Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 12
Yati-dharma
The Dharma of the Renunciate Ascetic
फलं कतकवृक्षस्य यद्यप्यम्बुप्रसादकं न नामग्रहणादेव तस्य वारि प्रसीदति
phalaṃ katakavṛkṣasya yadyapyambuprasādakaṃ na nāmagrahaṇādeva tasya vāri prasīdati
ಕಟಕವೃಕ್ಷದ ಫಲವು ನೀರನ್ನು ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟಗೊಳಿಸುವುದಾದರೂ, ಕೇವಲ ಅದರ ಹೆಸರನ್ನು ಉಚ್ಚರಿಸಿದ ಮಾತ್ರಕ್ಕೆ ನೀರು ಶುದ್ಧವಾಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ।
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narration to Vasiṣṭha; didactic instruction)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Didactic reasoning: efficacy requires correct means and application, not mere verbalism; used to critique empty ritual/name-only practice.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Kaṭaka-Phala Nyāya (Name vs Efficacy)","lookup_keywords":["kaṭaka","ambu-prasādana","nyāya","nāma-grahaṇa","upamā"],"quick_summary":"Uses the kaṭaka fruit (water-clarifier) to show that results come from proper application, not from merely uttering names or concepts."}
Alamkara Type: Dṛṣṭānta (didactic example)
Concept: Right means (upāya) and actual practice are necessary for results; mere verbal designation (nāma) is not causally efficacious by itself.
Application: In ritual, ethics, study, or meditation: do the practice (kriyā), not just recite labels; verify outcomes by appropriate action.
Khanda Section: Niti-shastra / Subhashita (Didactic maxims; illustrative analogies on efficacy and right means)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: hasya
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vessel of muddy water beside kaṭaka fruit/seeds; one person merely chanting the name while another actually uses the fruit to clarify the water, showing the contrast.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: two figures by a riverbank—one reciting with raised hand, the other rubbing kaṭaka seed in a pot; water turning clear; bold outlines, earthy palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: ornate pot with gold highlights; kaṭaka fruit depicted prominently; split-scene showing ‘name-only’ vs ‘applied remedy’; rich decorative border.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clean instructional illustration of water clarification steps using kaṭaka, with a small inset of the ‘mere name’ fallacy; soft colors, precise detailing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: domestic courtyard with servants and scholars; detailed glassy water transformation in a bowl; subtle humor in the name-chanter’s ineffectiveness."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Khamaj","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यद्यप्यम्बुप्रसादकम् = यद्यपि + अम्बुप्रसादकम्; नामग्रहणादेव = नामग्रहणात् + एव.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Nīti/Subhāṣita-style maxims (near 161.10–161.11)
FAQs
A practical principle of efficacy: purification (here, water-clarification by kaṭaka seed/fruit) occurs through proper application, not by mere verbal mention—an analogy often used to stress correct method and actual practice.
It blends everyday applied knowledge (traditional water clarification using kaṭaka) with moral-philosophical instruction, showing how the Agni Purana teaches across domains—practical life, ethics, and disciplined practice—through concise maxims.
It emphasizes that spiritual benefit and purification arise from genuine practice and right action (karma), not from empty recitation or nominal association—encouraging sincerity and method in religious and ethical life.