nirapekṣam iti svārthaparicchedaṃ prati pramāṇāntaraṃ nāpekṣata ity arthaḥ / tat svārthe pramite niścite tūttarakālamanumānād iti pramāṇaiḥ pramīyate /
"Independent" means that it does not depend on another means of cognition with respect to the apprehension of its own object. When its object has been cognized [and] ascertained, then at a later time it [itself] is cognized through inference and other means of cognition.