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Introduction
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things, and the Saptabhangi, literally, the seven-fold or seven-branched system of predication, enables us to sum up the results of investigation, without departing from the strict rules of Logic. To understand the basic principles of this method, it is necessary to understand the nature of predication first of all.
Predication is the statement of our conclusions in respect of things. Of all kinds of possible judgments, the affirmative and the negative are necessary for the description of things when the truth is known with certainty, since they affirm or deny the existence of a property or quality in reference to them. So far there is no difficulty involved in predication, but things assume a very different aspect when comprehensiveness of thought is aimed at, for then the results of enquiry from different standpoints have to be incorporated in one and the same judgment and at one and the same time. The greatest confusion is likely to result from the summation of affirmative and negative conclusions in one and the same judgment, unless there be a method of logical predication to avoid inconsistency of thought. To avoid this possibility of confusion, the Ācāryas have laid down seven different types of predication which cover all possible cases of simple as well as complex judgments. Each of these predications begins with word syāt, (literally somehow, hence, from a particular standpoint, or in a certain manner), to avoid denying the other possible aspects. These seven kinds of predications are:
1) syādasti (exists). 2) syānnāsti (does not exist). 3) syādasti nāsti (affirmation of existence from
one point and of non-existence from another).
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