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
ఆ విష్ణువే పరమ బ్రహ్మ; ఆయనను పొందినవాడు మళ్లీ సంసారానికి తిరిగి రాడు. స్వర్ణాది మహాదానములు మరియు పుణ్య తీర్థములలో అవగాహన (స్నానం) ద్వారా (ఆ గతి లభిస్తుంది).
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.