Agni Purana — Chapter 381
AgP 381.1
:ए इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे गीतासारो नामाशीत्यधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः ॥ छप्तेर् {३८१} :श् अथैकाशीत्यधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः यमगीता अग्निर् उवाच यमगीतां प्रवक्ष्यामि उक्ता या नाचिकेतसे पठतां शृण्वतां भुक्त्यै मुक्त्यै मोक्षार्थिनां सतां
:e ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe gītāsāro nāmāśītyadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ || chapter {381} :ś athaikāśītyadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ yamagītā agnir uvāca yamagītāṃ pravakṣyāmi uktā yā nāciketase paṭhatāṃ śṛṇvatāṃ bhuktyai muktyai mokṣārthināṃ satāṃ
[Colophon: Thus, in the Agni Mahāpurāṇa, the three hundred and eightieth chapter, called 'The Essence of the Gītā'.] [Chapter 381] Now the three hundred and eighty-first chapter: the Song of Yama. Agni said: I shall proclaim the Song of Yama, which was spoken to Naciketas, for the enjoyment and the liberation of good men who recite and who listen, who seek release.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 381.2
यम उवाच आसनं शयनं यानपरिधानगृहादिकम् वाञ्छत्यहो ऽतिमोहेन सुस्थिरं स्वयमस्थिरः
yama uvāca āsanaṃ śayanaṃ yānaparidhānagṛhādikam vāñchatyaho 'timohena susthiraṃ svayamasthiraḥ
Yama said: Alas! Out of excessive delusion, one who is himself unstable longs for a firmly stable seat, bed, vehicle, garment, house and the rest.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 381.3
भोगेषु शक्तिः सततं तथैवात्मावलोकनं श्रेयः परं मनुष्यानां कपिलोद्गीतमेव हि
bhogeṣu śaktiḥ satataṃ tathaivātmāvalokanaṃ śreyaḥ paraṃ manuṣyānāṃ kapilodgītameva hi
Attachment in enjoyments constantly, and likewise the beholding of the self: (this is) the highest good of men — that indeed was what Kapila sang.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 381.4
सर्वत्र समदर्शित्वं निर्मसत्वमसङ्गता श्रेयः परम् मनुष्यानां गीतं पञ्चशिखेन हि
sarvatra samadarśitvaṃ nirmasatvamasaṅgatā śreyaḥ param manuṣyānāṃ gītaṃ pañcaśikhena hi
Seeing (all things) as equal everywhere, freedom from the sense of 'mine', non-attachment: (this is) the highest good of men — for it was sung by Pañcaśikha.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 381.5
आगर्भजन्मबाल्यादिवयो ऽवस्थादिवेदनं श्रेयः परं मनुष्याणाम् गङ्गाविष्णुप्रगीतकं
āgarbhajanmabālyādivayo 'vasthādivedanaṃ śreyaḥ paraṃ manuṣyāṇām gaṅgāviṣṇupragītakaṃ
The understanding of the stages of age and condition, beginning with conception, birth and childhood: (this is) the highest good of men — that was sung by Gaṅgā and Viṣṇu.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 381.6
आध्यात्मिकादिदुःखानामाद्यन्तादिप्रतिक्रिया श्रेयः परं मन्ष्याणां जनकोद्गीतमेव च
ādhyātmikādiduḥkhānāmādyantādipratikriyā śreyaḥ paraṃ manṣyāṇāṃ janakodgītameva ca
The counteraction of the beginning, the end and so forth of the sufferings that are bodily and the rest: (this is) the highest good of men — and that indeed was sung by Janaka.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 381.7
अभिन्नयोर्भेदकरः प्रत्ययो यः परात्मनः तच्छान्तिपरमं श्रेयो ब्रह्मोद्गीतमुदाहृतं
abhinnayorbhedakaraḥ pratyayo yaḥ parātmanaḥ tacchāntiparamaṃ śreyo brahmodgītamudāhṛtaṃ
The notion that makes a difference between the two that are not different, (the self) and the supreme Self — the stilling of that is the highest good: (so) has the song of Brahmā been declared.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 381.8
:प् ३५१ कर्तव्यमिति यत्कर्म ऋग्यजुःसामसंज्ञितं कुरुते श्रेयसे सङ्गान् जैगीषव्येण गीयते
:p 351 kartavyamiti yatkarma ṛgyajuḥsāmasaṃjñitaṃ kurute śreyase saṅgān jaigīṣavyeṇa gīyate
[p. 351] The action which he performs out of attachment, thinking 'it is to be done,' designated as Ṛg, Yajus and Sāman, for the sake of the good: (that) is sung by Jaigīṣavya.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 381.9
हानिः सर्वविधित्सानामात्मनः सुखहैतुकी श्रेयः परं मनुष्याणां देवलोद्गीतमीरितं
hāniḥ sarvavidhitsānāmātmanaḥ sukhahaitukī śreyaḥ paraṃ manuṣyāṇāṃ devalodgītamīritaṃ
The doing away with all the self's urges to act that have pleasure for their motive: (this is) the highest good of men — (so) has the song of Devala been proclaimed.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 381.10
कामत्यागात्तु विज्ञानं सुखं ब्रह्म परं पदं कामिनां न हि विज्ञानं सनकोद्गीतमेव तत्
kāmatyāgāttu vijñānaṃ sukhaṃ brahma paraṃ padaṃ kāmināṃ na hi vijñānaṃ sanakodgītameva tat
But from the abandonment of desire (comes) discernment, happiness, Brahman, the supreme state; for those full of desire there is no discernment — that indeed is the song of Sanaka.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 381.11
प्रवृत्तञ्च निवृत्तञ्च कार्यं कर्मपरो ऽब्रवीत् श्रेयसां श्रेय एतद्धि नैष्कर्म्यं ब्रह्म तद्धरिः
pravṛttañca nivṛttañca kāryaṃ karmaparo 'bravīt śreyasāṃ śreya etaddhi naiṣkarmyaṃ brahma taddhariḥ
The one devoted to action declared that what is to be done is both engaged and withdrawn; but this actionlessness is the good of goods: that Brahman is Hari.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 381.12
पुमांश्चाधिगतज्ञानो भेदं नाप्नोति सत्तमः ब्रह्मणा विष्णुसंज्ञेन परमेणाव्ययेन च
pumāṃścādhigatajñāno bhedaṃ nāpnoti sattamaḥ brahmaṇā viṣṇusaṃjñena parameṇāvyayena ca
And the man who has attained knowledge, the best of beings, comes to no difference from Brahman, who is named Viṣṇu, supreme and imperishable.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 381.13
ज्ञानं विज्ञानमास्तिक्यं सौभाग्यं रूपमुत्तमम् तपसा लभ्यते सर्वं मनसा यद्यदिच्छति
jñānaṃ vijñānamāstikyaṃ saubhāgyaṃ rūpamuttamam tapasā labhyate sarvaṃ manasā yadyadicchati
Knowledge, discernment, piety, good fortune, surpassing beauty — all is obtained by austerity, whatever one wishes for in the mind.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 381.14
नास्ति विष्णुसमन्ध्येयं तपो नानशनात्परं नास्त्यारोग्यसमं धन्यं नास्ति गङ्गासमा सरित्
nāsti viṣṇusamandhyeyaṃ tapo nānaśanātparaṃ nāstyārogyasamaṃ dhanyaṃ nāsti gaṅgāsamā sarit
There is no object of meditation equal to Viṣṇu, no austerity higher than fasting, nothing so blessed as health, no river equal to the Gaṅgā.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 381.15
न सो ऽस्ति बान्धवः कश्चिद्विष्णुं मुक्त्वा जगद्गुरुं अधश्चोर्धं हरिश्चाग्रे देहेन्द्रियमनोमुखे
na so 'sti bāndhavaḥ kaścidviṣṇuṃ muktvā jagadguruṃ adhaścordhaṃ hariścāgre dehendriyamanomukhe
There is no kinsman at all apart from Viṣṇu, the teacher of the world; Hari is below and above and in front, at the face of body, senses and mind.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 381.16
इत्येवं संस्मरन् प्राणान् यस्त्यजेत्स हरिर्भवेत् यत्तद् ब्रह्म यतः सर्वं यत्सर्वं तस्य संस्थितम्
ityevaṃ saṃsmaran prāṇān yastyajetsa harirbhavet yattad brahma yataḥ sarvaṃ yatsarvaṃ tasya saṃsthitam
He who, remembering thus, gives up his breaths becomes Hari — that which is brahman, from which all (arises), (and) that in which all abides.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 381.17
अग्राह्यकमनिर्देश्यं सुप्रतिष्ठञ्च यत्परं परापरस्वरूपेण विष्णुः सर्वहृदि स्थितः
agrāhyakamanirdeśyaṃ supratiṣṭhañca yatparaṃ parāparasvarūpeṇa viṣṇuḥ sarvahṛdi sthitaḥ
That which is ungraspable, indefinable, and well established, which is supreme — as that whose nature is both the higher and the lower, Viṣṇu abides in every heart.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 381.18
यज्ञेशं यज्ञपुरुषं केचिदिच्छन्ति तत्परं केचिद्विष्णुं हरं केचित् केचिद् ब्रह्माणमीश्वरं
yajñeśaṃ yajñapuruṣaṃ kecidicchanti tatparaṃ kecidviṣṇuṃ haraṃ kecit kecid brahmāṇamīśvaraṃ
Some hold the Lord of sacrifice, the Person of the sacrifice, to be that supreme (being); some (hold it to be) Viṣṇu, some Hara, some Brahmā the Lord.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 381.19
इन्द्रादिनामभिः केचित् सूर्यं सोमञ्च कालकम् :प् ३५२ ब्रह्मादिस्तम्भपर्यन्तं जगद्विष्णुं वदन्ति च
indrādināmabhiḥ kecit sūryaṃ somañca kālakam :p 352 brahmādistambhaparyantaṃ jagadviṣṇuṃ vadanti ca
Some (call him) by the names Indra and the rest, (some) the sun, the moon, and Time; and they call the world, from Brahmā down to a post, Viṣṇu.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 381.20
स विष्णुः परमं ब्रह्म यतो नावर्तते पुनः सुवर्णादिमहादानपुण्यतीर्थावगाहनैः
sa viṣṇuḥ paramaṃ brahma yato nāvartate punaḥ suvarṇādimahādānapuṇyatīrthāvagāhanaiḥ
That Viṣṇu is the supreme brahman, from which one does not return again; by great gifts of gold and the like, by bathing in holy fords,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 381.21
ध्यानैर् व्रतैः पूजया च धर्मश्रुत्या तदाप्नुयात् आत्मानं रथिनं विद्धि शरीरं रथमेव तु
dhyānair vrataiḥ pūjayā ca dharmaśrutyā tadāpnuyāt ātmānaṃ rathinaṃ viddhi śarīraṃ rathameva tu
by meditations, by vows, and by worship, and by hearing the dharma, one may attain that. Know the self to be the rider in the chariot, and the body to be simply the chariot.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 381.22
बुद्धिन्तु सारथिं विद्धि मनः प्रग्रहमेव च इन्द्रयाणि हयानाहुर्विषयांश्चेषुगोचरान्
buddhintu sārathiṃ viddhi manaḥ pragrahameva ca indrayāṇi hayānāhurviṣayāṃśceṣugocarān
Know the intellect to be the charioteer, and the mind to be the reins; they call the senses the horses, and the objects the ranges of their pasture.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 381.23
आत्मेन्द्रियमनोयुक्तं भोक्तेत्याहुर्मनीषिणः यस्त्वविज्ञानवान् भवत्ययुक्तेन मनसा सदा
ātmendriyamanoyuktaṃ bhoktetyāhurmanīṣiṇaḥ yastvavijñānavān bhavatyayuktena manasā sadā
The wise say that (the self) joined with senses and mind is the enjoyer. But he who is without discernment, with a mind always unyoked,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 381.24
न सत्पदमवाप्नोति संसारञ्चाधिगच्छति यस्तु विज्ञानवान् भवति युक्तेन मनसा सदा
na satpadamavāpnoti saṃsārañcādhigacchati yastu vijñānavān bhavati yuktena manasā sadā
does not reach the true state and goes on to (further) transmigration; but he who has discernment, with a mind always yoked,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 381.25
स तत्पदमवाप्नोति यस्माद्भूयो न जायते विज्ञानसारथिर्यस्तु मनःप्रग्रहवान्नरः
sa tatpadamavāpnoti yasmādbhūyo na jāyate vijñānasārathiryastu manaḥpragrahavānnaraḥ
attains that state from which he is not born again. The man who has discernment for his charioteer and holds the reins of the mind,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 381.26
सो ऽध्वानं परमाप्नोति तद्विष्णोः परमं पदम् इन्द्रियेभ्यः परा ह्य् अर्था अर्थेभ्यश् च परं मनः
so 'dhvānaṃ paramāpnoti tadviṣṇoḥ paramaṃ padam indriyebhyaḥ parā hy arthā arthebhyaś ca paraṃ manaḥ
he reaches the end of the road, that supreme state of Viṣṇu. Higher than the senses are the objects, and higher than the objects is the mind.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 381.27
मनसस्तु परा बुद्धिः बुद्धेरात्मा महान् परः महतः परमव्यक्तमव्यक्तात्पुरुषः परः
manasastu parā buddhiḥ buddherātmā mahān paraḥ mahataḥ paramavyaktamavyaktātpuruṣaḥ paraḥ
But higher than the mind is the intellect; higher than the intellect is the great self; higher than the great one is the unmanifest; higher than the unmanifest is the Person.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 381.28
पुरुषान्न परं किञ्चित् सा काष्ठा सा परा गतिः एषु सर्वेषु भूतेषु गूढात्मा न प्रकाशते
puruṣānna paraṃ kiñcit sā kāṣṭhā sā parā gatiḥ eṣu sarveṣu bhūteṣu gūḍhātmā na prakāśate
Higher than the Person there is nothing: that is the limit, that is the supreme goal. In all these beings the hidden self does not shine forth,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 381.29
दृश्यते त्वग्र्यया बुध्या सूक्ष्मया सूक्ष्मदर्शिभिः यच्छेद्वाङ्मनसी प्राज्ञः तद्यच्छेज्ज्ञानमात्मनि
dṛśyate tvagryayā budhyā sūkṣmayā sūkṣmadarśibhiḥ yacchedvāṅmanasī prājñaḥ tadyacchejjñānamātmani
but it is seen by a keen, subtle intellect by those who see the subtle. Let the wise man restrain speech in the mind, let him restrain that (mind) in knowledge (of) the self;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 381.30
ज्ञानमात्मनि महति नियच्छेच्छान्त आत्मनि ज्ञात्वा ब्रह्मात्मनोर्योगं यमाद्यैर् ब्रह्म सद्भवेत्
jñānamātmani mahati niyacchecchānta ātmani jñātvā brahmātmanoryogaṃ yamādyair brahma sadbhavet
let him restrain knowledge in the great self, (and that) in the tranquil self. Having known the union of brahman and the self, through the restraints and the rest one becomes brahman, the real.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 381.31
:प् ३५३ अहिंसा सत्यमस्तेयं ब्रह्मचर्यापरिग्रहौ यमाश् च नियमाः पञ्च शौचं सन्तोषसत्तपः
:p 353 ahiṃsā satyamasteyaṃ brahmacaryāparigrahau yamāś ca niyamāḥ pañca śaucaṃ santoṣasattapaḥ
Non-injury, truth, non-stealing, chastity and non-possession are the restraints (yama); and the five observances (niyama) are purity, contentment, good austerity,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 381.32
स्वाध्यायेश्वरपूजा च आसनं पद्मकादिकं प्राणायामो वायुजयः प्रत्याहारः स्वनिग्रहः
svādhyāyeśvarapūjā ca āsanaṃ padmakādikaṃ prāṇāyāmo vāyujayaḥ pratyāhāraḥ svanigrahaḥ
private recitation and worship of the Lord. Posture is the lotus and the rest; breath-control is the mastery of the wind; withdrawal is the restraint of oneself.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 381.33
शुभे ह्य् एकत्र विषये चेतसो यत् प्रधारणं निश् चलत्वात्तु धीमद्भिर्धारणा द्विज कथ्यते
śubhe hy ekatra viṣaye cetaso yat pradhāraṇaṃ niś calatvāttu dhīmadbhirdhāraṇā dvija kathyate
The holding of the mind upon one auspicious object—because of its immobility—is called concentration (dhāraṇā) by the wise, O twice-born.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 381.34
पौनःपुन्येन तत्रैव विषयेष्वेव धारणा ध्यानं स्मृतं समाधिस्तु अहं ब्रह्मात्मसंस्थितिः
paunaḥpunyena tatraiva viṣayeṣveva dhāraṇā dhyānaṃ smṛtaṃ samādhistu ahaṃ brahmātmasaṃsthitiḥ
Concentration on those same objects again and again is remembered as meditation (dhyāna); but absorption (samādhi) is the state of abiding as 'I am brahman, the self.'
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 381.35
घटध्वंसाद्यथाकाशमभिन्नं नभसा भवेत् मुक्तो जीवो ब्रह्मणैवं सद्ब्रह्म ब्रह्म वै भवेत्
ghaṭadhvaṃsādyathākāśamabhinnaṃ nabhasā bhavet mukto jīvo brahmaṇaivaṃ sadbrahma brahma vai bhavet
As, on the breaking of a pot, the space (within it) becomes undifferentiated from (open) sky, so the liberated living being (becomes one) with Brahman; being Brahman, it becomes Brahman indeed.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 381.36
आत्मानं मन्यते ब्रह्म जीवो ज्ञानेन नान्यथा जीवो ह्य् अज्ञानतत्कार्यमुक्तः स्यादजरामरः
ātmānaṃ manyate brahma jīvo jñānena nānyathā jīvo hy ajñānatatkāryamuktaḥ syādajarāmaraḥ
The living being knows itself to be Brahman through knowledge, not otherwise; for the living being, freed from ignorance and its effects, becomes ageless and deathless.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 381.37
अग्निर् उवाच वशिष्ठ यमगीतोक्ता पठतां भुक्तिमुक्तिदा आत्यन्तिको लयः प्रोक्तो वेदान्तब्रह्मधीमयः
agnir uvāca vaśiṣṭha yamagītoktā paṭhatāṃ bhuktimuktidā ātyantiko layaḥ prokto vedāntabrahmadhīmayaḥ
Agni said: Vasiṣṭha, the Song of Yama that has been spoken gives enjoyment and liberation to those who recite it; (thus) the final dissolution has been declared, consisting in the Vedāntic knowledge of Brahman.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition