Mystery and Excellence on The Human Body - Insights From Indian Wisdom

Insights from Indian Wisdom

सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः ।
सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु मा कश्चिद् दुःखभाग्भवेत् ।।

May all be Happy. May all be free from diseases.
May all experience the Bliss.
Let none partake of any suffering.

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सत्त्वमात्मा शरीरं च त्रयमेतत् त्रिदण्डवत्
लोकस्तिष्ठति संयोगात् तत्र सर्व प्रतिष्ठितम्

The mind, the soul and the body — the three constitute  the three poles (supporting the human structure). It is  their combination that maintains the living beings.  Everything depends en them for its subsistence.

Charakasamhita

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समदोषः समाग्निश्च समधातुमलकियः ।
प्रसन्नात्मेन्द्रियमनाः स्वस्थ इत्यभिधीयते । ।
                         सुश्रुतसंहिता

He alone can be considered to be healthy whose dosas,  power of digestion, and functioning of dhatus and  malas are in a state of equilibrium and whose soul,

mind and senses as well as organs are free from morbidities.

Sushrutasamhita

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धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणामारोग्यं मूलमुत्तमम् ।
रोगास्तस्यापहर्त्तारः श्रेयसो जीवितस्य च ।।
                                चरकसंहिता

Good health is the very root of all the Purusharthas  (motives of effort): dharma (righteousness), artha  (wealth), kama (desire for enjoyment) and moksha (liberation). The diseases cause damage not only to them  (Purusharthas) but also to the well-being and the very  life (of human beings).

Charakasamhita

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तदेवं युक्तं भैषज्यं यदारोग्याय कल्पते ।
स चैव भिषजां श्रेष्ठो रोगेभ्यो यः प्रमोचयेत् ।।
                                चरकसंहिता

That alone can be considered to be a medicine which  brings about good health. That alone can be considered  a physician par excellence who can alleviate a patient's  suffering.

Charakasamhita

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यथा विषं यथा शस्त्रं यथाऽग्निरशनिर्यथा ।
तथौषधमविज्ञातं विज्ञातममृतं यथा ।।
                      चरकसंहिता

A medicine not well identified is as dangerous as a poison, or as a deadly weapon or as fire or as thunderbolt. The medicine well identified (with regard to its name, form and its efficaciousness, etc.) is as efficacious as nectar.

Charakasamhita

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योगादपि विपं तीक्ष्णमुत्तमं भेषजं भवेत् ।
भेषजं चापि दुर्युक्तं तीक्ष्णं सम्पद्यते विषम् ।।
                                             चरकसंहिता

Even a pungent poisonous drug, if properly (processed  and) applied becomes a medicament par excellence.  Even an efficacious medicine can take shape of a poisonous drug if not properly (processed and) applied.

Charakasamhita

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उपचारज्ञता दाक्ष्यं मनोरागश्च भर्त्तरि ।
शौचं चेति चतुष्कोऽयं गुणः परिचरे जने । ।
                            चरकसंहिता

A person attending on patients is endowed with four fold virtues: acquaintance with the line of treatment, the  requisite skill (for timely action), emotional regard for  (the well being of) patients, and purity (cleanliness).

Charakasamhita

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स्निग्धोऽजुगुप्सुर्बलवान् युक्तो व्याधितरक्षणे ।
वैद्यवाक्यकृदश्रान्तः पादः परिचरः स्मृतः ।।
                         सुश्रुतसंहिता

A person attending upon (surgical) patients should have  a sense of love free from scornful disposition towards  patients; the requisite strength and expertise in alleviating the ailments; should have regard for the instructions  of physician; should have an untiring zeal to serve  patients.

Sushrutasamhita

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अनुरक्तः शुचिर्दक्षो
बुद्धिमान् परिचारकः
              अष्टाङ्गहृदय

A person attending on patients should be lovingly vigilant, pure (clean), skilful, and wise.

Ashtangahridaya

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भिषग् बुभूषुर्मतिमानतः स्वगुणसम्पदि ।
परं प्रयत्नमातिष्ठेत् प्राणदः स्याद् यथा नृणाम् ।।
                               चरकसंहिता

One desirous of being a physician — the wise person,  should make an earnest effort to attain expertise (in the  science of life) so that he could become a bestower of  life to human beings.

Charakasamhita

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अष्टादश पुराणेषु व्यासस्य वचनद्वयम् ।
परोपकारः पुण्याय पापाय परपीडनम् ।।

All the observations made by the sage Vyasa in all the eighteen Puranas may be-summed up in the two statements: to do  good to others is a virtuous act and to afflict others is a  vicious one.