Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

In this Lesson has been laid down the tale of four requisites in the matter of treatment. Each of those requisites has four qualifications. Among those requisites, the physician is the fore¬ most, since he has four groups of attributes (each group consisting of four attributes).1 Knowledge and the other qualifications, as also the four kinds of pure and superior understanding (viz., those mentioned in Verse 24), have all been laid down in this Lesson on the Brief Aggregate of four.2

Thus ends the Ninth Lesson, called the Brief Aggregate of Four, in Agnive^a’s Treatise revised by Charaka.

LESSON X.

We shall now explain the Lesson called the Comprehensive Aggregate of Four. Thus said the illustrious son of Atri.

The aggregate of four possessing the six and ten virtues is regarded by physicians as T reatment. That is T reatment which has been mentioned in the previous Lesson as possessed of six and ten virtues. Applied with reason, that is competent to cure dis¬ ease. Thus said Punarvasu the illustrious son of Atri.^1

* ‘ Prakritistha ’ here means ‘ on the point of death.’ By undertaking to treat such patients, a physician only endangers his reputation, and puts the friends of the patient to needless expense. — T.

t The word ‘ Bheshaj,’ which I render ‘ treatment,’ it will be observed, is used in a very extended sense. It implies a combination of physician, drugs, nurse, and patient, as possessed of the sixteen virtues specified in Lesson IX.— T.

CHA kA KA-SA MHITA. 107

Maitreya said, — This is not so. For what reason are some patients seen to be restored that are furnished with drugs, equipt with nurses, possessed of intelligence, and treated by skilful physi¬ cians, while others possessed of the same advantages meet with death ? Hence, Treatment is futile.*2

This is like throwing a small quantity of water into a dry pit or into a tank that is full of water : or like scattering a handful of dust into a running river or on a heap of dust.t3

Then again others are seen to be restored to health though unfurnished with drugs, unattended by nurses, unendued with in¬ telligence, and untreated by skilful physicians. Others again, similarly situated, are seen to die. Hence, when by applying remedies success is achieved and by applying them death also results, and by foregoing them success is won and by foregoing them death also takes place, the thought strikes one that Treatment and no Treatment are the same.4

When Maitreya had said this, the son of Atri addressed him, saying: — Thou thinkest erroneously. Thou askest what is the cause of some patients encountering death and some meeting with restoration when both obtain treatment possessed of the six and ten virtues. Thy doubts, however, are groundless. Verily, in diseases capable of being cured by treatment, treatment does not become futile. As regards those patients, again, that are restored without the application of treatment in its entirety, in their case treatment in its entirety may not be necessary. An example may be given. A man falls down. He is capable of rising up (without assistance). . Another person, by raising him, certainly saves him exertion. In consequence of such assistance the fallen

* Here also treatment is used in its widest sense, i. e., as including drugs, nurse, kc.—T.

t The Commentator explains that the instance of the dry pit into which a small quantity of water is thrown is cited for showing that medicine becomes equally futile in a fatal case. The instance of a tank full of water into which is poured a small quantity of water is introduced for showing that the cure when effected is not due to treatment even as the fulness of the tank is not due to the drops of water poured into it. The instance of the river is like that of the dry pit, and that of the heap of dust is like the example of the tank full of water.— T.

p. 108

charaka-samhitA.

man rises up more quickly and without being exhausted in energy. Even so is the case with patients who have obtained treatment in its entirety.

Again, there are patients that meet with death notwithstanding the application of treatment in its entirety. All patients, by ob¬ taining treatment do not obtain restoration. The reason is that all diseases are not capable of cure.5