Phala is a Sanskrit term that means "fruit" of one's actions in Hinduism and Buddhism. In Buddhism, the following types of phala are identified:
In Hinduism, the term phala is translated as fruition, results, effects.
In Hindu literature, a phalashruti is a meritorious verse that describes the benefits of listening to a given text and details its greatness.
The Yoga-Sûtra of Patañjali (verse 2.36) states:
A phalashruti is a verse at the end of a text which asserts the value of the text and the benefits of attending to it. It is a genre convention of Hindu literature, appearing at the end of a text or one of its constituent sections. Such a verse offers a description of the benefits that could be accrued by an adherent from the recitation or listening to a given text. It may also extol the prominence of a work, as well as provide the appropriate context for its perusal.
Within Buddhism, the term phala is used to refer to the fruition or results of actions according to the doctrine of karmic action and result.
The term phala is translated as:
The term Ariya phala is used to refer specifically to the fruition of following the Buddhist path. The fruition for each of the four levels of the path is identified as follows:
The term Maha-phala refers to the ten "Great fruits" of the contemplative life. According to the Samaññaphala Sutta, the 10 “Great fruits” (DN 2) are:
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