Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 28
Chapter 381 — यमगीता
Yama-gītā
पुरुषान्न परं किञ्चित् सा काष्ठा सा परा गतिः एषु सर्वेषु भूतेषु गूढात्मा न प्रकाशते
puruṣānna paraṃ kiñcit sā kāṣṭhā sā parā gatiḥ eṣu sarveṣu bhūteṣu gūḍhātmā na prakāśate
పురుషునికన్నా పైగా ఏదీ లేదు; అదే పరమ సీమ, అదే పరమ గతి. ఈ సమస్త భూతాలలో ఆత్మ గూఢంగా ఉండి సాధారణ దృష్టికి ప్రకాశించదు.
Lord Agni (teaching to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instruction mode)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Jnana–Vedanta","practical_application":"Cultivating inwardness: recognizing Puruṣa as the highest goal and practicing subtle self-recognition since the Self is hidden in all beings.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Puruṣa as Parā Gati; Ātman Hidden in Beings","lookup_keywords":["puruṣa parā gati","gūḍhātman","mokṣa-dharma","ātma-vidyā","parama-kāṣṭhā"],"quick_summary":"Declares Puruṣa unsurpassed and the supreme destination, while noting the Self is concealed within all beings and not evident to ordinary perception—necessitating sādhanā and discrimination."}
Concept: Puruṣa is the ultimate limit and highest end; the ātman is immanent yet veiled by ignorance and mental modifications.
Application: Shift from external proofs to inner verification: meditation, self-inquiry, and ethical purification to remove the ‘covering’ that hides the Self.
Khanda Section: Jnana–Vedanta (Atma-vidya / Moksha-dharma)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A multitude of beings (humans, animals, sages) with a faint inner light at their heart, while above them shines the supreme Puruṣa as the final destination; the inner Self appears veiled by a translucent layer.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, rows of beings with stylized faces, each with a small hidden flame at the heart behind a veil motif, above a large radiant Puruṣa figure, temple-like framing and traditional ornamentation.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-embossed central Puruṣa as supreme goal, below a semicircle of beings with small gilded heart-lotuses partially covered, rich jewel tones and heavy gold work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, gentle instructional composition: silhouettes of beings with subtle inner glow, a thin veil pattern indicating concealment, and a clear upward path to a luminous Puruṣa emblem.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, crowded life-scene with diverse beings, each with a tiny hidden lamp at the chest, a celestial margin showing the supreme Puruṣa, fine detailing and muted elegance."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: puruṣānna = puruṣāt + na (final -t before n); gūḍhātmā = gūḍha + ātmā (karmadhāraya).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 381.27; Agni Purana 381.29; Agni Purana 381.30
FAQs
Ātma-vidyā (knowledge of the indwelling Self): it identifies Puruṣa as the highest reality and notes that the Self is not directly perceptible in beings without discernment (viveka) and inner inquiry.
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves Vedāntic metaphysics—here summarizing a core Upaniṣadic theme: the supreme Puruṣa/Ātman as the highest goal and its subtle, concealed presence in all beings.
It directs the seeker toward liberation (parā gatiḥ) by shifting attention from external identifications to the hidden Ātman; realizing that concealed Self is presented as the highest spiritual attainment beyond ordinary merit-based results.