Agni Purana — Chapter 371
AgP 371.1
:ए इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे नरकनिरूपणं नाम सप्तत्यधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः छप्तेर् {३७१} :श् अथैकसप्तत्यधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः यमनियमाः अग्निर् उवाच संसारतापमुक्त्यर्थं वक्ष्याम्य् अष्टाङ्गयोगकं ब्रह्मप्रकाशकं ज्ञानं(१) योगस्तत्रैकचित्तता
:e ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe narakanirūpaṇaṃ nāma saptatyadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ chapter {371} :ś athaikasaptatyadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ yamaniyamāḥ agnir uvāca saṃsāratāpamuktyarthaṃ vakṣyāmy aṣṭāṅgayogakaṃ brahmaprakāśakaṃ jñānaṃ(1) yogastatraikacittatā
Thus, in the Āgneya Mahāpurāṇa, the three-hundred-and-seventieth chapter, called 'The Description of Hells'. Now the three-hundred-and-seventy-first chapter: the restraints and observances. Agni said: For the sake of release from the affliction of the round of rebirth I shall declare the eightfold yoga, the knowledge that reveals brahman. Therein yoga is one-pointedness of mind.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 371.2
चित्तवृत्तिर्निरोधश् च जीवब्रह्मात्मनोः परः अहिंसा सत्यमस्तेयं ब्रह्मचर्यापरिग्रहौ
cittavṛttirnirodhaś ca jīvabrahmātmanoḥ paraḥ ahiṃsā satyamasteyaṃ brahmacaryāparigrahau
And (yoga is) the restraint of the activity of the mind, the highest (union) of the individual self and brahman. Non-injury, truthfulness, not stealing, chastity, and non-possession—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 371.3
यमाः पञ्च स्मृता नियमाद्भुक्तिमुक्तिदाः शौचं सन्तोषतपसी स्वाध्यायेश्वरपूजने
yamāḥ pañca smṛtā niyamādbhuktimuktidāḥ śaucaṃ santoṣatapasī svādhyāyeśvarapūjane
—these five are held to be the restraints; from the observances come enjoyment and liberation: purity, contentment, austerity, private recitation, and the worship of the Lord.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 371.4
भूतापीडा ह्य् अहिंसा स्यादहिंसा धर्म उत्तमः यथा गजपदे ऽन्यानि(२) पदानि पथगामिनां(३)
bhūtāpīḍā hy ahiṃsā syādahiṃsā dharma uttamaḥ yathā gajapade 'nyāni(2) padāni pathagāmināṃ(3)
Non-injury is indeed the non-harming of living beings; non-injury is the highest law. Just as the other footprints of those who travel a road (are contained) in an elephant's footprint,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 371.5
एवं सर्वमहिंसायां धर्मार्थमभिधीयते उद्वेगजननं हिंसा सन्तापकरणन्तथा
evaṃ sarvamahiṃsāyāṃ dharmārthamabhidhīyate udvegajananaṃ hiṃsā santāpakaraṇantathā
so all (duty) is declared, for the sake of dharma, (to be included) in non-injury. Injury is the producing of agitation and likewise the causing of pain,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 371.6
रुक्कृतिः शोनितकृतिः पैशुन्यकरणन्तथा :न् १ ब्रह्मप्रकाशनं ज्ञानमिति ञ॥ २ यथा नागपदे ऽन्यानीति क॥ ३ पदगामिनामिति ख॥ , ज॥ च :प् ३१४ हितस्यातिनिषेधश् च मर्मोद्घाटनमेव च
rukkṛtiḥ śonitakṛtiḥ paiśunyakaraṇantathā :n 1 brahmaprakāśanaṃ jñānamiti ña.. 2 yathā nāgapade 'nyānīti ka.. 3 padagāmināmiti kha.. , ja.. ca :p 314 hitasyātiniṣedhaś ca marmodghāṭanameva ca
the causing of disease, the causing of bleeding, and likewise the practice of slander, the excessive withholding of what is beneficial, and the exposing of another's vulnerable point,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 371.7
सुखापह्नुतिः संरोधो बधो दशविथा च सा यद्भूतहितमत्यन्तं वचः सत्यस्य लक्षणं
sukhāpahnutiḥ saṃrodho badho daśavithā ca sā yadbhūtahitamatyantaṃ vacaḥ satyasya lakṣaṇaṃ
the denial of pleasure, confinement, and killing: that (injury) is of ten kinds. Speech that is entirely for the good of living beings is the mark of truth.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 371.8
सत्यं ब्रूयात्प्रियं ब्रूयान्न ब्रूयात्सत्यमप्रियं प्रियञ्च नानृतं ब्रूयादेष धर्मः सनातनः
satyaṃ brūyātpriyaṃ brūyānna brūyātsatyamapriyaṃ priyañca nānṛtaṃ brūyādeṣa dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ
One should speak the truth, one should speak what is agreeable; one should not speak an unpleasant truth, nor should one speak an agreeable falsehood: this is the eternal law.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 371.9
मैथुनस्य परित्यागो ब्रह्मचर्यन्तदष्टधा स्मरणं कीर्तनं केलिः प्रेक्ष्यणं गुह्यभाषणं
maithunasya parityāgo brahmacaryantadaṣṭadhā smaraṇaṃ kīrtanaṃ keliḥ prekṣyaṇaṃ guhyabhāṣaṇaṃ
Chastity is the complete abandonment of sexual intercourse; that (intercourse) is of eight kinds: recollecting, talking (of it), dallying, looking, speaking of secret matters,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 371.10
सङ्कल्पो ऽध्यवसायश् च क्रियानिर्वृत्तिरेव च एतन्मैथुनमष्टाङ्गं प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः
saṅkalpo 'dhyavasāyaś ca kriyānirvṛttireva ca etanmaithunamaṣṭāṅgaṃ pravadanti manīṣiṇaḥ
resolving, determining, and the actual accomplishment of the act: this eight-limbed intercourse the wise declare.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 371.11
ब्रह्मचर्यं क्रियामूलमन्यथा विफला क्रिया वसिष्ठश् चन्द्रमाः शुक्रो देवाचार्यः पितामहः
brahmacaryaṃ kriyāmūlamanyathā viphalā kriyā vasiṣṭhaś candramāḥ śukro devācāryaḥ pitāmahaḥ
Chastity is the root of ritual action; otherwise action is fruitless. Vasiṣṭha, the Moon, Śukra, the teacher of the gods, the Grandfather—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 371.12
तपोवृद्धा वयोवृद्धास्ते ऽपि स्त्रीभिर्विमोहिताः गौडी पैष्टी च माध्वी च विज्ञेयास्त्रिविधाः सुराः
tapovṛddhā vayovṛddhāste 'pi strībhirvimohitāḥ gauḍī paiṣṭī ca mādhvī ca vijñeyāstrividhāḥ surāḥ
grown great in austerity, advanced in years—even they were deluded by women. Liquors are to be known as of three kinds: that from molasses, that from flour, and that from honey.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 371.13
चतुर्थी स्त्री सुरा ज्ञेया ययेदं मोहितं जगत् माद्यति प्रमदां दृष्ट्वा सुरां पीत्वा तु माद्यति
caturthī strī surā jñeyā yayedaṃ mohitaṃ jagat mādyati pramadāṃ dṛṣṭvā surāṃ pītvā tu mādyati
Woman is to be known as the fourth liquor, by which this world is deluded. (A man) becomes intoxicated on seeing a woman, but (only) on drinking liquor does he become intoxicated (by it).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 371.14
यस्माद्दृष्टमदा नारी तस्मात्तान्नावलोकयेत् यद्वा तद्वापरद्रव्यमपहृत्य बलान्नरः
yasmāddṛṣṭamadā nārī tasmāttānnāvalokayet yadvā tadvāparadravyamapahṛtya balānnaraḥ
Since woman has been seen to be an intoxicant, therefore one should not look at them. Or again, a man who has taken by force another's property, whatever it be,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 371.15
अवश्यं याति तिर्यक्त्वं जग्ध्वा चैवाहुतं हविः कौपीनाच्छादनं वासः कन्थां शीतनिवारिणीं
avaśyaṃ yāti tiryaktvaṃ jagdhvā caivāhutaṃ haviḥ kaupīnācchādanaṃ vāsaḥ kanthāṃ śītanivāriṇīṃ
inevitably goes to the animal condition — and so too one who has eaten an oblation that was not offered. A garment that covers the loins, a rag that keeps off the cold,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 371.16
पादुके चापि गृह्णीयात् कुर्यान्नान्यस्य संग्रहं देहस्थितिनिमित्तस्य वस्त्रादेः स्यात्परिग्रहः
pāduke cāpi gṛhṇīyāt kuryānnānyasya saṃgrahaṃ dehasthitinimittasya vastrādeḥ syātparigrahaḥ
and also a pair of sandals he may take; he should make no accumulation of anything else. Possession of clothing and the like should be for the sake of maintaining the body.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 371.17
शरीरं धर्मसंयुक्तं रक्षणीयं प्रयत्नतः शौचन्तु द्विविधं प्रोक्तं वाह्यमभ्यन्तरं तथा
śarīraṃ dharmasaṃyuktaṃ rakṣaṇīyaṃ prayatnataḥ śaucantu dvividhaṃ proktaṃ vāhyamabhyantaraṃ tathā
The body, being joined to dharma, is to be protected with effort. Purity is declared to be twofold: external and likewise internal.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 371.18
:प् ३१५ गृज्जलाभ्यां स्मृतं वाह्यं भावशुद्धेरथान्तरं उभयेन शुचिर्यस्तु स शुचिर्नेतरः शुचिः
:p 315 gṛjjalābhyāṃ smṛtaṃ vāhyaṃ bhāvaśuddherathāntaraṃ ubhayena śuciryastu sa śucirnetaraḥ śuciḥ
The external is held to be by earth and water; the internal, then, from purity of disposition. He who is pure by both is pure; the other is not pure.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 371.19
यथा कथञ्चित्प्राप्त्या च सन्तोषस्तुष्टिरुच्यते मनसश्चेन्द्रियाणाञ्च ऐकाग्र्यं तप उच्यते
yathā kathañcitprāptyā ca santoṣastuṣṭirucyate manasaścendriyāṇāñca aikāgryaṃ tapa ucyate
Contentment is called satisfaction with what is obtained in whatever way; and one-pointedness of the mind and the senses is called austerity.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 371.20
तज्जयः सर्वधर्मेभ्यः स धर्मः पर उच्यते वाचिकं मन्त्रजप्यादि मानसं रागवर्जनं
tajjayaḥ sarvadharmebhyaḥ sa dharmaḥ para ucyate vācikaṃ mantrajapyādi mānasaṃ rāgavarjanaṃ
Victory over that (is greatest) among all duties: that is called the supreme dharma. Verbal (austerity) is the muttering of mantras and the like; mental is the abandoning of passion.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 371.21
शारीरं देवपूजादि सर्वदन्तु त्रिधा तपः प्रणवाद्यास्ततो वेदाः प्रणवे पर्यवस्थिताः
śārīraṃ devapūjādi sarvadantu tridhā tapaḥ praṇavādyāstato vedāḥ praṇave paryavasthitāḥ
Bodily (austerity) is worship of the gods and so forth; thus austerity in all is of three kinds. The Vedas have the praṇava at their beginning, and hence they come to rest in the praṇava.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 371.22
वाङ्मयः प्रणवः सर्वं तस्मात्प्रणवमभ्यसेत् अकारश् च तथोकारो मकारश्चार्धमात्रया
vāṅmayaḥ praṇavaḥ sarvaṃ tasmātpraṇavamabhyaset akāraś ca tathokāro makāraścārdhamātrayā
The praṇava is all that consists of speech; therefore one should practise the praṇava — the sound a, and likewise u, and m with the half-measure.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 371.23
तिस्रो मात्रास्त्रयो वेदाः लोका भूरादयो गुणाः जाग्रत्स्वप्नः सुषुप्तिश् च ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेश्वराः
tisro mātrāstrayo vedāḥ lokā bhūrādayo guṇāḥ jāgratsvapnaḥ suṣuptiś ca brahmaviṣṇumaheśvarāḥ
The three measures are the three Vedas, the worlds beginning with earth, the qualities, waking, dream and deep sleep, and Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvara,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 371.24
प्रद्युम्नः श्रीर्वासुदेवः सर्वमोङ्गारकः क्रमात् अमात्रो नष्टमात्रश् च द्वैतस्यापगमः शिवः
pradyumnaḥ śrīrvāsudevaḥ sarvamoṅgārakaḥ kramāt amātro naṣṭamātraś ca dvaitasyāpagamaḥ śivaḥ
and Pradyumna, Śrī and Vāsudeva: everything, in order, is the syllable oṃ. Without measure, with its measure dissolved, it is the ceasing of duality, it is Śiva.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 371.25
ओङ्कारो विदितो येन स मुनिर्नेतरो मुनिः चतुर्थी मात्रा गान्धारी प्रयुक्ता मूर्ध्निलक्ष्यते
oṅkāro vidito yena sa munirnetaro muniḥ caturthī mātrā gāndhārī prayuktā mūrdhnilakṣyate
He by whom oṃ is known is a sage; no other is a sage. The fourth measure, called gāndhārī, when employed is perceived in the head.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 371.26
तत्तुरीयं परं ब्रह्म ज्योतिर्दीपो घटे यथा तथा हृत्पद्मनिलयं ध्यायेन्नित्यं जपेन्नरः
tatturīyaṃ paraṃ brahma jyotirdīpo ghaṭe yathā tathā hṛtpadmanilayaṃ dhyāyennityaṃ japennaraḥ
That is the fourth, the supreme brahman, a light like a lamp within a jar; so let a man meditate upon (it) as dwelling in the lotus of the heart and recite (it) constantly.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 371.27
प्रणवो धनुः शरो ह्य् आत्मा ब्रह्म तल्लक्ष्यमुच्यते अप्रमत्तेन वेद्धव्यं शरवत्तन्मयो भवेत्
praṇavo dhanuḥ śaro hy ātmā brahma tallakṣyamucyate apramattena veddhavyaṃ śaravattanmayo bhavet
The praṇava is the bow, the self indeed the arrow, and brahman is said to be the target; it is to be pierced by one who is not heedless, and like the arrow he becomes one with it.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 371.28
एतेदेकाक्षरं ब्रह्म एतदेकाक्षरं परं देतदेकाक्षरं ज्ञात्वा यो यदिच्छति तस्य तत्
etedekākṣaraṃ brahma etadekākṣaraṃ paraṃ detadekākṣaraṃ jñātvā yo yadicchati tasya tat
This is the one-syllabled brahman, this one syllable is the supreme; having known this one syllable, whatever a man wishes, that is his.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 371.29
छन्दो ऽस्य देवी गायत्री अन्तर्यामी ऋषिः स्मृतः :प् ३१६ देवता परमात्मास्य नियोगो भुक्तिमुक्तये
chando 'sya devī gāyatrī antaryāmī ṛṣiḥ smṛtaḥ :p 316 devatā paramātmāsya niyogo bhuktimuktaye
Its metre is the goddess Gāyatrī, the seer is held to be the Inner Controller, its deity is the Supreme Self, and its application is for enjoyment and liberation.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 371.30
भूरग्न्यात्मने हृदयं भुवः प्राजापत्यात्मने शिरः स्वःसूर्यात्मने च शिखा कवचमुच्यते
bhūragnyātmane hṛdayaṃ bhuvaḥ prājāpatyātmane śiraḥ svaḥsūryātmane ca śikhā kavacamucyate
'bhūḥ, to the fire-self' — the heart; 'bhuvaḥ, to the Prajāpati-self' — the head; 'svaḥ, to the sun-self' — the tuft; (and next) the cuirass is stated.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 371.31
ॐभूर्भुवः स्वःकवचं सत्यात्मने ततो ऽस्त्रकं विन्यस्य पूजयेद्विष्णुं जपेद्वै भुक्तिमुक्तये
oṃbhūrbhuvaḥ svaḥkavacaṃ satyātmane tato 'strakaṃ vinyasya pūjayedviṣṇuṃ japedvai bhuktimuktaye
'oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ' is the armour; then, 'to the truth-self', the weapon. Having placed these, one should worship Viṣṇu and recite for enjoyment and liberation.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 371.32
जुहुयाच्च तिलाज्यादि सर्वं सम्पद्यते नरे यस्तु द्वादशसाहस्रं जपमन्वहमाचरेत्
juhuyācca tilājyādi sarvaṃ sampadyate nare yastu dvādaśasāhasraṃ japamanvahamācaret
And he should offer sesame, ghee and the rest; everything comes to pass for the man. He who performs twelve thousand recitations day by day —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 371.33
तस्य द्वादशभिर्मासैः परं ब्रह्म प्रकाशते अनिमादि कोटिजप्याल्लक्षात्सारस्वतादिकं
tasya dvādaśabhirmāsaiḥ paraṃ brahma prakāśate animādi koṭijapyāllakṣātsārasvatādikaṃ
for him, in twelve months, the supreme brahman shines forth; from a crore of recitations, (the powers) beginning with minuteness; from a lakh, eloquence and the like.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 371.34
वैदिकस्तान्त्रिको मिश्रो विष्णार्वै त्रिविधो मखः त्रयानामीप्सितेनैकविधिना हरिमर्चयेत्
vaidikastāntriko miśro viṣṇārvai trividho makhaḥ trayānāmīpsitenaikavidhinā harimarcayet
The sacrifice to Viṣṇu is of three kinds: Vedic, Tantric, and mixed. By whichever one of the three procedures is desired, one should worship Hari.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 371.35
प्रणम्य दण्डवद्भूमौ नमस्कारेण यो ऽर्चयेत् स याङ्गतिमवाप्नोति न तां क्रतुशतैर् अपि
praṇamya daṇḍavadbhūmau namaskāreṇa yo 'rcayet sa yāṅgatimavāpnoti na tāṃ kratuśatair api
Whoever, having bowed to the ground like a staff, worships (Him) with an act of homage—the goal he attains is not attained even by hundreds of sacrifices.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 371.36
यस्य देवे परा भक्तिर्यथा देवे तथा गुरौ तस्यैते कथिता ह्य् अर्थाः प्रकाशन्ते महात्मनः
yasya deve parā bhaktiryathā deve tathā gurau tasyaite kathitā hy arthāḥ prakāśante mahātmanaḥ
For that great-souled one who has supreme devotion to God, and as to God so to his teacher, these matters that have been declared become manifest.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition