Yukti pramana

The Sanskrit word ‘Yukti’ means a rationally designed protocol to manage a condition or situation. ‘Yukti pramana’ is included as a source of valid knowledge in Ayurveda.[Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 11/17] It is the intellectual perception resulting from the analysis of varied causative factors. It represents the logical reasoning and interpretation constructed to gain knowledge regarding any phenomena. It is knowledge of pure intellect due to multifactorial, multi-dimensional thinking relevant in the past, present, and future. Yukti can also be understood as planning, applying, and executing knowledge using one's intellectual and reasoning abilities. It is the knowledge arising out of multiple things occurring or operating together. Hence, it provides a practical approach to the rest of the pramana, enhancing their utility. Some Ayurveda scholars and philosophers considered yukti ancillary to anumana pramana (inferential knowledge). It is compared to conjecture or probability (uha) and invariable concomitance (avinabhava) similar to vyapti (invariable relationship) of nyaya (nyaya philosophy).[Chakrapani on Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 11/25] This article describes the concept and practical applications of yukti pramana in medical science.

Contributors

Section/Chapter/topic	Concepts/Pramana/Yukti pramana
Authors	Bhojani M. K. 1, Joglekar A. A.2
Reviewer	Basisht G.3
Editors	Deole Y.S.4, Basisht G.3
Affiliations	1 Department of Sharira Kriya, All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi 2Department of Samhita Siddhant, All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi 3 Charak Samhita Research, Training and Development Centre, I.T.R.A., Jamnagar, India 4 Department of Kayachikitsa, G.J.Patel Institute of Ayurvedic Studies and Research, New Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat, India
Correspondence emails	meera.samhita@aiia.gov.in, carakasamhita@gmail.com
Date of first publication:	March 24, 2022
DOI	under process

Etymology and derivation

Yukti is derived from the verb ‘yuja’ meaning to connect, join, arrange, and prepare. [Monnier Williams dictionary definition of yukti] Yukti means union, junction, connection, combination, preparation, application, practice, trick, contrivance means, reasoning, arguments, induction or deduction from circumstances, intellectual weighing of circumstances.[Monnier Williams dictionary definition of yukti].

Definition of yukti

Yukti is the outcome of a combination of causative factors based on past, present, and future knowledge. It helps in the fulfillment of all the three aspects of human life i.e. duties (dharma), wealth (artha), and desires (kama). The following examples explain this method of acquiring knowledge.[Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 11/23-25]

1) Plant grows as a cumulative result of watering, plowing, sowing the seed in the field in an ideal season. These four factors are indispensable for the cultivation of any crop.

2) The fetus is formed after the union of factors like five fundamental elements (panchamahabhuta) and soul (atma).

3) The synergistic action of object, the churning rod and act of churning bring results in the thermogenic reaction or formation of heat or fire.

4) Treatment is successful when all the components like the physician, patient, paramedical staff and intervention act in synergy.

The role of yukti pramana in reincarnation is explained based on cause and effect theory (karyakarana bhava).[Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 11/32] Logical reasoning is essential to establish the link between the action and result.

Yukti is included in ten qualities (paradiguna) that are considered to be pivotal for excellence and success in treatment. It is rational planning of the treatment rendered. [Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 26/29-31]

Yukti is included under the heading of anumana pramana. It is not an actual source of knowledge but a way to proceed towards a source of knowledge. It involves foreseeing the cause-effect relationship and application of theory in a practical scenarios.[Cha.Sa.Vimana Sthana 8/40]

Yukti is imagination or prediction done in a proper or appropriate manner. However, intellectual cognition is similar to logical interpretation (uhya). It acts as an ally to other means of knowledge (pramana). It is homologous with inferential knowledge (anumana pramana), doubting its utility in gathering present knowledge.[Chakrapani on Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 11/25] Yukti is the correlation between two aspects and considers it as the initiation of treatment modality.[Chakrapani on Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 10/3] Yukti is implied as proper medication planning as per the state of dosha vitiation.[Chakrapani on Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 26/31]

Yukti is proper thinking or applying unknown factors after getting the complete knowledge of various elements in the manifestation of a known product.[Gangadhar on Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 11/25]

Yukti is defined as the process of assessing the knowledge regarding unknown phenomena using established principles of the cause-effect relationship. [Charakospaskara on Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 11]

 article under construction