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
آتما اور اَوْیَکت (پرکرتی)، چوبیس تتو اور پرم پُرُش—یہ سب متحد بھی کہے جاتے ہیں اور جدا بھی؛ جیسے مچھلی اور پانی، ساتھ رہ کر بھی ممتاز۔
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.