Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 15
Chapter 381 — यमगीता
Yama-gītā
न सो ऽस्ति बान्धवः कश्चिद्विष्णुं मुक्त्वा जगद्गुरुं अधश्चोर्धं हरिश्चाग्रे देहेन्द्रियमनोमुखे
na so 'sti bāndhavaḥ kaścidviṣṇuṃ muktvā jagadguruṃ adhaścordhaṃ hariścāgre dehendriyamanomukhe
జగద్గురు విష్ణువును తప్ప నిజమైన బంధువు ఎవ్వరూ లేరు; క్రిందా పైగా ముందుభాగంలో హరియే—దేహం, ఇంద్రియాలు, మనస్సు, వాక్కు అన్నిటి అగ్రంలో ఆయనే నిలిచియున్నాడు.
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana’s teachings to the sage Vashistha, traditional frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Cultivates Hari-smarana as the supreme refuge; reframes ‘true kinship’ as dependence on the World-Teacher, aiding bhakti and inner steadiness.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Hari as Jagadguru and Sole Bandhu (True Kinsman)","lookup_keywords":["jagadguru","bandhu","Hari-smarana","indriya-manas-vāk","śaraṇāgati"],"quick_summary":"Viṣṇu alone is declared the real support and guide; He is to be placed ‘in front’ of body, senses, mind, and speech—i.e., as the governing presence in all faculties."}
Alamkara Type: Vyatireka (exclusion: ‘none apart from Viṣṇu’)
Concept: Śaraṇāgati and constant remembrance: Hari is the foremost presence directing body, senses, mind, and speech; worldly relations are secondary to divine refuge.
Application: Before action, speech, or sensory engagement, mentally place Hari ‘in front’ (agrataḥ) as witness and guide; use this as a daily restraint and devotion practice.
Khanda Section: Bhakti & Moksha (Vishnu-bhakti / Hari-smarana)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee walking with Hari/Viṣṇu as a luminous guide standing ahead; behind the devotee are symbols of body, senses, mind, and speech being led forward under divine guardianship.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Hari as jagadguru leading a devotee, stylized icons for indriyas around the devotee, bold outlines, sacred lamp-lit ambience.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, front-facing Viṣṇu with gold halo and ornaments, devotee behind with folded hands; small emblems (eye, ear, tongue, mind-lotus) aligned behind Viṣṇu to show ‘agrataḥ’.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic composition: Viṣṇu placed at the forefront, devotee and labeled faculties arranged in layers; soft palette, fine detailing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, a spiritual guide-figure of Viṣṇu in front of a seeker in a palace-courtyard setting; subtle symbolism of senses as attendants; refined lines and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Khamaj","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: so 'sti → saḥ + asti; kaścidviṣṇum → kaścit + viṣṇum; adhaś cordham → adhaḥ + ca + ūrdham; hariś cāgre → hariḥ + ca + agre; dehendriyamanomukhe → deha-indriya-manas-mukhe (samāhāra-dvandva).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 381 (Bhakti & Mokṣa sub-section); Agni Purana Viṣṇu-stotra/dhyāna materials
FAQs
It teaches a practical bhakti-vidhi: constant Hari-smaraṇa—recognizing Vishnu as the foremost support within body, senses, mind, and speech—guiding disciplined devotion in daily conduct.
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also codifies core devotional philosophy—here summarizing a theology of Vishnu as the supreme refuge and inner regulator of human faculties.
Treating Vishnu as the only unfailing ‘relative’ redirects attachment from transient supports to the divine, purifying intention (bhāva) and stabilizing liberation-oriented karma through mindful speech and sense-restraint.