Nyāya approaches truth through the lens of valid cognition, treating it as a precise alignment between knowledge and reality. A cognition counts as true when it corresponds to the actual nature of its object, when it is “in accordance with the object” rather than shaped by illusion, doubt, or mere memory. In this sense, truth is not a vague feeling or inner conviction, but a specific kind of knowledge that accurately reflects the real state of affairs. Such knowledge is often described as *pramā*, valid cognition, and its defining mark is this correspondence with what truly is.

At the same time, Nyāya does not leave truth in the realm of abstract correspondence alone; it also looks to the arena of lived action. A cognition that is genuinely true shows its worth by guiding effective practice and leading to successful activity. When knowledge, grounded in reality, reliably produces the expected results in engagement with the world, its truth is confirmed. This practical efficacy does not replace correspondence but serves as its visible sign, revealing that the cognition has indeed latched onto things as they are.

Nyāya further holds that such truth-bearing cognitions arise through specific, reliable means of knowing, called *pramāṇas*. These include direct perception, inference, comparison or analogy, and trustworthy verbal testimony. When these means function properly, they generate cognitions that both correspond to reality and support successful action. In this way, truth in the Nyāya vision is at once objective, epistemically disciplined, and pragmatically verified, uniting accurate representation with the capacity to orient life in a dependable and meaningful way.