Indian Philosophy v2.c24.s19.21

v2.c24.s19.21

Padārtha means literally the meaning of a word. A padārtha is an object which can be thought (artha) and named (pada). All things which exist, which can be cognised and named,¹ in short, all objects of experience,² and not merely the things of the physical world, are padārthas. The sixteen padārthas of the Nyāya are not an analysis of existing things, but are a list of the central topics of the logical science. But the categories of the Vaiśeṣika attempt a complete analysis of the objects of knowledge.