Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 12
Āgneya-Purāṇa-māhātmya
The Greatness and Self-Testimony of the Agni Purāṇa
द्विविधो भूतमार्गीयं दैव आसुर एव च विष्णुभक्तिपरो दैवो विपरीतस् तथासुरः
dvividho bhūtamārgīyaṃ daiva āsura eva ca viṣṇubhaktiparo daivo viparītas tathāsuraḥ
సంసారమార్గాన్ని అనుసరించే జీవులు రెండు విధాలు—దైవం, ఆసురం. విష్ణుభక్తికి పరాయణులు దైవులు; దానికి విరుద్ధులు ఆసురులు।
Lord Agni (in dialogue framework of the Agni Purana, teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Bhakti (within Philosophy)","practical_application":"Ethical self-audit and community discernment: classifying tendencies as daiva/asura based on orientation to Viṣṇu-bhakti; guiding conduct, association, and vows.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Daiva–Āsura Bheda by Viṣṇu-bhakti","lookup_keywords":["daiva","āsura","viṣṇu-bhakti","bheda","svabhāva"],"quick_summary":"Beings are typologized as divine or demonic: devotion to Viṣṇu marks the daiva disposition; opposition to it indicates the āsura disposition."}
Alamkara Type: Dvandva/antithesis (daiva vs āsura)
Concept: Spiritual orientation (bhakti to Viṣṇu) is a decisive marker of daiva character; its negation signals āsura character.
Application: Use bhakti-practices (nāma-japa, pūjā, sat-saṅga) as character formation; avoid habits and company that cultivate hostility to dharma and devotion.
Khanda Section: Moksha-Dharma / Bhakti and Ethical Typology (Daiva–Asura classification)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Veera
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Two groups of beings: daiva figures with calm faces offering flowers to Viṣṇu; āsura figures turned away, agitated, rejecting worship; Viṣṇu stands central as the axis of orientation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: central Viṣṇu with śaṅkha-cakra; left side daiva devotees in añjali with lotuses; right side āsura figures with darker tones and restless gestures; symmetrical temple-wall composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Viṣṇu richly ornamented with gold leaf; daiva devotees in bright attire; āsura figures in muted tones; strong icon focus and decorative arch.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: refined faces and soft colors; diagrammatic split composition labeled daiva/āsura; emphasis on devotional act (pūjā) as the differentiator.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: allegorical court scene with two factions around a central divine figure; intricate textiles; subtle psychological contrast between serene devotees and defiant opponents."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तथासुरः = तथा + आसुरः; विपरीतस् = विपरीतः (विसर्ग-लोप)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 382.13-14 (phala-śruti context)
FAQs
It gives a practical doctrinal criterion for spiritual classification: devotion to Viṣṇu (viṣṇu-bhakti) is the defining marker of the daiva disposition, while its contrary indicates the āsura disposition.
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and poetics, the Agni Purana also systematizes ethical and spiritual typologies; this verse is part of its concise taxonomy of human dispositions (daiva vs. āsura) used for dharma and soteriology.
It frames bhakti to Viṣṇu as a karmically elevating orientation associated with the daiva path, implying that cultivating devotion aligns one’s nature toward liberation-oriented dharma, whereas opposing it reinforces an āsura trajectory.