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313. (Q.) What is this Pramana (standard of measurement) ?
(Ans.) Pramana (standard of measurement) is of four kinds
(1) Dravya pramana (standard of physical measurement), (2) Kshetra pramana (standard of measurement of area), (3) Kaal pramana (standard of measurement of time), and (4) Bhaava pramana (standard of measurement of state).
Elaboration—The meaning of the word 'pramana' is means of knowledge or true knowledge. This is the popularly accepted meaning of pramana in the works of logic and philosophy. There, detailed discussion is available about four kinds of pramana, namely Pratyaksh (direct or evident reality), Anumaan (postulation), Upamaan (comparison) and Agam (scriptural). However, Agams are not just books of philosophy, they are the compendiums of all knowledge about fundamentals. Therefore here pramana has been used in its wider meaning. The commentator (Vrittı) says—“The standards and means and concepts of measuring and assessing and knowing full range of dimensions and attributes of a thing have all been included in the meaning of the term pramana." As long as a subject is not examined and discussed in the four contexts of Dravya (matter), Kshetra (area), Kaal (time) and Bhaava (state) it cannot become explicit. That is the reason these four ki pramana have been mentioned here and the subject of pramana has been discussed in these contexts. Dravya pramana includes the standard units of measurement of physical dimensions prevalent during that period. Kshetra pramana includes the standards of measurement of area including angul (breadth of human finger) and purush (length of the human body). Kaal pramana includes the units of time including samaya, ghatika, muhurt, palyopam and sagaropam. Bhaava pramana includes the philosophical and logical meanings of pramana, including pratyaksh (direct or evident reality) and anumaan (postulation). The discussion starts with Dravya pramana (standard of physical measurement). (क) द्रव्यप्रमाण
३१४. से कि तं दब्बप्पमाणे ? दव्यप्पमाणे दुविहे पण्णत्ते। तं जहा–१. पदेसनिष्फण्णे य, २. विभागनिष्फण्णे य।
सचित्र अनुयोगद्वार सूत्र-२
(52)
Illustrated Anuyogadvar Sutra-2
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