Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 24
Chapter 378: Brahma-jñāna
Knowledge of Brahman
विचार्य स्वात्मनः शक्त्या लौहमाकर्षको यथा आत्मप्रयत्नसापेक्षा विशिष्टा या मनोगतिः
vicārya svātmanaḥ śaktyā lauhamākarṣako yathā ātmaprayatnasāpekṣā viśiṣṭā yā manogatiḥ
正如磁石凭自身固有之力吸引铁一般，心之特异趋向亦依赖于个人的自我用功与努力。
Lord Agni (teaching as narrator of practical spiritual disciplines)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Yoga","practical_application":"Use the magnet-iron analogy to cultivate self-effort (atma-prayatna) and confidence in inner capacity (shakti) for directing the mind.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Magnet Analogy for Mind’s Movement and Self-Effort","lookup_keywords":["lauha-akarsaka","atma-shakti","atma-prayatna","mano-gati","vichara"],"quick_summary":"As a magnet draws iron by its own power, the mind’s refined movement toward the goal depends on one’s inner power activated through deliberate effort."}
Alamkara Type: Drishtanta
Concept: Mano-gati becomes effective when supported by atma-prayatna; inner shakti is the operative cause like a magnet’s pull.
Application: When attention scatters, reassert intentional effort: set a clear object of contemplation, return repeatedly, and treat lapses as cues to strengthen resolve rather than as failure.
Khanda Section: Yoga & Adhyatma (Mind, effort, and inner power)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teacher illustrates the mind’s directed movement using a magnet drawing iron filings, symbolizing inner power guided by personal effort.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, guru and disciple in a simple ashrama, stylized magnet and iron pieces shown as symbolic motifs, warm earthy pigments, calm didactic mood, minimal background with palm trees","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central guru holding a small magnet-like emblem, iron filings arranged in a lotus pattern moving toward it, gold-leaf accents on the emblem and halo, rich decorative borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic clarity: magnet on one side, iron filings moving in arcs, parallel depiction of a seated meditator with mind-stream lines converging, fine linework and soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholarly setting with instruments on a low table, a magnet attracting iron needles, attentive student taking notes, delicate textiles and architectural niche backdrop"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: लौहम् + आकर्षकः → लौहमाकर्षकः; आत्मप्रयत्नसापेक्षा (आत्म + प्रयत्न + सापेक्षा); मनोगतिः (मनस् + गतिः)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 378.23 (withdrawal from objects); Agni Purana 378.25 (samadhi and brahma-prapti)
FAQs
It teaches a practical yogic principle: refined mental movement (manogati) is not automatic—it requires deliberate self-effort (ātma-prayatna), illustrated through the magnet-and-iron analogy.
Beyond ritual and mythology, it preserves applied inner-discipline knowledge—Puranic psychology and yoga—showing the text’s coverage of both external rites and internal methods of self-mastery.
It emphasizes personal responsibility in spiritual progress: karmic and meditative refinement arises through sustained self-application, not merely through passive belief or circumstance.