Types of Inference Purvavat Sesavat – UGC NET Question

Pūrvavat anumāna moves from a known cause to an effect that is yet to occur, often in temporal sequence. Observing dark monsoon clouds as a recognised cause, one infers the upcoming effect of rainfall. This aligns with the purvavat pattern where the cause is presently perceived, and the future effect is inferred based on established causal regularity.

Option A:
Option A fits the form of reasoning from present cause (clouds) to future effect (rain), which is exactly what pūrvavat anumāna describes.

Option B:
Option B, śeṣavat, reasons from an observed effect back to an unperceived cause, as in inferring fire from seen smoke.

Option C:
Option C, sāmānyatodṛṣṭa, involves inferences based on general association without clear one-sided cause–effect, such as inferring motion from changing location.

Option D:
Option D, kevalavyatireki, is a type of anumāna based only on negative concomitance, not the forward causal inference in the example.