Knowledge

Veda
Veda is the sentence not produced by man. And that (Veda is) of five kinds owing to (its) division into ivix>
(injunction), sacrificial mÙ, name, prohibition and explanatory passage.

Knowledge, is the activity of the congniser which is inferred through the effect viz. cognisedness characterisng the
object cognized. Valid knowledge is in agreement with the real nature of the object, novel & not contradicted by a
sublating knowledge OR the direct experience of an object as distinguished from remembrance.

The Pramanas
There are five àma[ (sources of valid knowledge) viz. perception, inference, verbal testimony, %pman and
presumption. Some (followers of the Éa” school) consider AnupliBx = non-perception, as the sixth.

Perception
Perception is the knowledge arising when a sense-organ comes in contact with an object (Aalaecn or inivRkLp
knowledge), then the mind, based on based on past experience, interprets it giving it a name, class, quality, activity
etc. (sivkLp knowledge).

Inference
Inference is of two kinds - for one's own self And or convincing others. While the former may not require any
methods the latter involves - 1. àit}a = statement of the probandum 2. hetu = probans 3. †òaNt = example. k…
mairl further divides it into - a. àTy]tae†ò-sMbNx = where the invariable concomitance between two objects has
been directly perceived b. samaNytae†ò-sMbNx = where the invariable concomitance is seen in a general way.

%pman
%pman means the similarity of an object at the sight of a resembling object.

Verbal
Verbal testimony is the most important source of knowledge ( it justifies the supreme authority of the Veda as the
most authentic source of knowledge of dharma, which is eternal, absolute & supreme). It is the statement by a
reliable authority.
Postulation is the supposition of some unperceived fact to explain some otherwise inexplicable facts. For e.g. -
Devadatta, is observed to be fasting in the daytime but still growing fat, we have to presume his eat at night to
explain the contradictory facts of fasting at daytime and growing fat.

AnupliBx
The É” school believes in AnupliBx as a means of cognition as absence of something e.g. jar on the ground (which
is actually not there). The absence cannot be perceived through senses as there is nothing to be in contact with the
sense organs, neither is there an object of inference. According to àÉakr - the knowledge of absence arises through
perception of the mere location devoid of the object to be negated.

When the question of the comparative strength of àma[a arises, when two of them become àaÝ (available)
smvaye (simultaneously), one of them is baixt (stultified), and the other conveys the correct application….
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mIma<sa

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<to properly summarise the following>
- mIma<sa is the school of Indian philosophy
- The mIma<sk are primarily concerned with Vedic injunctions
- The sole purpose of mIma<sa is to ascertain xmR - through the Veda, i.e. the verbal testimony as the
only means of knowledge
- The ïuit is an independent sound direct statement, the first of the six means of proof.
- The word ïuit is a synonym of ved, This is due to the belief that the Veda was not composed the various
seers, with whose names it is connected, but was merely heard by them from mysterious source and in some
mysterious manner.
-

Dharma is a desirable AwR (matter or end), which is expounded or enjoined by the Veda & which has a definite
purpose. And it should not be vaCy (objected). The whole Veda expounds piety, as it possesses xmR as its purport.

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