Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 22
Chapter 381 — यमगीता
Yama-gītā
बुद्धिन्तु सारथिं विद्धि मनः प्रग्रहमेव च इन्द्रयाणि हयानाहुर्विषयांश्चेषुगोचरान्
buddhintu sārathiṃ viddhi manaḥ pragrahameva ca indrayāṇi hayānāhurviṣayāṃśceṣugocarān
బుద్ధిని సారథిగా, మనస్సును పగ్గాలుగా తెలుసుకో. ఇంద్రియాలు గుర్రాలు; విషయాలు వాటి సంచార గోచరాలు.
Lord Agni (teaching in the Agni Purana’s didactic narration)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Yoga","practical_application":"Use the chariot metaphor as a daily self-audit: keep buddhi (discernment) in command, manas as controlled reins, and regulate indriyas so they do not run toward their viṣayas unchecked.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Ratha-dṛṣṭānta: Buddhi–Manas–Indriya–Viṣaya Mapping","lookup_keywords":["ratha-drstanta","buddhi sarathi","manas pragraha","indriya haya","visaya gocara"],"quick_summary":"Defines the inner instrument via the chariot allegory: intellect guides, mind restrains, senses move, and objects are their grazing-fields. Practical takeaway: mastery begins with rein-like mind-control under discriminative intellect."}
Alamkara Type: Rūpaka (extended metaphor/allegory)
Concept: Antaḥkaraṇa–indriya governance: buddhi should direct, manas should restrain, senses should be harnessed, and viṣayas are the arena of temptation.
Application: Practice pratyāhāra and dhāraṇā: before acting, pause and let buddhi decide; use manas to ‘hold the reins’ by limiting sensory inputs.
Khanda Section: Adhyatma / Yoga (Antahkarana–Indriya allegory; chariot metaphor)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A chariot allegory: buddhi as the charioteer holding the reins (manas), driving horses (senses) toward various landscapes (sense-objects).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat yet vivid colors, ornate borders; a serene charioteer labeled Buddhi guiding a chariot, reins labeled Manas, five horses labeled Indriyas, lush fields and objects as Viṣayas; calm śānta mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf highlights; symbolic chariot scene with embossed ornaments, Buddhi as regal charioteer, Manas as jeweled reins, horses as stylized indriyas, viṣaya-fields rendered as icon-like panels; devotional-didactic composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate linework and soft shading; instructional diagram-like chariot with clear labels for buddhi/manas/indriya/viṣaya, balanced composition, minimal background for clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine detailing and naturalistic horses; a philosopher-charioteer controlling spirited horses moving toward marketplaces and gardens (sense-objects), with calligraphic labels and subdued palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: बुद्धिन्+तु→बुद्धिं तु; प्रग्रहम्+एव→प्रग्रहमेव; हयान्+आहुः→हयानाहुः; विषयान्+च→विषयांश्च; इषु+गोचरान्→इषुगोचरान् (समास)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 381 (Adhyatma/Yoga section on indriya-nigraha and moksha)
FAQs
It imparts adhyatmic-yogic knowledge: the functional mapping of buddhi (discrimination) as controller, manas as the regulating reins, and indriyas as instruments that must be governed to prevent uncontrolled pursuit of viṣayas (sense-objects).
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves classical psychological–yogic models (antahkaraṇa and indriya theory). This verse is a compact doctrinal unit usable for ethics, meditation practice, and self-discipline—showing the text’s wide, encyclopedic scope.
By placing buddhi in command and restraining the senses through the mind, one reduces desire-driven action and its karmic entanglements, supporting inner purity, steadiness in dharma, and progress toward liberation-oriented self-knowledge.