Agni Purana

यमाः पञ्च स्मृता विप्र नियमाद्‌भुक्तिमुक्तिदाः । शौचं सन्तोषतपसी स्वाध्यायेश्वरपूजने ।। ३७२.

These five are called yamas, O wise one; observance of them brings enjoyment and liberation. Purity, contentment, austerity, study, and worship of God are the niyamas.

भूतापीड़ा ह्यहिंसा स्यादहिंसा धर्म्म उत्तमः । यथा गजपदेऽन्यानि पदानि पथगामिनां ।। ३७२.

Non-violence is the highest virtue, for it prevents harm to beings; just as the footprints of the elephant cover those of other animals on the path.

एवं सर्वमहिंसायां धर्म्मार्थमभिधीयते । उद्वेगजननं हिंसा सन्तापकरणन्तथा ।। ३७२.

In the same way, all virtues are encompassed by non-violence; violence causes distress and suffering.

रुक्कृतिः शोनितकृतिः पैशुन्यकरणन्तथा । हितस्यातिनिषेधश्च मर्मोद्‌घाटनमेव च ।। ३७२.

Violence includes striking, causing bloodshed, slander, excessive prohibition of what is beneficial, and injuring vital parts.

सुखापह्नुतिः संरोधो बधो दशविधा च सा । यद्‌भूतहितमत्यन्तं वचः सत्यस्य लक्षणं ।। ३७२.

Concealing happiness, obstructing, binding—these are ten forms of violence. Speaking what is truly beneficial to beings is the mark of truth.

सत्यं ब्रूयात्प्रियं ब्रूयान्न ब्रूयात्सत्यमप्रियं । प्रियञ्च नानृतं ब्रूयादेष धर्म्मः सनातनः ।। ३७२.

One should speak the truth and speak what is pleasant, but not speak unpleasant truth; nor should one speak pleasant falsehood—this is the eternal law.

मैथुनस्य परित्यागो ब्रह्मचर्य्यन्तदष्टधा । स्मरणां कीर्त्तनं केलिः प्रेक्षणं गुह्यभाषणं ।। ३७२.

Abstaining from sexual intercourse is called brahmacharya, which is eightfold: remembering, praising, playing, looking, speaking secretly—

सङ्कल्पोऽध्यवसायश्च क्रियानिर्वृत्तिरेव च । एतन्मैथुनमष्टाङ्गं प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः ।। ३७२.

Intention, determination, and the completion of action—these are declared by the wise to be the eightfold components of sexual union.

ब्रह्मचर्य्यं क्रियामूलमन्यथा विफला क्रिया । वसिष्ठञ्चन्द्रमाः शुक्रो देवाचार्य्यः पितामहः ।। ३७२.

Celibacy is the root of action; otherwise, action is fruitless. Vasiṣṭha, the moon, Śukra, the divine teacher, and the grandfather (Brahmā)—

तपोवृद्धा वयोवृद्धास्तेऽपि स्त्रीभिर्विमोहिताः । गौड़ी पैष्टी च माध्वी च विज्ञेयास्त्रिविधाः सुराः ।। ३७२.

Even those advanced in austerity and age have been deluded by women. Gaurī, Paiṣṭī, and Mādhvī are to be known as the three kinds of liquor.

चतुर्थी स्त्री सुरा ज्ञेया ययेदं मोहितं जगत् । माद्यति प्रमदां दृष्ट्वा सुरां पीत्वा तु माद्याति ।। ३७२.

The fourth is woman, known as liquor, by which this world is deluded. One becomes intoxicated upon seeing a woman, and intoxicated upon drinking liquor.

यस्माद्‌दृष्टमदा नारी तस्मात्तान्नावलोकयेत् । यद्वा तद्वाऽपरद्रव्यमपहृत्य बलान्नरः ।। ३७२.

Therefore, one should not gaze upon a woman who causes intoxication by sight. Or, having taken another's property by force, a man—

अवश्यं याति तिर्य्यक्त्वं जगध्वा चैवाहुतं हविः । कौपीनाच्छादनं वासः कन्था शीतनिवारिणीं ।। ३७२.

Inevitably attains animal birth, and the offering poured into the fire is also lost. A loincloth, a garment, a rag, or something to ward off cold—

पादुके चापि गृह्णीयात् कुर्य्यान्नान्यस्य संग्रहं । देहस्थितिनिमित्तस्य वस्त्रादेः स्यात्परिग्रहः ।। ३७२.

He may take sandals as well, but should not accept anything else. The acquisition of clothing and such is permitted only for bodily maintenance.

शरीरं धर्म्मसंयुक्तं रक्षणीयं प्रयत्नतः । शौचन्तु द्विविधं प्रोक्तं वाह्यमभ्यन्तरं तथा ।। ३७२.

The body, joined with righteousness, must be carefully protected. Purity is said to be twofold: external and internal.

मृज्जलाभ्यां स्मृतं वाह्यं भावशुद्धेरथान्तरं । उभयेन् शुचिर्यस्तु स शुचिर्नेतरः शुचिः ।। ३७२.

External purity is remembered as achieved by earth and water; internal, by purity of mind. He who is pure in both is pure; one who is not, is not pure.

यथा कथञ्चित्प्राप्त्या च सन्तोषस्तुष्टिरुच्यते । मनसश्येन्द्रियाणाञ्च ऐकाग्र्यं तप उच्यते ।। ३७२.

Contentment is called satisfaction when something is obtained by any means. Concentration of mind and senses is called austerity.

तज्जयः सर्वधर्म्मेभ्यः स धर्म्मः पर उच्यते । वाचिकं मन्त्रजप्यादि मानसं रागवर्ज्जनं ।। ३७२.

Mastery of that is superior to all duties; it is called the highest duty. Verbal austerity is recitation of mantras and the like; mental is the avoidance of passion.

शारीरं देवपूजादि सर्वदन्तु त्रिधा तपः । प्रणवाद्यास्ततो वेदाः प्रणवे पर्यवस्थिताः ।। ३७२.

Physical austerity is worship of the gods and so forth; thus, austerity is threefold. The Vedas arise from the syllable Om; they are established in Om.

वाङ्‌मयः प्रणवः सर्वं तस्मात्प्रणवमभ्यसेत् । अकारश्च तथोकारो मकारश्चार्द्धमात्रया ।। ३७२.

Om is entirely verbal; therefore, one should practice Om. The letter 'a', then 'u', and 'm', together with the half-measure—

तिस्रो मात्रास्त्रयो वेदाः लोका भूरादयो गुणाः । जाग्रत् स्वप्नः सुषुप्तिश्च ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेश्वराः ।। ३७२.

Three measures, three Vedas, the worlds beginning with Bhū, and the qualities; waking, dreaming, and deep sleep; Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Maheśvara—

प्रद्युम्नः श्रीर्वासुदेवः सर्वमोङ्कारकः क्रमात् । अमात्रो नष्टमात्रश्च द्वैतस्यापगमः शिवः ।। ३७२.

Pradyumna, Śrī, Vāsudeva—all are sequentially associated with Om. The measureless, the vanished measure, is the dissolution of duality—Śiva.

ओङ्कारो विदितो येन स मुनिर्नेतरो मुनिः । चतुर्थी मात्रा गान्धारी प्रयुक्ता मूर्ध्निलक्ष्यते ।। ३७२.

He who knows Om is a sage; none other is a sage. The fourth measure, Gāndhārī, when applied, is perceived at the crown of the head.

तत्तुरीयं परं ब्रह्म ज्योतिर्दीपो घटे यथा । तथा हृत्पद्मनिलयं ध्यायेन्नित्यं जपेन्नरः ।। ३७२.

That fourth, the transcendent Brahman, is like a lamp's light in a pot. Thus, one should always meditate and recite upon the lotus of the heart.

प्रणवो धनुः शरो ह्यात्मा ब्रह्म तल्लक्ष्यमुच्यते । अप्रमत्तेन वेद्धव्यं शरवत्तन्मयो भवेत् ।। ३७२.

Om is the bow, the self is the arrow, and Brahman is said to be the target. One must strike it unerringly; like an arrow, one should become wholly that.

एतदेकाक्षरं ब्रह्म एतदेकाक्षरं परं । एतदेकाक्षरं ज्ञात्वा यो यदिच्छति तस्य तत् ।। ३७२.

This single syllable is Brahman; this single syllable is supreme. Knowing this single syllable, whatever one desires, that is attained.

छन्दोऽस्य देवी गायत्री अन्तर्य्यामी ऋषिः स्मृतः । देवता परमात्मास्य नियोगो भुक्तिमुक्तये ।। ३७२.

Its meter is the divine Gāyatrī; the seer is remembered as the indwelling sage. The deity is the Supreme Self; its purpose is for enjoyment and liberation.

भूरगन्यात्मने हृदयं भुवः प्राजापत्यात्मने । शिरः स्वः सूर्य्यात्मने च शिखा कवचमुच्यते ।। ३७२.

For the soul associated with Bhū, the heart; for the soul associated with Bhuvaḥ, the head; for the soul associated with Svaḥ, the crest; these are called the armor.

ओंभूर्भुवः स्वः कवचं सत्यात्मने ततोऽस्त्रकं । विन्यस्य पूजयेद्विष्णुं जपेद्वै भुक्तिमुक्तये ।। ३७२.

Om Bhūḥ Bhuvaḥ Svaḥ is the armor for the soul of truth; then the missile. Having placed these, one should worship Viṣṇu and recite for enjoyment and liberation.