Arthapatti (Postulation or Implication)

Definition: presumption of a fact to explain another fact that would otherwise be inexplicable. The governing principle is anyathanupapatti (otherwise inexplicability).

Classic example: Devadatta is fat but does not eat during the day; hence he eats at night. The fact to be explained is the upapadya; the postulate is the upapadaka.

• Drishtarthapatti: based on a perceived fact (the fat Devadatta; a wet road implies rain).

• Shrutarthapatti: based on a heard statement ("Devadatta is alive and not at home" implies he is elsewhere).

Mimamsakas postulate apurva to explain how a sacrifice yields its fruit later.

Position of schools: accepted as independent by Prabhakara, Bhatta Mimamsa and Advaita Vedanta. Nyaya, Vaisheshika and Buddhism reduce it to anumana (specifically to a kevalavyatireki inference). Charvaka rejects it.

Arthapatti versus anumana: anumana rests on vyapti; arthapatti rests on the inconsistency of a known fact unless something is assumed.