The cause of surface tension/capillary motion (abhisarpana) was unknown and unseen (adrsta, literally- unseen cause) but the ancients were fully aware of the phenomenon. Sankara Misra (circa AD 1500) gave two examples in his
Upaskara :

1. The ascent of sap from root to stem, and
2. The ability of liquids to penetrate porous vessels.

SOURCES :

The Cultural Heritage of India
Editors - Priyadaranjan Ray & S.N. Sen
Publishers - The Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture

History of Science & Technology in India
Editors - G. Kuppuram & K. Kumudamami
Publishers - Sundeep Prakashan

Concise Encyclopedia of Science and Technology
Publishers - McGraw-Hill.

Masters of the Millennium - 100 Indians who shaped the century
Publishers - The Sunday Observer (special edition).

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