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SENSORY AND MENTAL COMPREHENSION
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without fire, although I sometimes saw fire without smoke; because here is smoke, therefore, here must be fire. In short, our reasoning derives the conclusion that whatever is a case of smoke is invariably the product exclusively of fire. Take another example. A burnt child dreads fire. His fear is based on reasoning. 'Fire once burnt me; what I see before me is fire; therefore, it will burn me again if I put my hand into it.' This is a simple instance to show how the process of reasoning begins and arrives at a definite conclusion. Thus, reasoning is a synthesis of different judgments in the form of premises and a conclusion in the shape of inferential judgments. The former, i.e., the form of premises is called inductive reasoning and the latter, i.e., the form of inferential conclusions is called deductive reasoning. Thus, reasoning takes two main forms: induction and deduction. Induction is that form of reasoning in which we draw a general conclusion from particular cases. In deduction, on the contrary, we draw particular conclusion from general premises. Induction and deduction, really speaking, are not absolutely distinct processes but only two steps in the selfsame process of reasoning. This unitary process consists in passing from the particular through the general to the particular again. The Jaina admits both these forms.
We have, now, discussed the first variety of sensory and mental comprehension, viz., non-verbal comprehension (mati-jñāna). Now, we come to the problem of verbal or scriptural comprehension (śruta-jñāna) which comes next in order. The mind and the auditory sense are the chief organs that give rise to verbal comprehension. Bearing this fact in mind we propose to discuss the nature of verbal comprehension.
III
VERBAL COMPREHENSION As non-verbal comprehension is essentially conditioned by the destruction-cum-subsidence of mati-jñānāvarana karma, so also verbal or scriptural comprehension is necessarily conditioned by that of śruta-jñānāvarana karma. Verbal comprehension is the knowledge derived from the reading or hearing of words of trustworthy persons. The knowledge embodied in scriptures, i.e., in
