Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 23
Chapter 238 — राजधर्माः (Rājadharmāḥ) | Duties of Kings
प्रत्यक्षतो विजानीयाद् भद्रतां क्षुद्रतामपि फलानुमेयाः सर्वत्र परोक्षगुणवृत्तयः
pratyakṣato vijānīyād bhadratāṃ kṣudratāmapi phalānumeyāḥ sarvatra parokṣaguṇavṛttayaḥ
ຄວນຮູ້ແຈ້ງໂດຍກົງຈາກສິ່ງທີ່ປາກົດ ທັງຄວາມດີເລີດ ແລະ ຄວາມຕ່ຳຕ້ອຍ; ເພາະທຸກແຫ່ງ ການເຄື່ອນໄຫວອັນລຶກລັບຂອງຄຸນລັກສະນະ ພຶງອະນຸມານໄດ້ຈາກຜົນທີ່ເກີດຂຶ້ນ।
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purāṇa’s standard frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"A critical method for literary and ethical evaluation: infer hidden qualities (paroksha-guna-vritti) from observable outcomes (phala), while also judging manifest excellence/inferiority directly.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Phala-anumana: Inferring Latent Qualities from Results","lookup_keywords":["pratyaksha","anumana","phala","guna-vritti","bhadrata"],"quick_summary":"Judge what is evident directly, and infer what is hidden by its effects. In poetry and conduct alike, the true working of qualities is known through results."}
Concept: Pramana-viveka: pratyaksha (direct cognition) and anumana (inference) as tools to know overt and covert qualities.
Application: In judging a poem, a person, or a policy, look at outcomes (coherence, impact, stability, benefit) to infer underlying competence or defects.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Kavya–Alankara & literary theory)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A learned critic examining a poem and a deed: one judged by direct features, another by its results—scales balancing 'pratyaksha' and 'anumana'.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, scholar in a traditional hall holding palm-leaf manuscript, two panels: visible traits (bright lamp) and inferred traits (shadow leading to fruit), symbolic scales, earthy reds and greens.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, seated acharya with manuscript and stylus, gold-embossed scales labeled pratyaksha/anumana, fruits representing phala, ornate border.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic diagram-like scene: arrows from 'phala' to 'guna-vritti', scholar pointing, clean composition and delicate shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly literary salon with poets, a critic indicating outcomes of verses on listeners’ faces, refined detailing of books and carpets."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Sandhi: kṣudratāmapi→kṣudratām api; phalānumeyāḥ→phala-anumeyāḥ; parokṣaguṇavṛttayaḥ→parokṣa-guṇa-vṛttayaḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Sahitya-shastra portions on guna/dosha and kavya-pariksha (contextual)
FAQs
It teaches an epistemic rule used in śāstra (especially poetics): hidden qualities (guṇas) are judged by observable outcomes (phala), combining direct observation (pratyakṣa) with inference (anumāna).
Beyond myth and ritual, it preserves methodological principles of classical learning—how to evaluate merit/defect and infer unseen properties—showing the Purāṇa’s coverage of literary theory and knowledge-systems.
It supports discernment (viveka): judging actions, speech, and character by their fruits, encouraging ethical choice and avoidance of inferior conduct whose results reveal its hidden defects.