Drstanta illustrative example role – UGC NET Question

Drstanta is the illustrative example that concretely shows the relation between hetu and sadhya in a well-known case. By citing a kitchen where smoke and fire regularly co-occur, the arguer helps the audience grasp the vyapti. This example supports acceptance of the inferential step in the particular case at issue. Thus the familiar instance mentioned in the stem is called drstanta.

Option A:
Option A is correct because drstanta literally means "seen instance" and functions as the example in Nyaya's five-membered inference. It plays a pedagogical role in making the abstract relation vivid.

Option B:
Option B, udaharana, in Nyaya often refers to the combined statement of general rule and example; while related, the stem focuses specifically on the concrete instance, which is drstanta.

Option C:
Option C, upanaya, applies the rule established via drstanta to the paksha, linking the general relation to the specific subject, and so is a different step.

Option D:
Option D, nigamana, is the concluding restatement of the thesis and does not itself provide illustrative examples.