Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 7
Chapter 373 — ध्यानम्
Dhyāna / Meditation
भोगनद्यभिवेशेनेति ञ ध्याता ध्यानं तथा ध्येयं यच्च ध्यानप्रयोजनं एतच्चतुष्टयं ज्ञात्वा योगं युञ्जीत तत्त्ववित्
bhoganadyabhiveśeneti ña dhyātā dhyānaṃ tathā dhyeyaṃ yacca dhyānaprayojanaṃ etaccatuṣṭayaṃ jñātvā yogaṃ yuñjīta tattvavit
Sa pagkaalam (nito)—na sa pamamagitan ng paglubog sa “ilog ng mga kaluguran”—dapat maunawaan ng nakaaalam ang apat na saligan ng pagninilay: ang nagmumuni, ang mismong pagninilay, ang bagay na pinagninilayan, at ang layon ng pagninilay. Pagkaalam sa apat na ito, ang nakababatid ng katotohanan ay dapat magsanay ng Yoga.
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha, in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Yoga-vidya","practical_application":"Gives a practical analytic framework for meditation: identify the agent, process, object, and goal to prevent confusion and to align practice toward tattva-jñāna rather than mere enjoyment-absorption.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Dhyāna-catuṣṭaya (meditator, meditation, object, purpose)","lookup_keywords":["dhyata","dhyana","dhyeya","dhyana-prayojana","tattvavit"],"quick_summary":"A tattva-knower should engage yoga after understanding the fourfold structure of meditation—who meditates, what meditation is, what is meditated upon, and why—guarding against being swept away by the ‘river of enjoyments’."}
Alamkara Type: Rupaka (metaphor)
Concept: Tattva-jñāna requires discriminating the components of meditative practice and its telos; otherwise one is absorbed in viṣaya-flow (bhoga-nadī).
Application: Before sitting: (1) clarify identity as sādhaka (dhyātā), (2) define method (dhyāna), (3) fix object (dhyeya—Hari, ātman, mantra, breath), (4) state purpose (prayojana—citta-śuddhi, samādhi, mokṣa). Review when drifting into pleasure-seeking.
Khanda Section: Yoga-vidya (Dhyana and Tattva-jñāna)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teacher-yogin illustrates four labeled elements—meditator, meditation, object, purpose—while a swirling ‘river of enjoyments’ flows nearby as a cautionary metaphor.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: guru and disciple seated, four symbolic emblems in a row (person, flame/stream, deity-symbol, lotus of liberation) with Malayalam/Sanskrit-style labels, stylized river with alluring objects, bold outlines, didactic serenity.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central guru with gold halo, four medallions around (dhyātā, dhyāna, dhyeya, prayojana) in ornate frames, a decorative river border with jewels/pleasures shown as temptations, rich gold work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: diagrammatic instructional painting, clean composition with four quadrants labeled, subtle river motif at bottom, soft colors, emphasis on pedagogy and clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: scholarly setting with a manuscript open showing four terms; outside the pavilion a river scene with entertainers/wealth as ‘bhoga’, fine detail, balanced moral allegory."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: भोगनद्यभिवेशेन = भोगनदी + अभिवेशेन; यच्च = यत् + च; एतच्चतुष्टयम् = एतत् + चतुष्टयम्. The token ‘ञ’ appears to be a textual artifact.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Yoga-vidya definitions of dhāraṇā/dhyāna/samādhi; Agni Purana teachings on vairāgya and jñāna as prerequisites
FAQs
It teaches the technical framework of meditation (dhyāna-catuṣṭaya): identify the meditator (dhyātā), the method/act (dhyāna), the chosen object or reality to contemplate (dhyeya), and the intended fruit or aim (dhyāna-prayojana) before undertaking Yoga.
Beyond myth and ritual, the Agni Purāṇa systematizes inner disciplines too—here it presents a concise, almost śāstric taxonomy of meditation components, aligning Purāṇic teaching with Yoga/Vedānta-style analytical instruction.
By clarifying the agent, method, object, and goal of contemplation, the practitioner avoids aimless mental wandering in the stream of sense-enjoyments (bhoga-nadī) and directs practice toward tattva-jñāna (realization of truth), which is held to be purifying and liberating.