Anumāna

Anumāna is knowledge obtained through inference — when, from a perceived sign (liṅga), one deduces something not perceived. The classic example: I see smoke on the mountain (sign), I infer there is fire (inferred). Anumāna depends on an invariable relation (vyāpti) between the sign and the inferred. Useful for worldly knowledge, but insufficient for knowing Brahman, which has no perceptible signs.