An English Translation of the Sushruta Samhita, Vol. I: Sutrasthanam — trans. Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna (1907)

The doctrine of antidotes comes under the head of Kalpa of this treatise and Shah'am surgery is incidentally treated throughout the book. Thus these are the eight limbs divisions, of tne Science of Medicine proclaimed to the world by the original god. Those, who stU'ly them with due care and make use of the knowledge with caution, shall preserve the li\'es of men on this earth. It is imperatively necessary that the book should be read ; and after having read it one should attend to the practice (of the science . The physician who has learnt these both, is lit to be honoured by kings,

30 THE SUSHKUTA SAiMHlTA. f Chap. III.

Authoritative verses on the subject :— A ph^'sician, well versed in the principles of the science of medicine (Ayurveda), but unskilful in his art through want of practice, loses his wit at the bedside of his patient, just as, a coward is at his wit's end to determine what to do when for the first time he finds himself in the ranks of a contending army. On the other hand a physician, experienced in his art l)ut deficient in the knowledge of the Ayurveda, is condemned by all good men as a quack, and deserves capital punishment at the hands of the king. Both these classes of ph3^sicians are not to be trusted, because th}- are inexpert and half educated. Such men are incapable of discharging the duties of their vocation, just as a one-winged bird is incapable of taking flight in the air. Even a panacea or a medicine of ambrosial virtues administered b)' an unpractised or ignorant ph)^sician, will prove j^ositively baneful as a draught of poison, or a blow with a weapon, or a thunderbolt. A physician, ignorant of the science and art of surgery and emollient measures Sneha-karma , etc. is but a killer of men out of cupidity, and who is allowed to carry on his nefarious trade only through the inadvertence of the king. A physician well --ersed in the principles of surger}-, and experienced in the practice of medicine, is alone caj^able of curing distempers, just as only a two- wheeled cart can be of service in a field of battle.

Chap. III. SUTRASTHANAM.

p. 31

Now hear me, O child, describe the mode of st'adying the present science of the Ayurveda.) The pupil having worshipped and recited his daily prayers should calmly sit near his preceptor, pure in body and mind, who should teach him a full i^hloka or couplet of the Ayurveda), or a half or a quarter part thereof, adapted to his intellectual capacity. Then he should make a full and elaborate paraphrase of the recited couplet or any piwi thereof, and ask his pupils individually to do the same. When the pupils have paraphrased the same to the satisfaction of the preceptor, he should again recite the same stanza or couplet. The passages or shlokas should not be recited too hastily, nor drawled out in a timid or faltering voice, nor with a nasal intonation. The voice should be neither too loud, nor too weak, but each sound should be clearly and distinctly uttered, and the lips, the eyes, the eyebrows, and the hands, etc. should not be lifted or moved to keep time with the recitation. Xo one should be allowed to pass between the pupil and the preceptor at the time of study.

Authoritative verses on the subject : — A pupil who is pure, obedient to his preceptor, applies himself steadily to his work, and abandons laziness and excessive sleep, will arrive at the end of the science (he has been studying .

.\ student or a pupil, having 'finished tire course ol.

p. 32

THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. L Chap. III.

his studies, would do well to attend to the cultivation ol" fine speech and constant practice in the art he has learnt, and make unremitting efforts towards the attainment of perfection (in the art).

Thus ends the ihird Chapter uf the Siilraslhanani in the Sushrul.i Sanihila wliich deals with the Classification of tlie Ayurveda.

CHAPTER IV.