Agni Purana — Chapter 373
AgP 373.1
:ए इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे आसनप्राणायामप्रत्याहारा नाम द्विसप्तत्यधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः छप्तेर् {३७३} :श् अथ त्रिसप्तत्यधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः ध्यानम् अग्निर् उवाच ध्यै चिन्तायां स्मृतो धातुर्विष्णुचिन्ता मुहूर्मुहुः अनाक्षिप्तेन मनसा ध्यानमित्यभिधीयते
:e ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe āsanaprāṇāyāmapratyāhārā nāma dvisaptatyadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ chapter {373} :ś atha trisaptatyadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ dhyānam agnir uvāca dhyai cintāyāṃ smṛto dhāturviṣṇucintā muhūrmuhuḥ anākṣiptena manasā dhyānamityabhidhīyate
Thus in the Āgneya Mahāpurāṇa the three hundred and seventy-second chapter, named 'Posture, Breath-control and Withdrawal (of the senses).' Chapter 373. Now the three hundred and seventy-third chapter: Meditation. Agni said: The verbal root dhyai is taught in the sense of 'thinking'; the thinking of Viṣṇu again and again, with a mind not drawn away (to other things), is what is called meditation.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 373.2
आत्मनः समनस्कस्य मुक्ताशेषोपधस्य च ब्रह्मचिन्तासमा शक्तिर्ध्यानं नाम तदुच्यते
ātmanaḥ samanaskasya muktāśeṣopadhasya ca brahmacintāsamā śaktirdhyānaṃ nāma taducyate
When the self is possessed of mind and released from all remaining adjuncts, that capacity which is nothing but the thinking of brahman — that is what is called meditation.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 373.3
ध्येयालम्बनसंस्थस्य सदृशप्रत्ययस्य च प्रत्यान्तरनिर्मुक्तः प्रत्ययो ध्यानमुच्यते
dhyeyālambanasaṃsthasya sadṛśapratyayasya ca pratyāntaranirmuktaḥ pratyayo dhyānamucyate
For one who stands fixed upon the object of meditation as his support and whose cognition is uniform, the cognition that is free of any intervening cognition is called meditation.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 373.4
ध्येयावस्थितचित्तस्य प्रदेशे यत्र कुत्रिचित् ध्यानमेतत्समुद्दिष्टं प्रत्ययस्यैकभावना
dhyeyāvasthitacittasya pradeśe yatra kutricit dhyānametatsamuddiṣṭaṃ pratyayasyaikabhāvanā
For one whose mind is settled on the object of meditation, in whatever place it may be — this is declared to be meditation: the single, sustained holding of one cognition.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 373.5
एवं ध्यानसमायुक्तः खदेहं यः परित्यजेत् कुलं स्वजनमित्राणि समुद्धृत्य हरिर्भवेत्
evaṃ dhyānasamāyuktaḥ khadehaṃ yaḥ parityajet kulaṃ svajanamitrāṇi samuddhṛtya harirbhavet
He who, thus joined to meditation, abandons his bodily (frame) into the sky, would become Hari, having lifted up his family, his kinsmen and friends.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 373.6
एवं मुहूर्तमर्धं वा ध्यायेद् यः श्रद्धया हरिं सोपि यां गतिमाप्नोति न तां सर्वैर् महामखैः
evaṃ muhūrtamardhaṃ vā dhyāyed yaḥ śraddhayā hariṃ sopi yāṃ gatimāpnoti na tāṃ sarvair mahāmakhaiḥ
He who thus meditates on Hari with faith for a muhūrta, or even half of one — even he attains a goal that is not attained by all the great sacrifices.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 373.7
:न् १ भोगनद्यभिवेशेनेति ञ॥ :प् ३२० ध्याता ध्यानं तथा ध्येयं यच्च ध्यानप्रयोजनं एतच्चतुष्टयं ज्ञात्वा योगं युञ्जीत तत्त्ववित्
:n 1 bhoganadyabhiveśeneti ña.. :p 320 dhyātā dhyānaṃ tathā dhyeyaṃ yacca dhyānaprayojanaṃ etaccatuṣṭayaṃ jñātvā yogaṃ yuñjīta tattvavit
[Note 1: 'bhoganadyabhiveśena' in ms. ña; page 320] The meditator, the meditation, likewise the object of meditation, and that which is the purpose of meditation: knowing these four, the knower of reality should practise yoga.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 373.8
योगाभ्यासाद्भवेन्मूक्तिरैश्वर्यञ्चाष्टधा महत् ज्ञानवैराग्यसम्पन्नः श्रद्दधानः क्षमान्वितः
yogābhyāsādbhavenmūktiraiśvaryañcāṣṭadhā mahat jñānavairāgyasampannaḥ śraddadhānaḥ kṣamānvitaḥ
From the practice of yoga come liberation and the great eightfold lordship. Endowed with knowledge and dispassion, full of faith, possessed of patience,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 373.9
विष्णुभक्तः सदोत्साही ध्यातेत्थं पुरुषः स्मृतः मूर्तामूर्तं परम्ब्रह्म हरेर्ध्यानं हि चिन्तनम्
viṣṇubhaktaḥ sadotsāhī dhyātetthaṃ puruṣaḥ smṛtaḥ mūrtāmūrtaṃ parambrahma harerdhyānaṃ hi cintanam
devoted to Viṣṇu, always energetic — such a man is taught to be the meditator. The supreme brahman, having form and formless, is Hari; meditation is indeed the thinking (of him).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 373.10
सकलो निष्कलो ज्ञेयः सर्वज्ञः परमो हरिः अणिमादिगुणैश्वर्यं मुक्तिर्ध्यानप्रयोजनम्
sakalo niṣkalo jñeyaḥ sarvajñaḥ paramo hariḥ aṇimādiguṇaiśvaryaṃ muktirdhyānaprayojanam
Hari, the supreme, the all-knowing, is to be known as with parts and without parts. The lordship consisting of the qualities beginning with aṇimā, and liberation, are the purpose of meditation.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 373.11
फलेन योजको विष्णुरतो ध्यायेत् परेश्वरं गच्छंस्तिष्ठन् स्वपन् जाग्रदुन्मिषन् निमिषन्नपि
phalena yojako viṣṇurato dhyāyet pareśvaraṃ gacchaṃstiṣṭhan svapan jāgradunmiṣan nimiṣannapi
Viṣṇu is the one who joins (the meditator) with the fruit; therefore one should meditate on the supreme Lord — while walking, standing, sleeping, waking, opening the eyes and even closing them.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 373.12
शुचिर्वाप्यशुचिर्वापि ध्यायेत् शततमीश्वरम् स्वदेहायतनस्यान्ते मनसि स्थाप्य केशवम्
śucirvāpyaśucirvāpi dhyāyet śatatamīśvaram svadehāyatanasyānte manasi sthāpya keśavam
Whether pure or impure, one should meditate on the Lord (constantly), placing Keśava in the mind at the innermost part of the temple that is one's own body.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 373.13
हृत्पद्मपीठिकामध्ये ध्यानयोगेन(१) पूजयेत् ध्यानयज्ञः परः शुद्धः सर्वदोषविवर्जितः
hṛtpadmapīṭhikāmadhye dhyānayogena(1) pūjayet dhyānayajñaḥ paraḥ śuddhaḥ sarvadoṣavivarjitaḥ
One should worship (him) by the discipline of meditation in the middle of the lotus-seat of the heart. The sacrifice of meditation is supreme, pure, free from every fault.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 373.14
तेनेष्ट्वा मुक्तिमाप्नोति वाह्यशुद्धैश् च नाध्वरैः हिंसादोषविमुक्तित्वाद्विशुद्धिश्चित्तसाधनः
teneṣṭvā muktimāpnoti vāhyaśuddhaiś ca nādhvaraiḥ hiṃsādoṣavimuktitvādviśuddhiścittasādhanaḥ
By sacrificing with that one attains liberation, and not by rites that are outwardly pure; since it is free from the fault of injury, its purity is accomplished by the mind (alone).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 373.15
ध्यानयज्ञः परस्तस्मादपवर्गफलप्रदः तस्माद्शुद्धं सन्त्यज्य ह्य् अनित्यं वाह्यसाधनं
dhyānayajñaḥ parastasmādapavargaphalapradaḥ tasmādśuddhaṃ santyajya hy anityaṃ vāhyasādhanaṃ
Therefore the sacrifice of meditation is higher, as it bestows the fruit of final release. Therefore, abandoning the impure and impermanent external means,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 373.16
यज्ञाद्यं कर्म सन्त्यज्य योगमत्यर्थमभ्यसेत् विकारमुक्तमव्यक्तं भोग्यभोगसमन्वितं
yajñādyaṃ karma santyajya yogamatyarthamabhyaset vikāramuktamavyaktaṃ bhogyabhogasamanvitaṃ
abandoning ritual action beginning with sacrifice, one should practise yoga most earnestly — (meditating on that which is) free of change, unmanifest, and joined with the enjoyer and the enjoyed.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 373.17
चिन्तयेद्धृदये पूर्वं क्रमादादौ गुणत्रयं तमः प्रच्छाद्य रजसा सत्त्वेन च्छादयेद्रजः
cintayeddhṛdaye pūrvaṃ kramādādau guṇatrayaṃ tamaḥ pracchādya rajasā sattvena cchādayedrajaḥ
He should first contemplate in the heart, in order, the three qualities beginning (with darkness): having covered darkness (tamas) with passion (rajas), he should cover passion with goodness (sattva).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 373.18
:न् १ ध्यानमार्गेणेति ख॥ , ज॥ च :प् ३२१ ध्यायेत्त्रिमण्डलं पूर्वं कृष्णं रक्तं सितं क्रमात् सत्त्वोपाधिगुणातीतः पुरुषः पञ्चविंशकः(१)
:n 1 dhyānamārgeṇeti kha.. , ja.. ca :p 321 dhyāyettrimaṇḍalaṃ pūrvaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ raktaṃ sitaṃ kramāt sattvopādhiguṇātītaḥ puruṣaḥ pañcaviṃśakaḥ(1)
[note: "dhyānamārgeṇa" in mss. kha and ja] [p. 321] He should first meditate on the three circles — black, red, and white, in order; beyond the qualities, with sattva as its (only) limiting adjunct, is the Person, the twenty-fifth (principle).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 373.19
ध्येयमेतदशुद्धञ्च त्यक्त्वा शुद्धं विचिन्तयेत् ऐश्वर्यं पङ्कजं दिव्यं पुरुशोपरि संस्थितं
dhyeyametadaśuddhañca tyaktvā śuddhaṃ vicintayet aiśvaryaṃ paṅkajaṃ divyaṃ puruśopari saṃsthitaṃ
This object of meditation is impure; abandoning it, he should contemplate the pure — the divine lotus of sovereignty (aiśvarya) situated above the Person.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 373.20
द्वादशाङ्गुलविस्तीर्णं शुद्धं विकशितं सितं नालमष्टाङ्णूलं तस्य नाभिकन्दसमुद्भवं
dvādaśāṅgulavistīrṇaṃ śuddhaṃ vikaśitaṃ sitaṃ nālamaṣṭāṅṇūlaṃ tasya nābhikandasamudbhavaṃ
(It is) twelve fingers wide, pure, fully opened, white; its stalk, eight fingers (long), arises from the bulb at the navel.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 373.21
पद्मपत्राष्टकं ज्ञेयमणिमादिगुणाष्टकम् कर्णिकाकेशरं नालं ज्ञानवैराग्यमुत्तमम्
padmapatrāṣṭakaṃ jñeyamaṇimādiguṇāṣṭakam karṇikākeśaraṃ nālaṃ jñānavairāgyamuttamam
The eight petals of the lotus are to be known as the eight qualities beginning with minuteness (aṇimā); the pericarp and filaments (and) stalk are the highest knowledge and dispassion.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 373.22
विष्णुधर्मश् च तत्कन्दमिति पद्मं विचिन्तयेत् तद्धर्मज्ञानवैराग्यं शिवैश्वर्यमयं परं
viṣṇudharmaś ca tatkandamiti padmaṃ vicintayet taddharmajñānavairāgyaṃ śivaiśvaryamayaṃ paraṃ
And its bulb is the dharma of Viṣṇu — thus he should contemplate the lotus, (which) consists of that dharma, knowledge, dispassion, and the supreme sovereignty of Śiva.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 373.23
ज्ञात्वा पद्मासनं सर्वं सर्वदुःखान्तमाप्नुयात् तत्पद्मकर्णिकामध्ये शुद्धदीपशिखाकृतिं(२)
jñātvā padmāsanaṃ sarvaṃ sarvaduḥkhāntamāpnuyāt tatpadmakarṇikāmadhye śuddhadīpaśikhākṛtiṃ(2)
Having known the whole lotus-seat, he would attain the end of all suffering. In the middle of the pericarp of that lotus, (there is) a form like the flame of a pure lamp,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 373.24
अङ्गुष्ठमात्रममलं ध्यायेदोङ्कारमीश्वरं कदम्बगोलकाकारं तारं रूपमिव स्थितं
aṅguṣṭhamātramamalaṃ dhyāyedoṅkāramīśvaraṃ kadambagolakākāraṃ tāraṃ rūpamiva sthitaṃ
only a thumb's length, spotless — he should meditate on Oṃ, the Lord, shaped like a kadamba ball, standing as it were a shining form.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 373.25
ध्यायेद्वा रश्मिजालेन दीप्यमानं समन्ततः प्रधानं पुरुषातीतं स्थितं पद्मस्थमीश्वरं
dhyāyedvā raśmijālena dīpyamānaṃ samantataḥ pradhānaṃ puruṣātītaṃ sthitaṃ padmasthamīśvaraṃ
Or he should meditate on the Lord, blazing all around with a net of rays, primordial, beyond the Person, seated on the lotus.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 373.26
ध्यायेज्जपेच्च सततमोङ्कारं परमक्षरं मनःस्थित्यर्थमिच्छान्ति स्थूलध्यानमनुक्रमात्
dhyāyejjapecca satatamoṅkāraṃ paramakṣaraṃ manaḥsthityarthamicchānti sthūladhyānamanukramāt
He should meditate on and constantly recite Oṃ, the supreme syllable; for the sake of steadying the mind they prescribe gross meditation in due order.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 373.27
तद्भूतं निश् चलीभूतं लभेत् सूक्ष्मे ऽपि संस्थितं नाभिकन्दे स्थितं नालं दशाङ्गुलसमायतं
tadbhūtaṃ niś calībhūtaṃ labhet sūkṣme 'pi saṃsthitaṃ nābhikande sthitaṃ nālaṃ daśāṅgulasamāyataṃ
When (the mind) has become that and become motionless, he attains (its) fixity in the subtle as well. In the bulb at the navel stands a stalk, ten fingers long;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 373.28
नालेनाष्टदलं पद्मं द्वादशाङ्गुलविस्तृतं :न् १ सत्त्वोपाधिसमायुक्तः सदा ध्येयश् च केशव इति ख॥ २ लब्धदीपशिखाकृतिमिति ख॥ , ञ॥ च :प् ३२२ सकर्णिके केसराले सूर्यसोमाग्निमण्डलं
nālenāṣṭadalaṃ padmaṃ dvādaśāṅgulavistṛtaṃ :n 1 sattvopādhisamāyuktaḥ sadā dhyeyaś ca keśava iti kha.. 2 labdhadīpaśikhākṛtimiti kha.. , ña.. ca :p 322 sakarṇike kesarāle sūryasomāgnimaṇḍalaṃ
by the stalk (rises) an eight-petalled lotus, twelve fingers wide, [notes and p. 322] with pericarp and filaments, (containing) the circles of sun, moon, and fire.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 373.29
अग्निमण्डलमध्यस्थः शङ्खचक्रगदाधरः पद्मी चतुर्भुजो विष्णुरथ वाष्टभुजो हरिः
agnimaṇḍalamadhyasthaḥ śaṅkhacakragadādharaḥ padmī caturbhujo viṣṇuratha vāṣṭabhujo hariḥ
Standing in the middle of the fire-circle is Viṣṇu, four-armed, bearing conch, discus, mace, and lotus; or else Hari with eight arms,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 373.30
शार्ङ्गाक्षवलयधरः पाशाङ्कुशधरः परः स्वर्णवर्णः श्वेतवर्णः सश्रोवत्सः सकौस्तुभः
śārṅgākṣavalayadharaḥ pāśāṅkuśadharaḥ paraḥ svarṇavarṇaḥ śvetavarṇaḥ saśrovatsaḥ sakaustubhaḥ
bearing the Śārṅga bow, a rosary, and a bracelet, bearing noose and goad, supreme, gold-coloured (or) white-coloured, with the Śrīvatsa mark and the Kaustubha (Kaustubha=Kaustubha gem),
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 373.31
वनमाली स्वर्णहारी स्फुरन्मकरकुण्डलः रत्नोज्ज्वलकिरीटश् च पीताम्बरधरो महान्
vanamālī svarṇahārī sphuranmakarakuṇḍalaḥ ratnojjvalakirīṭaś ca pītāmbaradharo mahān
wearing a forest-garland, wearing a golden necklace, with flashing makara earrings, with a diadem blazing with jewels, clad in yellow garments, great,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 373.32
सर्वाभरणभूषाढ्यो वितस्तर्वा यथेच्छया अहं ब्रह्म ज्योतिरात्मा वाउदेवो बिमुक्त ॐ
sarvābharaṇabhūṣāḍhyo vitastarvā yathecchayā ahaṃ brahma jyotirātmā vāudevo bimukta oṃ
rich with the adornment of all ornaments, (of the measure of) a span or according to (the meditator's) wish: "I am Brahman, the self that is light, Vāsudeva, wholly liberated. Oṃ."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 373.33
ध्यानाच्छ्रान्तो जपेन्मन्त्रं जपाच्छ्रान्तश् च चिन्तयेत् जपध्यानादियुक्तस्य विष्णुः शीघ्रं प्रसीदति
dhyānācchrānto japenmantraṃ japācchrāntaś ca cintayet japadhyānādiyuktasya viṣṇuḥ śīghraṃ prasīdati
Tired of meditation, he should recite the mantra; tired of recitation, he should contemplate. For one engaged in recitation, meditation, and the rest, Viṣṇu is quickly pleased.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 373.34
जपयज्ञस्य वै यज्ञाः कलां नार्हन्ति षोडशीं जपिनं नोपसर्पन्ति व्याधयश्चाधयो ग्रहाः भुक्तिर्मुर्क्तिर्मृत्युजयो जपेन प्राप्नुयात् फलं(१)
japayajñasya vai yajñāḥ kalāṃ nārhanti ṣoḍaśīṃ japinaṃ nopasarpanti vyādhayaścādhayo grahāḥ bhuktirmurktirmṛtyujayo japena prāpnuyāt phalaṃ(1)
Sacrifices are not worth a sixteenth part of the sacrifice of recitation. Diseases, mental afflictions, and (malefic) planets do not approach the reciter. Enjoyment, liberation, victory over death — by recitation one would obtain (this) fruit.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition