Sagarika is never seen reading any Mathematics book during the day time. Yet she scored 98% marks in Mathematics. Therefore she must be studying during the night. "Which of following means of knowledge is used in this argument?

There are so many things that we know indirectly, without the direct aid of the senses. Such means of valid knowledge are classified into six broad groups. These are called Pramanas. Pramanas are valid means of knowledge.

These six means of knowing are 

1. Direct Perception by Sense Contact (Pratyaksa)
2. Inference by Previous Experience (Anumana)
3. Verbal Testimony of the Vedas (Sabda)
4. Knowing by Example (Upamana)
5. Conjecture from Insignificant Information (Arthapatti)
6. Absence of a Thing (Anupalabdhi).

Sagarika is never seen reading any Mathematics book during the daytime. Yet she scored 98% marks in Mathematics. Therefore she must be studying during the night. It is an example of Arthapatti (Implication).

Key Points

• Arthapatti is a Sanskrit term meaning "presumption" or "implication."
• In the yogic philosophy of the Advaita Vedanta system and the Bhatta school of Purva-Mimamsa, it is said to be one of the six pranamas, or means of obtaining knowledge.
• Arthapatti refers to the way in which knowledge is derived from a set of circumstances.
• It is analogous in contemporary logic to the concept of circumstantial implication.
• It generally requires an observation of fact(s) and postulation based on such fact(s) to arrive at the information.

Additional Information

• Pratyaksha - Perception - Acquiring knowledge from experience
• Anumana - Inference - Gaining right knowledge from logical conclusion
• Upamana - Comparison - Learning by observing similarities
• Arthapatti - Postulation - Supposition of a fact to support a well-established fact
• Anupalabdhi - Non-apprehension - Understanding non-existence by non-perception
• Sabda - Verbal testimony - Gaining authentic knowledge from spoken and written words