सुप्रभातम् - चरकसंहिता - सूत्रस्थानम् - नवमोऽध्यायः

भिषग्द्रव्याण्युपस्थाता रोगी पादचतुष्टयम्| गुणवत् कारणं ज्ञेयं विकारव्युपशान्तये||

(चरकसंहिता-सूत्रस्थानम्-९/३)

Physician, medicine, attendant (nursing staff) and the patient, these are four components which, all in their best of qualities are responsible for the complete cure of disease. (Charakasamhita – Sutrasthanam – 9/3)

विकारो धातुवैषम्यं, साम्यं प्रकृतिरुच्यते| सुखसञ्ज्ञकमारोग्यं, विकारो दुःखमेव च||

(चरकसंहिता-सूत्रस्थानम्-९/४)

Imbalance of dhātus is disease and their equilibrium is health. Health is termed as happiness, while disorder as unhappiness.

(Charakasamhita Sutrasthanam 9/4)

चतुर्णां भिषगादीनां शस्तानां धातुवैकृते| प्रवृत्तिर्धातुसाम्यार्था चिकित्सेत्यभिधीयते||

(चरकसंहिता-सूत्रस्थानम्-९/५)

Employment of all the excellent four – physician, medicine/tools, attendant and patient – in case of disorder of dhātu with the objective of (re-establishing) their equilibrium is called “Therapeutics”.

(Charakasamhita Sutrasthanam 9/5)

श्रुते पर्यवदातत्वं बहुशो दृष्टकर्मता|

दाक्ष्यं शौचमिति ज्ञेयं वैद्ये गुणचतुष्टयम्||

(चरकसंहिता-सूत्रस्थानम्-९/६)

A physician should possess the qualities such as proficiency in theoretical knowledge [that is learnt], extensive practical experience, dexterity and purity (of body and mind).

(Charakasamhita Sutrasthanam 9/6)

बहुता तत्र योग्यत्वमनेकविधकल्पना| सम्पच्चेति चतुष्कोऽयं द्रव्याणां गुण उच्यते||

(चरकसंहिता-सूत्रस्थानम्-९/७)

Abundance [in availability], efficacy [with good pharmacological properties], various pharmaceutical forms and intact qualities of drugs – these are four qualities of the ideal medicine.

(Charakasamhita Sutrasthanam 9/7)

उपचारज्ञता दाक्ष्यमनुरागश्च भर्तरि|

शौचं चेति चतुष्कोऽयं गुणः परिचरे जने||

(चरकसंहिता-सूत्रस्थानम्-९/८)

Knowledge of taking care of patient (nursing) as well as preparation, dispensing and administration of medicines and healthy recipes, dexterity, affectionate towards patient and purity of body and mind – these are four qualities of attendant.

(Charakasamhita Sutrasthanam 9/8)

कारणं षोडशगुणं सिद्धौ पादचतुष्टयम्| विज्ञाता शासिता योक्ता प्रधानं भिषगत्र तु||

(चरकसंहिता-सूत्रस्थानम्-९/१०)

These four components consist of sixteen qualities, if ideally administered, lead to a successful outcome. But here the physician is most important because of his specific knowledge, administrative capacity and managerial skills .

(Charakasamhita Sutrasthanam 9/10)

पक्तौ हि कारणं पक्तुर्यथा पात्रेन्धनानलाः।

विजेतुर्विजये भूमिश्चमूः प्रहरणानि च॥

आतुराद्यास्तथा सिद्धौ पादाः कारणसञ्ज्ञिताः।

वैद्यस्यातश्चिकित्सायां प्रधानं कारणं भिषक्॥

(चरकसंहिता-सूत्रस्थानम्-९/११-१२)

As in cooking utensils, fuel and fire are complementary for the cook, the battlefield, soldiers and weapons are supporters to the conqueror, similarly for the healing capabilities of the physician, drugs, attendants and patients are the supporters.

(Charakasamhita Sutrasthanam 9/11-12)

मृद्दण्डचक्रसूत्राद्याः कुम्भकारादृते यथा।

नावहन्ति गुणं वैद्यादृते पादत्रयं तथा॥

(चरकसंहिता-सूत्रस्थानम्-९/१३)

As the soil, stick, wheel, thread etc. don’t serve the purpose (of making pot) without the potter, the other three components are in the same position without the physician.

(Charakasamhita Sutrasthanam 9/13)

गन्धर्वपुरवन्नाशं यद्विकाराः सुदारुणाः।

यान्ति यच्चेतरे वृद्धिमाशूपायप्रतीक्षिणः॥

सति पादत्रये ज्ञाज्ञौ भिषजावत्र कारणम्॥

(चरकसंहिता-सूत्रस्थानम्-९/१४-१५)

Very severe disorders vanish like the (imaginary) city of gandharvas (magician) while even the simplest of disorders aggravated, in spite of the other three components of treatment i.e. drugs, nurse, patient (with all their qualities). Learned and ignorant physicians are responsible for the above two consequences respectively.

(Charakasamhita Sutrasthanam 9/14-15)

वरमात्मा हुतोऽज्ञेन न चिकित्सा प्रवर्तिता॥

पाणिचाराद्यथाऽचक्षुरज्ञानाद्भीतभीतवत्।

नौर्मारुतवशेवाज्ञो भिषक् चरति कर्मसु॥

(चरकसंहिता-सूत्रस्थानम्-९/१५-१६)

It is better to self-immolate than be treated by a quack, as a blind man moves groping with the help of the movement of his hand with fear, as a boat without sailors comes under the storm. The physician who has no knowledge of his area of medicine or science proceeds in the realm of therapeutic management with too much fear and lack of confidence. Therefore never take treatment from an unknowledgeable physician.

(Charakasamhita Sutrasthanam 9/15-16)

यदृच्छया समापन्नमुत्तार्य नियतायुषम्।

भिषङ्मानी निहन्त्याशु शतान्यनियतायुषाम्॥

(चरकसंहिता-सूत्रस्थानम्-९/१७)

Such a person regarding himself as a physician cures by chance a patient whose lifespan is certain (who was destined to survive) but kills hundreds having uncertain lifespan.

(Charakasamhita Sutrasthanam 9/17)

तस्माच्छास्त्रेऽर्थविज्ञाने प्रवृत्तौ कर्मदर्शने।

भिषक् चतुष्टये युक्तः प्राणाभिसर उच्यते॥

(चरकसंहिता-सूत्रस्थानम्-९/१८)

Hence, a physician possessing four qualities - indulgence in scientific knowledge, clear understanding, right application, and practical experience - is known as the one who promotes life i.e. “pranabhisara”.

(Charakasamhita Sutrasthanam 9/18)

हेतौ लिङ्गे प्रशमने रोगाणामपुनर्भवे।

ज्ञानं चतुर्विधं यस्य स राजार्हो भिषक्तमः॥

(चरकसंहिता-सूत्रस्थानम्-९/१९)

The physician, who possesses knowledge of etiology, symptomatology, therapeutics and prevention of diseases, is the best among physicians and is fit for becoming a royal physician.

(Charakasamhita Sutrasthanam 9/19)

शस्त्रं शास्त्राणि सलिलं गुणदोषप्रवृत्तये। पात्रापेक्षीण्यतः प्रज्ञां चिकित्सार्थं विशोधयेत्॥

(चरकसंहिता-सूत्रस्थानम्-९/२०)

The merits [good effect] and demerits [bad effects] of weapons, scriptures and water depend on their user. So, physician should purify his intellect [to remove the lacunae] before treating.

(Charakasamhita Sutrasthanam 9/20)

विद्या वितर्को विज्ञानं स्मृतिस्तत्परता क्रिया।

यस्यैते षड्गुणास्तस्य न साध्यमतिवर्तते॥

(चरकसंहिता-सूत्रस्थानम्-९/२१)

Learning, rationality or capacity for innovative thinking, specific scientific knowledge, memory, devotion to performing timely duties and action [clinical practice] – No possible task is unachievable for the person who possesses these six qualities.

(Charakasamhita Sutrasthanam 9/21)

विद्या मतिः कर्मदृष्टिरभ्यासः सिद्धिराश्रयः। वैद्यशब्दाभिनिष्पत्तावलमेकैकमप्यतः॥

यस्य त्वेते गुणाः सर्वे सन्ति विद्यादयः शुभाः।

स वैद्यशब्दं सद्भूतमर्हन् प्राणिसुखप्रदः॥

(चरकसंहिता-सूत्रस्थानम्-९/२२-२३)

Learning, wisdom, practical knowledge, experience, accomplishments, and continual guidance from eminent mentors – of these, even one quality is sufficient to add significance to the degree of ‘vaidya’. The one, who possesses all the auspicious qualities like learning etc., deserves to hold the honourable degree of ‘vaidya’ who showers happiness on all living beings.

(Charakasamhita Sutrasthanam 9/22-23)

शास्त्रं ज्योतिः प्रकाशार्थं दर्शनं बुद्धिरात्मनः।

ताभ्यां भिषक् सुयुक्ताभ्यां चिकित्सन्नापराध्यति॥

(चरकसंहिता-सूत्रस्थानम्-९/२४)

Scientific scriptures provide light for illumination [to remove darkness of ignorance or to know things] and one’s own intellect is like eyes. The physician who uses both [scientific knowledge and own intellect] properly, doesn’t commit mistake during treatment.

(Charakasamhita Sutrasthanam 9/24)

चिकित्सिते त्रयः पादा यस्माद्वैद्यव्यपाश्रयः। तस्मात् प्रयत्नमातिष्ठेद्भिषक् स्वगुणसम्पदि॥

(चरकसंहिता-सूत्रस्थानम्-९/२५)

In treatment, the other three components are dependent on the physician, hence the physician should make all efforts to enrich his qualities.

(Charakasamhita Sutrasthanam 9/25)

मैत्री कारुण्यमार्तेषु शक्ये प्रीतिरुपेक्षणम्। प्रकृतिस्थेषु भूतेषु वैद्यवृत्तिश्चतुर्विधेति॥

(चरकसंहिता-सूत्रस्थानम्-९/२६)

Friendliness, compassion towards the diseased, attachment to the remediable and indifference to those who are moving towards the end (death) – this is the fourfold attitude of an ideal physician.

(Charakasamhita Sutrasthanam 9/26)