Essay name: Tarkabhasa of Kesava Misra (study)
Author:
Nimisha Sarma
Affiliation: Gauhati University / Department of Sanskrit
This is an English study of the Tarkabhasa of Kesava Misra: a significant work of the syncretic Nyaya-Vaisesika school of Indian philosophy widely used as a beginner's textbook in southern India and has many commentaries. This study includes an extensive overview of the Nyaya and Vaisesika philosophy, epistemology and sources of valid knowledge. It further deals with the contents and commentaries of the Tarkabhasa.
Chapter 4 - Purvabhaga of Tarkabhasa: Contents
44 (of 73)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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131
both sapaksa and vipak峁 but exists only in the paksa, becomes the peculiar
strayer, as (in the syllogism) 鈥榚arth is eternal because it has smell the reason
smell does not exist in any sapak峁 or vipak峁, but exists only in earth (pak峁).
(iv) Prakara峁嘺sama - The counterbalanced or opposing reason is
that which is opposed by another reason which proves the existence of the
opposite of the proposed probandum. For example, sound is non eternal as it is
devoid of all qualities of eternal things. This is opposed by 'sound is eternal
because it is devoid of all qualities of eternal things.' This is also called
satpratipaksa one having an adversary.
(v) K膩l膩tyay膩padi峁ａ弓a - The stultified or belated reason. It occurs
when the opposite of the proposed probandum is known to exist in the subject
by any other more trust-worthy means of cognition. It is called badhita also.
For example, the syllogism, 'fire is not hot, because it is a product like water'.
Here, the probandum proposed to be proved by the reason 'being a product' is
鈥榓bsent of heat'. But its opposite 'presence of heat' in the subject is already
ascertained through perception, as heat is experienced through tactile
perception.
The Grounds of anum膩na
Vyapti and Pak峁dharmata are the grounds for the operation of
inference. Smoke is perceived on the hill and the fire is inferred. But inference
takes place only when the universal relation between smoke and fire is already
known. This relation is called vy膩pti,
106.
106.
between the middle and major term is
yatra yatra dhuma岣� tatra tatra agni岣� iti s膩hac膩ryaniyama岣� vy膩pti.
TS. 59.
