Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 23
Adhyāya 379 — अद्वैतब्रह्मविज्ञानम्
Advaita-brahma-vijñāna
ब्राह्मण उवाच शब्दोहमिति दोषाय नात्मन्येष तथैव तत् अनात्मन्यात्मविज्ञानं शब्दो वा भ्रान्तिलक्षणः
brāhmaṇa uvāca śabdohamiti doṣāya nātmanyeṣa tathaiva tat anātmanyātmavijñānaṃ śabdo vā bhrāntilakṣaṇaḥ
బ్రాహ్మణుడు అన్నాడు—‘నేనే శబ్దం’ అనే భావన దోషకరం; అది ఆత్మకు సంబంధించినది కాదు. అనాత్మలో ఆత్మజ్ఞానం, లేదా మాటలనే సత్యమని గ్రహించడం—ఇది భ్రాంతి లక్షణం।
Brāhmaṇa (teacher/sage in dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Prevents mistaking linguistic constructs (‘word’, ‘I’-notion) for the Self; supports viveka between atman and anatman and corrects verbal-only understanding.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Shabda-bhranti: Error of Taking Word/Not-Self as Self","lookup_keywords":["anatman","atma-vijnana","shabda-bhranti","ahamkara","viveka"],"quick_summary":"Identifying the Self with ‘sound/word’ or superimposing Self-cognition onto the not-Self is delusion; mere words without direct realization mislead."}
Concept: Adhyasa (superimposition): taking anatman (including shabda/mental constructs) as atman is भ्रान्ति; words are indicators, not the realized Self.
Application: In meditation and inquiry, treat verbal formulas as pointers; verify by direct witnessing awareness and negate body-speech-mind identifications.
Khanda Section: Moksha-shastra / Advaita-Vedanta (Atma-Anatma Viveka)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The Brahmin teacher pointing to a written word on a palm leaf while indicating the heart/inner awareness, showing that the word is not the Self.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, guru holding palm-leaf with syllables, other hand in teaching mudra, a faint luminous atman-symbol in the chest area, subdued temple palette, didactic composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, guru seated with gold halo, palm-leaf manuscript with stylized letters, a separate glowing lotus at the heart indicating atman beyond words, heavy gold ornamentation.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional scene: manuscript labeled ‘shabda’, silhouette labeled ‘anatman’, luminous witness labeled ‘atman’, fine linework and gentle gradients.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar-teacher in a library setting, pointing from calligraphy to a contemplative student, subtle allegory of a translucent light behind the figures, intricate book details."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शब्दोहमिति = शब्दः अहम् इति; नात्मन्येष = न आत्मनि एषः; अनात्मन्यात्मविज्ञानं = अनात्मनि आत्म-विज्ञानम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 379.22 (debate on ‘aham’), 379.24 (one Self in all bodies)
FAQs
It imparts ātma–anātma-viveka (discrimination of Self and not-Self): rejecting identification with verbal constructs (“I am sound/word”) and recognizing such identification as a cognitive error (bhrānti).
Beyond rituals and worldly sciences, the Agni Purana includes mokṣa-śāstra: concise Vedāntic diagnostics of error (superimposition of Self on not-Self and reliance on mere words), showing its coverage of liberation philosophy alongside other disciplines.
By abandoning mistaken self-identifications and verbalism, one reduces avidyā-driven action and bondage; the instruction supports inner purification and progress toward liberating knowledge (jñāna) rather than karma born of delusion.