themes: Agni Purana 381.21 (dhyāna, vrata, pūjā, dharma-śravaṇa as means)
FAQs
It teaches a practical dharmic means: accruing purifying merit through mahā-dāna (major charitable gifts such as gold) and tīrtha-avagāhana (ritual immersion/bathing at sacred pilgrimage sites) as supportive disciplines oriented toward mokṣa.
It integrates theology (Viṣṇu as Parabrahman), soteriology (non-return from saṃsāra), and applied dharma (charity codes and pilgrimage/bathing practices), exemplifying how the Agni Purana treats philosophy alongside actionable ritual and social-religious conduct.
The verse frames dāna and tīrtha-snana as powerful merit-producing purifications that aid liberation—supporting the aspirant’s movement toward the state associated with Viṣṇu/Brahman, described as freedom from rebirth.