Karika 5: Perception, inference and testimony defined
The words
Translation
Direct perception is the definite cognition of an object by its own sense. Inference is said to be threefold, and it is preceded by [knowledge of] the relation between an inferential sign (liṅga) and that which bears the sign (liṅgi). Authoritative testimony is indeed the verbal [or written] statement of a reliable person (āpta) or the Vedic scriptures (śruti).
The three sources of knowledge
Perception is definite cognition by a sense and reaches the objects of the senses; inference goes from a sign to what bears it and reaches what lies beyond the senses; testimony is the word of a reliable person and reaches what even inference cannot (karikas 5 and 6).
Gold: what karika 5 adds; a gold outline marks what it speaks of. Tap any box to see what the karikas say about it.