Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 34
अध्याय ३८० — गीतासारः
The Essence of the Gītā
ध्यानेनात्मनि पश्यन्ति केचिदात्मानमात्मना अन्ये साङ्ख्येन योगेन कर्मयोगेन चापरे
dhyānenātmani paśyanti kecidātmānamātmanā anye sāṅkhyena yogena karmayogena cāpare
บางคนเห็นอาตมันภายในตนด้วยอาตมันเองโดยสมาธิภาวนา; บางคนโดยสางขยะและโยคะ; และบางคนโดยกรรมโยคะ (จึงเข้าถึงได้).
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vashistha in the Agni Purana’s moksha-oriented teachings)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Yoga","practical_application":"Map of sadhana options: choose meditation, Sankhya discernment, yoga discipline, or karma-yoga according to temperament; integrate paths toward atma-darshana.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Paths to Atma-darshana: Dhyana, Sankhya, Yoga, Karma-yoga","lookup_keywords":["dhyana","sankhya","yoga","karma-yoga","atma-darshana"],"quick_summary":"Lists multiple valid disciplines for realizing the Self: meditative introspection, discriminative analysis, yogic practice, and selfless action."}
Concept: Atma-realization is accessible through multiple complementary yogas—meditation, discernment, disciplined practice, and selfless action.
Application: Adopt a primary path suited to one’s nature while supporting it with the others (e.g., karma-yoga for purification, dhyana for insight).
Khanda Section: Moksha-dharma / Yoga-vidya (Spiritual disciplines and liberation teachings)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Four practitioners in parallel: a meditator in dhyana, a Sankhya thinker with counting beads/diagram of tattvas, a yogi practicing asana/pranayama, and a karma-yogi serving others—each oriented toward the same inner Self.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, four-panel composition with consistent central heart-light motif in each practitioner, traditional costumes, flat iconic poses, warm earthy palette, temple mural borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, four arched niches with gold halos: dhyana yogin, Sankhya sage with tattva scroll, yogi in asana, karma-yogi offering food/water; heavy gold work unifying them.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, instructional quadrants labeled Dhyana/Sankhya/Yoga/Karma-yoga, clean linework, gentle colors, subtle heart-lotus icon repeated, didactic clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtyard scene with four groups: one meditating under a tree, one debating with manuscripts, one practicing yogic discipline, one distributing alms; refined detailing and floral margins."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ध्यानेनात्मनि = ध्यानेन + आत्मनि; केचिदात्मानमात्मना = केचित् + आत्मानम् + आत्मना; चापरे = च + अपरे
Related Themes: Agni Purana 380.33; Agni Purana yoga/moksha-dharma sections (elsewhere in Purana)
FAQs
It teaches the practical vidyā of liberation through multiple disciplines—dhyāna (meditative absorption), sāṅkhya (discriminative knowledge), yoga (mental discipline), and karma-yoga (selfless action)—as valid means to realize the ātman.
By presenting several parallel soteriological methods (meditation, philosophical analysis, yogic practice, and ethical action), it exemplifies how the Agni Purana compiles diverse schools into one reference framework rather than restricting itself to a single doctrine.
It affirms that inner purification and Self-knowledge can arise through different temperaments: contemplatives via dhyāna, thinkers via sāṅkhya, practitioners via yoga, and active householders via karma-yoga—each reducing bondage by removing attachment and ignorance.