Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 36

Chapter 116 — गयायात्राविधिः (Gayā-yātrā-vidhiḥ) | The Procedure for the Gayā Pilgrimage

Devanagari script

धर्मार्थकाममोक्षार्थं योगदं प्रणमाम्यहम् देहेन्द्रियमनोबुद्धिप्राणाहङ्कारवर्जितम्

Transliteration

dharmārthakāmamokṣārthaṃ yogadaṃ praṇamāmyaham dehendriyamanobuddhiprāṇāhaṅkāravarjitam

Translation

เพื่อบรรลุธรรม อรรถ กาม และโมกษะ ข้าพเจ้าขอนอบน้อมแด่ผู้ประทานโยคะ ผู้ปราศจากกาย อินทรีย์ จิต ปัญญา ลมหายใจ และอหังการ.

Word by Word

• धर्म-अर्थ-काम-मोक्ष-अर्थम्: for dharma, artha, kāma, and mokṣa
• धर्म-अर्थ-काम-मोक्ष-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक) + मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य), एकवचन; ‘धर्मार्थं च अर्थार्थं च…’ इत्यर्थे समाहार-तत्पुरुष (purpose)

• योग-दम्: giver of yoga
• योग-दम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक) + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘योगं ददाति’ इति उपपद-तत्पुरुष

• प्रणमामि: I bow
• प्रणमामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present indicative), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• देह-इन्द्रिय-मनस्-बुद्धि-प्राण-अहङ्कार-वर्जितम्: devoid of body, senses, mind, intellect, vital-breath, and ego
• देह-इन्द्रिय-मनस्-बुद्धि-प्राण-अहङ्कार-वर्जितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक) + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्राण (प्रातिपदिक) + अहङ्कार (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘एतेभ्यः वर्जितम्’ इति बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (qualifier of the bowed-to deity)

Speaker

Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purāṇa’s standard dialogue frame)

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Yoga & Moksha-Dharma","practical_application":"Contemplative salutation to the Yoga-bestowing Absolute, used as a meditation cue to negate identification with body-mind complex while pursuing puruṣārthas culminating in mokṣa.","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Nirupādhika Yoga-da Tattva (The Yoga-giver beyond Body–Mind)","lookup_keywords":["yoga-da","nirupadhi","deha-indriya-mano-buddhi","prana-ahankara","purushartha"],"quick_summary":"The verse defines the Yoga-bestower as beyond body, senses, mind, intellect, prāṇa, and ego; it frames yoga as the integrative means for dharma–artha–kāma and ultimately mokṣa."}

Kavya & Alamkara Layer

Alamkara Type: Vyatireka/Apavāda (via negation: ‘devoid of…’)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The ultimate reality is nirupādhika (free from limiting adjuncts); yoga is oriented to disidentification from deha–indriya–manas–buddhi–prāṇa–ahaṅkāra.

Application: Use the negation list as a dhyāna-krama: observe each layer (body, senses, mind, intellect, breath, ego) and release identification, then rest in the witness/absolute while dedicating actions to dharma.

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Yoga & Moksha-Dharma (Stotra / Philosophical Yoga Teaching)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A meditating yogin in a quiet setting; above or behind, an abstract luminous presence symbolizing the Yoga-bestower beyond body and mind; subtle labels dissolving (body, senses, mind, intellect, prana, ego) like fading veils.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, seated yogin in padmāsana under a stylized tree, layers of translucent veils labeled as deha/indriya/manas/buddhi/prāṇa/ahaṅkāra dissolving into a radiant formless aura, earthy tones with sacred lamp-like glow.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central radiant oval of gold representing the transcendent Yoga-da, below a small meditating figure, gold foil emphasizing the formless brilliance, minimal iconography, serene composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic yoga illustration: yogin seated, six subtle sheaths/labels fading outward, calm background, fine linework and soft colors, emphasis on contemplative instruction.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, ascetic in meditation in a garden pavilion, delicate clouds forming an abstract luminous presence, fine calligraphic labels for the negated faculties, restrained palette and intricate detail."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: धर्मार्थकाममोक्षार्थं = धर्म + अर्थ + काम + मोक्ष + अर्थम्; प्रणमाम्यहम् = प्रणमामि + अहम् (इ + अ → य); देहेन्द्रिय... = देह + इन्द्रिय...; प्राणाहङ्कार... = प्राण + अहङ्कार... .

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purana: Yoga/Moksha-dharma discussions; stotra passages describing nirguṇa brahman

Characters & Entities

• Purusharthas (Dharma-Artha-Kama-Moksha)
• Yoga
• Nirguna Brahman (implied by 'devoid of body, senses, mind, etc.')

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

It conveys Yoga-vidyā as a soteriological discipline: reverence to the Yogada (bestower of yoga) and contemplation of the supreme as beyond body, senses, mind, intellect, prāṇa, and ego—an instruction aligned with nirguṇa contemplation.

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

Alongside ritual, polity, and other sciences, the Agni Purāṇa also preserves concise philosophical-yogic doctrine—here summarizing the four puruṣārthas framework and a Vedānta-like definition of the transcendent principle, showing its multi-disciplinary scope.

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

Salutation (praṇāma) directed to the reality beyond ego and mental functions supports purification of अहङ्कार (ahaṅkāra) and steadies the practitioner toward liberation, while framing all human aims (dharma-artha-kāma-mokṣa) as fulfilled through yoga.