Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 4
Chapter 172 — “Expiations beginning with the Secret
Rites)” (Rahasya-ādi-prāyaścitta
विष्णुश्चित्तगतो यन्मे विष्णुर्बुद्धिगतश् च यत् यच्चाहङ्कारगो विष्णुर्यद्विष्णुर्मयि संस्थितः
viṣṇuścittagato yanme viṣṇurbuddhigataś ca yat yaccāhaṅkārago viṣṇuryadviṣṇurmayi saṃsthitaḥ
నా చిత్తంలో ప్రవేశించిన విష్ణువు, నా బుద్ధిలో స్థితుడైన విష్ణువు, నా అహంకారంలో ఉన్న విష్ణువు—మరియు నాలో స్థాపితుడైన విష్ణువు—ఇవన్నీ ఆయన సన్నిధియే।
Lord Agni (traditionally narrating the Agni Purana to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Bhakti-yoga & Jnana","practical_application":"Antahkarana-nivesha practice: repeatedly place Vishnu in citta-buddhi-ahamkara to dissolve egoic ownership and cultivate constant remembrance (smriti).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Antahkarana-nivesha: Vishnu in citta, buddhi, ahamkara","lookup_keywords":["antahkarana","citta","buddhi","ahamkara","vishnu-smriti"],"quick_summary":"Maps devotion/knowledge onto the inner instrument: mind, intellect, and ego-sense are to be recognized as pervaded by Vishnu. Practical takeaway: shift identity from ‘I act/know’ to ‘He abides as the inner light’."}
Alamkara Type: Anaphora (repetition of ‘Vishnuḥ…’); Yamaka-like rhythmic recurrence
Concept: Antahkarana as the locus of Ishvara-smriti: Vishnu is to be recognized/installed in citta (feeling-mind), buddhi (discernment), and ahamkara (I-sense), culminating in ‘Vishnu established in me’.
Application: During japa, cycle attention: (1) calm citta with the name, (2) align buddhi with dharma/meaning, (3) offer ahamkara (doership) into Vishnu; repeat until spontaneous remembrance arises.
Khanda Section: Bhakti-yoga & Jnana (Vishnu-smriti / Antahkarana-nivesha)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A schematic-yet-sacred depiction of the inner faculties—mind, intellect, ego—each illuminated by Vishnu’s presence, culminating in the devotee’s heart-space glowing.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: devotee seated; three lotus-petals labeled citta-buddhi-ahamkara (in stylized script) within a heart-lotus, each suffused with blue-gold Vishnu aura; temple lamp glow and traditional borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: heart-lotus with three inner chambers, gold leaf highlighting each faculty; small Vishnu symbols (shankha-chakra) in each chamber; devotee in namaskara; ornate arch and gemstones effect.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional diagram style—clean lines, soft colors; three circles (citta, buddhi, ahamkara) converging into a central Vishnu-light in the chest; gentle facial serenity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: contemplative figure with translucent overlay showing inner organs as symbolic lotuses; fine calligraphy naming citta/buddhi/ahamkara; delicate palette and precise linework."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विष्णुः+चित्तगतः→विष्णुश्चित्तगतो; यत्+मे→यन्मे; विष्णुः+बुद्धिगतः→विष्णुर्बुद्धिगतः; च+यत्→च यत्; यत्+च→यच्च; च+अहङ्कारगः→चाहङ्कारगो; विष्णुः+यत्→विष्णुर्यत्; यत्+विष्णुः→यद्विष्णुः; विष्णुः+मयि→विष्णुर्मयि
Related Themes: Agni Purana 172.3 (dhyana-lakshana epithets); Agni Purana 172.5–172.6 (smarana/japa fruit: papa-nasha)
FAQs
It teaches an internalized upāsanā: placing (and recognizing) Viṣṇu in the antahkaraṇa—citta (mind), buddhi (intellect), and ahaṅkāra (I-sense)—as a practical meditative discipline rather than an external ritual.
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves concise yogic-psychological teaching—mapping devotion to the classical inner faculties (citta–buddhi–ahaṅkāra), showing its breadth as a compendium of practice and doctrine.
By recognizing Viṣṇu as pervading one’s inner faculties, the practitioner weakens ego-centered agency and purifies intention, supporting steadiness in devotion and reducing karmic bondage rooted in ‘I’ and ‘mine’.