Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 4
Chapter 369 — शरीरावयवाः
The Limbs/Organs and Constituents of the Body
आत्माव्यक्तश् चतुर्विंशतत्त्वानि पुरुषः परः संयुक्तश् च वियुक्तश् च यथा मत्स्योदके उभे
ātmāvyaktaś caturviṃśatattvāni puruṣaḥ paraḥ saṃyuktaś ca viyuktaś ca yathā matsyodake ubhe
อาตมันและอว்யกตะ (ปรกฤติ), ตัตตวะยี่สิบสี่ และปุรุษะผู้สูงสุด—ถูกกล่าวว่าเป็นทั้งประสานและแยกจากกัน; ดุจปลาและน้ำ ที่อยู่ร่วมกันแต่ยังต่างกันอยู่।
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Discriminative insight into Purusha–Prakriti relation and tattva framework; supports non-identification with prakritic modifications while acknowledging empirical conjunction.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Purusha–Prakṛti and 24 Tattvas: Conjoined/Disjoined (Fish–Water Analogy)","lookup_keywords":["avyakta","caturviṃśati tattva","puruṣa para","saṃyukta-viyukta","matsya-udaka dṛṣṭānta"],"quick_summary":"States the Self, the Unmanifest, the 24 principles, and the Supreme Person as both conjoined and distinct—like fish and water. Teaches simultaneous intimacy (experience) and separateness (essence) for liberation-oriented discernment."}
Alamkara Type: Dṛṣṭānta
Concept: Purusha is distinct from Prakriti and tattvas, yet appears conjoined in lived experience; liberation arises from recognizing distinction without denying empirical conjunction.
Application: In meditation, observe thoughts/sensations as ‘water’ (prakriti/tattvas) and awareness as ‘fish’ (purusha): present within, yet not reducible to, the medium.
Khanda Section: Sankhya–Vedanta (Tattva-nirupana / Purusha-Prakriti-viveka)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A fish moving in clear water, symbolizing Purusha within Prakriti—together in appearance yet distinct in nature; alongside a subtle diagram of 24 tattvas emanating from avyakta.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: stylized lotus-pond with a luminous fish (Purusha) in deep blue water (Prakriti), surrounding circular icons for 24 tattvas, traditional borders, symbolic rather than naturalistic.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central golden fish with halo over a blue enamel-like water field, embossed gold medallions listing 24 tattvas, ornate frame, devotional-metaphysical iconography.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: gentle instructional scene—sage points to a pond with fish-water analogy; side panel shows a neat tattva tree from avyakta to elements; fine linework and soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: naturalistic fish in a garden tank, philosopher explaining to a patron; marginalia with a small tattva chart; intricate flora and architectural pavilion."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ātmāvyaktaḥ = ātmā + avyaktaḥ; caturviṃśatattvāni = caturviṃśati + tattvāni; matsyodake = matsya + udake.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Sāṅkhya–Vedānta reconciliation passages; Agni Purana: Mokṣa-dharma sections on viveka and puruṣa-jñāna
FAQs
It imparts Sāṅkhya-tattva vidyā: how the Self/Puruṣa and Prakṛti (the Unmanifest) relate to the twenty-four tattvas—associated in lived experience yet distinct in their true nature.
It shows the Agni Purana functioning as a compendium by incorporating classical Sāṅkhya metaphysics (24 tattvas, Puruṣa–Prakṛti analysis) alongside its many other domains like ritual, polity, medicine, and arts.
The teaching supports viveka (discriminative insight): realizing the Self’s distinctness from prakṛtic evolutes weakens bondage to guṇas and aids liberation-oriented understanding.