The perception of a universal through an individual that instantiates it is Nyaya's response to the problem of

Perceiving a universal through an instance is Nyaya's answer to the problem of induction.

Induction asks how a general law is reached from particular cases.

Nyaya holds that in perceiving one instance we also perceive the universal in it.

This samanya-lakshana perception grasps the class-character directly.

The invariable relation is thus known without surveying every case.

In this way the leap from particular to universal is secured.