Nyaya, one of the six orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy, is a logical and epistemology-focused path to truth. In Nyaya, truth is defined as the correspondence between a statement and its corresponding object or fact. This means that for a statement to be considered true, it must accurately represent the reality it is referring to.

According to Nyaya, there are four means of valid knowledge, known as pramanas, through which one can attain true knowledge. These are perception (pratyaksha), inference (anumana), comparison (upamana), and verbal testimony (shabda). Each of these pramanas has specific criteria that must be met in order for the knowledge obtained through them to be considered true.

Perception, the most direct means of knowledge, is defined as the apprehension of an object through the senses. In Nyaya, perception is considered reliable as long as the senses are functioning properly and the object is within the range of perception. For example, if one sees a red apple, they can be sure that the apple is indeed red, as long as their eyesight is not impaired.

Inference, on the other hand, is a means of knowledge that relies on logical reasoning. It involves arriving at a conclusion based on a set of premises. In Nyaya, inference is considered valid when the premises are true, the reasoning is sound, and the conclusion is in accordance with the premises. For instance, if one sees smoke rising from a mountain and knows that smoke is caused by fire, they can infer that there is a fire on the mountain.

Comparison, also known as analogy, is a means of knowledge that involves recognizing similarities between two objects. In Nyaya, comparison is considered valid when the two objects being compared have a common property and the property is known to exist in one of the objects. For example, if someone has never seen a tiger but has seen a cat, they can understand the nature of a tiger by comparing it to a cat.

Lastly, verbal testimony refers to the knowledge obtained through the words of a reliable source. In Nyaya, verbal testimony is considered valid when the source is trustworthy, has firsthand knowledge of the subject, and is free from any bias or error. For instance, if a renowned scientist makes a statement about a scientific discovery, it can be considered true due to their expertise and credibility.

In conclusion, Nyaya defines truth as the correspondence between a statement and its corresponding object or fact. This definition is supported by the four means of valid knowledge – perception, inference, comparison, and verbal testimony – which have specific criteria for determining the truthfulness of a statement. By relying on these pramanas, one can attain true knowledge and ultimately reach the path to truth in Nyaya philosophy.