lakṣaṇam asādhāraṇo dharmaḥ
lakṣaṇam asādhāraṇo dharmaḥ |
(Artha-ratnālpa-dīpikā on Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu: 1.1.10)
“A lakṣaṇa is an exceptional characteristic.”
Lakṣaṇas
uddiṣṭasya tattva-vyavacchedako dharmo lakṣaṇam
uddiṣṭasya tattva-vyavacchedako dharmo lakṣaṇam |
(Vātsyāyana’s Nyāya-bhāṣya on Nyāya-sūtra: 1.1.3)
“A characteristic distinguishing of the nature of a stated object [from the nature of all other objects] is [called] a lakṣaṇa.”
svarūpa-lakṣaṇa āra taṭastha-lakṣaṇa
svarūpa-lakṣaṇa āra taṭastha-lakṣaṇa |
ei dui lakṣaṇera vastu jāne muni-gaṇa ||
ākṛti prakṛti ei—svarūpa-lakṣaṇa |
kārya-dvārāya jñāna ei—taṭastha-lakṣaṇa ||
(Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta: 2.20.353–354)
“Intrinsic characteristics and extrinsic characteristics—the sages understand an object by means of these two [types of] characteristics. Figure and nature—these are intrinsic characteristics (svarūpa-lakṣaṇas). That which is known through an effect [of the object to be defined]—this is an extrinsic characteristic (taṭastha-lakṣaṇa).”
liṅgyate jñāyate’neneti liṅgaṁ cihnam ity arthaḥ
liṅgyate jñāyate’neneti liṅgaṁ cihnam ity arthaḥ | tac ca liṅgam īśvara-paribhāṣito dharma iti tasya svabhāva-siddhatā | tataś ca liṅgānāṁ prakṛti-vācyatvam eva nyāyatvam |
(Amṛta-ṭīkā on Hari-nāmāmṛta-vyākaraṇa: 924)
“That by which something is indicated, that is, known, is a liṅga, that is, a characteristic. This is the meaning. Furthermore, its [i.e., a liṅga’s] establishment in the nature [of an object, i.e., its being innate in an object] is because a liṅga is a quality assigned by Īśvara. Thus also, nature being that which is to be expressed by liṅgas is indeed appropriate.”
mānādhīnā meya-siddhir māna-siddhis tu lakṣaṇāt
mānādhīnā meya-siddhir māna-siddhis tu lakṣaṇāt |
(Cited in Mādhavācārya’s Jaiminīya-nyāya-mālā-vistara: 1.1.37)
“Establishment of an object of knowledge (meya—prameya) is dependent on a [valid] means of knowing (māna—pramāṇa), and establishment of a means of knowing (māna—pramāṇa) is based on a defining characteristic (lakṣaṇa) [i.e., it is by perception of the defining characteristic(s) of an object that its can presence can be determined].”
tad-abhinnatve sati tad-bodhakatvaṁ svarūpa-lakṣaṇatvam
tad-abhinnatve sati tad-bodhakatvaṁ svarūpa-lakṣaṇatvam |
(Siddhānta-ratna: 8.2)
“Being non-distinct from it [i.e., an object to be defined] and an indicator of it is the nature of a svarūpa-lakṣaṇa (intrinsic characteristic).”
tad-bhinnatve sati tad-bodhakatvaṁ taṭastha-lakṣaṇatvam
tad-bhinnatve sati tad-bodhakatvaṁ taṭastha-lakṣaṇatvam |
(Siddhānta-ratna: 8.2)
“Being distinct from it [i.e., an object to be defined] and an indicator of it is the nature of a taṭastha-lakṣaṇa (extrinsic characteristic).”
vyāvṛttir vyavahāro vā lakṣaṇasya prayojanam
vyāvṛttir vyavahāro vā lakṣaṇasya prayojanam |
(Tarka-dīpikā; Amṛta-ṭīkā on Hari-nāmāṛta-vyākaraṇa: 45)
“The purpose of a characteristic (lakṣaṇa) is differentiation [of the object possessing the characteristic from other objects] and [determining the practical] usage [of the object].”
lakṣyate jñāyate’neneti lakṣaṇam
lakṣyate jñāyate’neneti lakṣaṇam |
(Amṛta-ṭīkā on Hari-nāmāṛta-vyākaraṇa: 45)
“That by which something is defined [alt., characterized, recognized, indicated] and known is a lakṣaṇa.”
lakṣaṇa-pramāṇābhyāṁ vastu-siddhiḥ
lakṣaṇa-pramāṇābhyāṁ vastu-siddhiḥ, na tu kevala-pratijñā-mātreṇa |
(Unknown Source)
“Determination of an object arises from characteristics (lakṣaṇa) and a means of valid cognition (pramāṇa), not merely by an assertion.”