Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 9
वागीश्वरीपूजा
The Worship of Vāgīśvarī
असंसक्तं मुमुक्षूणां संसक्तं तत्त्रिधा पृथक् बालो युवा च वृद्धश् च नामतः फलसिद्धिदाः
asaṃsaktaṃ mumukṣūṇāṃ saṃsaktaṃ tattridhā pṛthak bālo yuvā ca vṛddhaś ca nāmataḥ phalasiddhidāḥ
为求解脱之人（mumukṣu），说有二类：不相连（asaṃsakta）与相连（saṃsakta）。而相连者又别为三种，分别名为童、壮、老；各各皆被说能成就其相应之果报。
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Diagnosing stages of attachment/detachment in aspirants and choosing appropriate disciplines (vairāgya, karma, bhakti, jñāna) according to maturity.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Asaṃsakta and Saṃsakta states; Saṃsakta-tridhā (bāla-yuva-vṛddha)","lookup_keywords":["asaṃsakta","saṃsakta","mumukṣu","bāla-yuva-vṛddha","phala-siddhi"],"quick_summary":"Liberation-seekers are distinguished by unattached vs attached dispositions; the attached condition has three maturity-levels—child, youth, old—each producing a corresponding grade of spiritual fruition."}
Concept: Vairāgya is graded: complete non-attachment vs attachment with developmental stages; fruits correspond to inner maturity rather than mere external practice.
Application: Assess one’s attachment-level honestly; adopt practices that reduce saṃsakti (sense-clinging), moving from bāla to vṛddha maturity toward asaṃsakta orientation.
Khanda Section: Moksha-dharma / Yoga-Vairagya (Teachings on detachment for liberation)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A contemplative teaching scene: a sage instructs three aspirants symbolizing bāla (childlike), yuva (youthful), and vṛddha (aged) attachment-states, with one serene mumukṣu representing asaṃsakta detachment.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, seated guru under a stylized tree, four figures with distinct postures: restless childlike, active youth, weary elder, and calm detached seeker; muted sacred palette, iconic faces.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, guru with halo, gold-leaf accents on robes and teaching seat, three aspirants arranged symmetrically, the detached seeker centered with serene expression, ornate border.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, gentle expressions and fine detailing; didactic composition with subtle labels near each aspirant (bāla/yuva/vṛddha/asaṃsakta), calm interior āśrama setting.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined courtly-āśrama blend: sage teaching in a pavilion, three aspirants of different ages, delicate textiles, subdued contemplative mood."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तत्त्रिधा → तत् + त्रिधा (त्+त्र); वृद्धश् च → वृद्धः + च (विसर्ग-सन्धि).
Related Themes: Agni Purana mokṣa-dharma/yoga-vairāgya passages around 319.8-319.10; Agni Purana teachings on jñāna, vairāgya, and phala of sādhanā in mokṣa sections
FAQs
It gives a technical classification of vairāgya (detachment) for mumukṣus: true non-attachment (asaṃsakta) versus attachment that persists in graded forms (saṃsakta) described as bāla, yuvā, and vṛddha—useful for diagnosing one’s spiritual maturity.
Beyond rituals and worldly sciences, the Agni Purana also systematizes inner disciplines; here it catalogs psychological-spiritual states (degrees of attachment/detachment) as a structured doctrine, showing its coverage of mokṣa-śāstra alongside other fields.
It implies that results (phala-siddhi) follow according to one’s level of clinging: the more mature the detachment, the more fitting and higher the spiritual fruition, culminating in the liberating orientation of asaṃsakta non-attachment.