Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 1
Chapter 371 — Yama-Niyama and Praṇava-Upāsanā (Oṅkāra) as Brahma-vidyā
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे नरकनिरूपणं नाम सप्तत्यधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः अथैकसप्तत्यधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः यमनियमाः अग्निर् उवाच संसारतापमुक्त्यर्थं वक्ष्याम्य् अष्टाङ्गयोगकं ब्रह्मप्रकाशकं ज्ञानं योगस्तत्रैकचित्तता
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe narakanirūpaṇaṃ nāma saptatyadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ athaikasaptatyadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ yamaniyamāḥ agnir uvāca saṃsāratāpamuktyarthaṃ vakṣyāmy aṣṭāṅgayogakaṃ brahmaprakāśakaṃ jñānaṃ yogastatraikacittatā
ดังนี้ ในอัคนิมหาปุราณะ บทที่ ๓๗๐ ชื่อ “พรรณนานรก” ได้สิ้นสุดลง บัดนี้เริ่มบทที่ ๓๗๑ ว่าด้วย “ยมะและนิยมะ” อัคนีตรัสว่า “เพื่อความหลุดพ้นจากความเร่าร้อนแห่งสังสารวัฏ เราจักสอนอัษฏางคโยคะ อันเป็นญาณที่ทำให้ประจักษ์พรหมัน; ในวินัยนั้น โยคะคือความตั้งมั่นเป็นหนึ่งของจิต”
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Adopt aṣṭāṅga-yoga as a structured sādhanā to reduce saṃsāra-duḥkha by cultivating ekāgratā (one-pointed attention) leading toward brahma-jñāna.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Aṣṭāṅga-yoga as Brahma-prakāśaka Jñāna; Yoga defined as Ekacittatā","lookup_keywords":["aṣṭāṅga-yoga","ekacittatā","brahma-prakāśaka","mokṣa","saṃsāra-tāpa"],"quick_summary":"Yoga is introduced as an eight-limbed discipline aimed at release from worldly affliction; its operative definition here is one-pointedness of mind that supports Brahman-realization."}
Concept: Aṣṭāṅga-yoga culminating in ekacittatā as a means to brahma-prakāśa (illumination of Brahman).
Application: Frame daily practice around steady attention: reduce distractions, set a single meditation object, and progress through limbs as a coherent path.
Khanda Section: Yoga-vidyā (Aṣṭāṅga-yoga, Yama-Niyama; Mokṣa-śāstra section)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Agni as teacher addressing a seated assembly of sages, introducing aṣṭāṅga-yoga and defining yoga as one-pointedness; a calm hermitage setting with subtle aura of inner light.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, Agni-deva with radiant flames and serene face teaching rishis in an āśrama, palm-leaf manuscripts, muted earth reds and greens, stylized lotus motifs, emphasis on calm śānta mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Agni-deva enthroned with halo and flame aureole, gold-leaf embellishments, sages seated below with añjali, ornate arch frame, rich reds, depiction of ‘brahma-prakāśa’ as golden light behind Agni.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional composition: Agni pointing to a schematic of aṣṭāṅga-yoga limbs on a palm-leaf chart, fine linework, soft shading, restrained gold highlights, contemplative classroom-like āśrama scene.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly yet ascetic assembly: Agni as luminous figure teaching in a garden pavilion, detailed textiles and manuscripts, delicate faces, balanced composition conveying ekāgratā and quiet instruction."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ity āgneye → iti āgneye; saptatyadhika- → saptati-adhika-; 'dhyāyaḥ → adhyāyaḥ; athaika- → atha eka-; agnir uvāca → agniḥ uvāca; vakṣyāmy → vakṣyāmi; yogastatraikacittatā → yogaḥ tatra ekacittatā.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Yoga-vidyā section (Aṣṭāṅga-yoga exposition continuing in subsequent adhyāyas); Agni Purana Mokṣa-śāstra discussions on jñāna and vairāgya
FAQs
It introduces Yoga-vidyā: Aṣṭāṅga-yoga grounded in yama and niyama, defining yoga technically as ekacittatā (one-pointed mental concentration) and presenting it as Brahman-revealing knowledge.
It shows the text’s breadth by pivoting from naraka (cosmology and karmic consequence) to practical soteriology—ethical discipline and meditative yoga—demonstrating how the Purāṇa compiles both doctrine and applied spiritual methodology.
It frames yama-niyama and one-pointed yoga as the remedy for saṃsāra-tāpa, implying purification of conduct and mind as the direct means toward liberation and realization of Brahman.