Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 12
Brahma-jñāna
Knowledge of Brahman
अहं ब्रह्म परं ज्योतिः शब्दोद्भूतादिवर्जितं अहं ब्रह्म परं ज्योतिर्हिरण्यगर्भवर्जितं
ahaṃ brahma paraṃ jyotiḥ śabdodbhūtādivarjitaṃ ahaṃ brahma paraṃ jyotirhiraṇyagarbhavarjitaṃ
ข้าคือพรหมัน—แสงสูงสุด—พ้นจากสิ่งที่เกิดจากเสียงและสิ่งอื่น ๆ ทั้งปวง ข้าคือพรหมัน—แสงสูงสุด—เหนือและต่างจากหิรัณยครรภะ
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s dialogue framework)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Discriminate Brahman from śabda-prapañca (name-form arising with sound/creation) and from cosmic causal principle (Hiraṇyagarbha), stabilizing nirguṇa-brahma insight.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Brahman beyond Śabda-prapañca and Hiraṇyagarbha","lookup_keywords":["śabda-udbhūta","nāma-rūpa","hiraṇyagarbha","nirguṇa brahman","viveka"],"quick_summary":"Defines Brahman as the supreme Light transcending both linguistic/sonic manifestation and the cosmic ‘golden embryo’ (Hiraṇyagarbha), guiding precise metaphysical discrimination."}
Alamkara Type: Anaphora (punarukti)
Concept: Brahman is not a product of śabda (and its evolutes) and is distinct from Hiraṇyagarbha (the cosmic subtle totality); it is self-established light (svayaṃ-prakāśa).
Application: During meditation, drop reliance on inner speech/mantra-sound as ‘ultimate’; use sound as a pointer, then rest in soundless awareness beyond cosmic archetypes.
Khanda Section: Moksha-vidya / Brahma-jñāna (Non-dual Self-knowledge teachings)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vast field of light; at one side, ripples of sound shown as concentric waves and Sanskrit phonemes emerging then dissolving; below, a golden cosmic egg (Hiraṇyagarbha) floats but is surpassed by the boundless radiance labeled ‘Brahman’.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized sound-waves with decorative script motifs, a golden egg icon, central infinite golden-white aura overpowering both, symmetrical sacred composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, ornate gold work for the cosmic egg and halo; phoneme motifs embossed around, but fading into the central parama-jyotis; rich reds and greens.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, clean diagrammatic clarity: sound-waves, phoneme garland, golden egg, and an unbounded light field; fine lines and soft colors, instructional labels.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, delicate rendering of a luminous void; calligraphic sound motifs like floating ribbons; a jeweled golden egg; the light beyond rendered as pale gold wash."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शब्दोद्भूतादिवर्जितम् = शब्द + उद्भूत + आदि + वर्जितम् (स्वरसन्धिः: शब्द + उद्भूत → शब्दोद्भूत). ज्योतिः + हिरण्य… → ज्योतिर् हिरण्य… (विसर्गस्य रेफादेशः)।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 377 (Brahma-jñāna negation series)
FAQs
This verse imparts Moksha-vidyā: a contemplative assertion (mahāvākya-style) that the Self is Brahman, the supreme consciousness-light, transcending cosmological principles like śabda-originated manifestation and Hiraṇyagarbha.
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves Vedāntic liberation-teachings; this verse exemplifies its philosophical register by summarizing non-dual metaphysics and yogic contemplation in a compact doctrinal form.
Internalizing this identity-knowledge is presented as liberating: it weakens identification with created categories and cosmic roles, directing the practitioner toward detachment, purity of insight, and ultimately mokṣa (freedom).