द्रव्यविशेषविज्ञानीयाध्यायः
अथातो द्रव्यविशेषविज्ञानीयमध्यायं व्याख्यास्यामः ||१||
यथोवाच भगवान् धन्वन्तरिः ||२||
"Now, we shall explain the chapter on Dravya Vishesha Vijnaniya (Understanding Specific Substances)."
"As spoken by the revered Lord Dhanvantari."
This marks the beginning of a new chapter that delves into the specific properties and classifications of various medicinal substances, providing deeper insights into their unique characteristics and uses as guided by the esteemed deity of Ayurveda, Lord Dhanvantari.
तत्र पृथिव्यप्तेजोवाय्वाकाशानां समुदायाद्द्रव्याभिनिर्वृत्तिः, उत्कर्षस्त्वभिव्यञ्जको भवति- इदं पार्थिवमिदमाप्यमिदं तैजसमिदं वायव्यमिदमाकाशीयमिति ||३||
"From the combination of earth, water, fire, air, and ether, substances are formed. The predominance of any element determines its characteristics: this is earthy, this is watery, this is fiery, this is airy, and this is etheric."
This Shloka explains the formation of substances from the five fundamental elements and highlights how the predominance of any element defines the substance's characteristics.
तत्र स्थूलसान्द्रमन्दस्थिरगुरुकठिनं गन्धबहुलमीषत्कषायं प्रायशो मधुरमिति पार्थिवं; तत् स्थैर्यबलगौरवसङ्घातोपचयकरं विशेषतश्चाधोगतिस्वभावमिति(१) |४|
"Among them, substances that are gross, dense, slow, stable, heavy, and hard; possessing a strong smell, slightly astringent, and generally sweet in taste are considered earthy.
Such substances primarily provide stability, strength, heaviness, consolidation, and growth, and they generally have a downward motion by nature."
This Shloka describes the characteristics and effects of substances dominated by the earth element, highlighting their qualities and therapeutic benefits.
शीतस्तिमितस्निग्धमन्दगुरुसरसान्द्रमृदुपिच्छिलं रसबहुलमीषत्कषायाम्ललवणं मधुररसप्रायमाप्यं; तत् स्नेहनह्लादनक्लेदनबन्धनविष्यन्दनकरमिति;(२) |४|
"Substances that are cool, calm, unctuous, slow, heavy, fluid, dense, soft, and slimy; rich in taste, slightly astringent, sour, salty, and generally sweet in taste are considered watery.
Such substances primarily provide lubrication, pleasure, moistening, binding, and oozing effects."
This Shloka describes the characteristics and effects of substances dominated by the water element, highlighting their qualities and therapeutic benefits.
उष्णतीक्ष्णसूक्ष्मरूक्षखरलघुविशदं रूपबहुलमीषदम्ललवणं कटुकरसप्रायं विशेषतश्चोर्ध्वगतिस्वभावमिति तैजसं; तद्दहनपचनदारणतापनप्रकाशनप्रभावर्णकरमिति;(३) |४|
"Substances that are hot, sharp, subtle, rough, hard, light, and clear; predominantly characterized by their form, slightly sour, salty, and generally pungent in taste, and primarily having an upward motion by nature are considered fiery.
Such substances primarily provide burning, digestion, splitting, heating, illuminating, and color-giving effects."
This Shloka describes the characteristics and effects of substances dominated by the fire element, highlighting their qualities and therapeutic benefits.
सूक्ष्मरूक्षखरशिशिरलघुविशदं स्पर्शबहुलमीषत्तिक्तं विशेषतः कषायमिति वायवीयं; तद्वैशद्यलाघवग्लपनविरूक्षणविचारणकरमिति;(४) |४|
"Substances that are subtle, rough, hard, cold, light, and clear; predominantly characterized by touch, slightly bitter, and primarily astringent in taste are considered airy.
Such substances primarily provide clarity, lightness, emaciation, drying, and circulation effects."
This Shloka describes the characteristics and effects of substances dominated by the air element, highlighting their qualities and therapeutic benefits.
श्लक्ष्णसूक्ष्ममृदुव्यवायिविशदविविक्तमव्यक्तरसं शब्दबहुलमाकाशीयं; तन्मार्दवशौषिर्यलाघवकरमिति(५) ||४||
"Substances that are smooth, subtle, soft, pervasive, clear, distinct, and with an indistinct taste, predominantly characterized by sound, are considered etheric.
Such substances primarily provide softness, hollowness, and lightness effects."
This Shloka describes the characteristics and effects of substances dominated by the ether element, highlighting their qualities and therapeutic benefits.
अनेन निदर्शनेन नानौषधीभूतं जगति किञ्चिद्द्रव्यमस्तीति कृत्वा तं तं युक्तिविशेषमर्थं चाभिसमीक्ष्य स्ववीर्यगुणयुक्तानि द्रव्याणि कार्मुकाणि भवन्ति |
तानि यदा कुर्वन्ति स कालः, यत् कुर्वन्ति तत् कर्म, येन कुर्वन्ति तद्वीर्यं, यत्र कुर्वन्ति तदधिकरणं, यथा कुर्वन्ति स उपायः, यन्निष्पादयन्ति तत् फलमिति ||५||
"From this example, it is concluded that there is no substance in the world that does not contain medicinal properties. Considering each specific method and purpose, substances equipped with their own potency and qualities become tools for therapy.
The time when they act is their period; the action they perform is their function; the potency with which they act is their Virya; the medium through which they act is their base; the method by which they act is their technique; and the result they produce is their effect."
This Shloka highlights the universality of medicinal properties in substances and outlines the factors that determine their therapeutic efficacy, including time, action, potency, medium, method, and result.
तत्र, विरेचनद्रव्याणि पृथिव्यम्बुगुणभूयिष्ठानि, पृथिव्यापो गुर्व्यः, तानि गुरुत्वादधो गच्छन्ति, तस्माद्विरेचनमधोगुणभूयिष्ठमनुमानात् ; वमनद्रव्याण्यग्निवायुगुणभूयिष्ठानि, अग्निवायु हि लघू, लघुत्वाच्च तान्यूर्ध्वमुत्तिष्ठन्ति, तस्माद्वमनमप्यूर्ध्वगुणभूयिष्ठम्; उभयगुणभूयिष्ठमुभयतोभागम्; आकाशगुणभूयिष्ठं संशमनं; साङ्ग्राहिकमनिलगुणभूयिष्ठम्, अनिलस्य शोषणात्मकत्वात्; दीपनमग्निगुणभूयिष्ठं, तत्समानत्वात्; लेखनमनिलानलगुणभूयिष्ठं; बृंहणं पृथिव्यम्बुगुणभूयिष्ठम्; एवमौषधकर्माण्यनुमानात् साधयेत् ||६||
भवन्ति चात्र-
भूतेजोवारिजैर्द्रव्यैः शमं याति समीरणः |
भूम्यम्बुवायुजैः पित्तं क्षिप्रमाप्नोति निर्वृतिम् ||७||
खतेजोऽनिलजैः श्लेष्मा शममेति शरीरिणाम् |
वियत्पवनजाताभ्यां वृद्धिमभ्येति मारुतः ||८||
आग्नेयमेव यद्द्रव्यं तेन पित्तमुदीर्यते |
वसुधाजलजाताभ्यां बलासः परिवर्धते ||९||
"Among them, purgative substances have predominantly earth and water qualities. Earth and water are heavy, thus they move downward. Therefore, purgatives are primarily downward in nature.
Emetic substances have predominantly fire and air qualities. Fire and air are light, thus they move upward. Therefore, emetics are primarily upward in nature.
Substances with both qualities affect both directions. Substances with ether qualities are soothing. Absorbent substances have predominantly air qualities due to the drying nature of air. Digestive stimulants have predominantly fire qualities due to their similarity. Scraping substances have predominantly air and fire qualities. Nourishing substances have predominantly earth and water qualities.
Thus, the actions of medicinal substances can be deduced from their qualities.
In this context:
By substances with earth, fire, and water qualities, Vata is pacified. By substances with earth, water, and air qualities, Pitta is quickly pacified. By substances with ether, fire, and air qualities, Kapha is pacified in individuals. By substances originating from ether and air, Vata increases.
Substances predominantly of fire nature stimulate Pitta. By substances originating from earth and water, diseases increase."
These Shlokas emphasize the relationship between the qualities of substances and their therapeutic actions, highlighting how different elements influence the behavior and efficacy of medicinal treatments.
एवमेतद्गुणाधिक्यं द्रव्ये द्रव्ये विनिश्चितम् |
द्विशो वा बहुशो वाऽपि ज्ञात्वा दोषेषु चाचरेत् ||१०||
"Thus, the predominance of qualities in various substances is established, and whether they are double or multiple qualities, they should be known and applied in relation to doshas."
This Shloka emphasizes the importance of understanding the predominant qualities in substances and how they should be applied in relation to the doshas (bodily humors) for effective therapeutic use.
तत्र य इमे गुणा वीर्यसञ्ज्ञकाः शीतोष्णस्निग्धरूक्षमृदुतीक्ष्णपिच्छिलविशदास्तेषां तीक्ष्णोष्णावाग्नेयौ, शीतपिच्छिलावम्बुगुणभूयिष्ठौ , पृथिव्यम्बुगुणभूयिष्ठः स्नेहः, तोयाकाशगुणभूयिष्ठं मृदुत्वं, वायुगुणभूयिष्ठं रौक्ष्यं, क्षितिसमीरणगुणभूयिष्ठं वैशद्यं; विपाकावुक्तगुणौ |
तत्र, उष्णस्निग्धौ वातघ्नौ, शीतमृदुपिच्छिलाः पित्तघ्नाः, तीक्ष्णरूक्षविशदाः श्लेष्मघ्नाः गुरुपाको वातपित्तघ्नः, लघुपाकः श्लेष्मघ्नः |
तेषां मृदुशीतोष्णाः स्पर्शग्राह्याः, पिच्छिलविशदौ चक्षुःस्पर्शाभ्यां, स्निग्धरूक्षौ चक्षुषा, तीक्ष्णो मुखे दुःखोत्पादनात् |
गुरुपाकः सृष्टविण्मूत्रतया कफोत्क्लेशेन च, लघुर्बद्धविण्मूत्रतया मारुतकोपेन च |
तत्र तुल्यगुणेषु भूतेषु रसवैशेष्यमुपलक्षयेत् |
तद्यथा- मधुरो गुरुश्च पार्थिवः, मधुरः स्निग्धश्चाप्य इति ||११||
"In this context, the qualities known as Virya (potency) are described as cold, hot, unctuous, dry, soft, sharp, slimy, and clear. Among them, the sharp and hot qualities are primarily fiery; cold and slimy qualities are predominantly watery; unctuous quality is primarily earthy and watery; softness is predominantly etheric; dryness is primarily airy; clarity is predominantly earthy and airy. The effects after digestion (Vipaka) align with these qualities.
Among them, hot and unctuous qualities pacify Vata; cold, soft, and slimy qualities pacify Pitta; sharp, dry, and clear qualities pacify Kapha. Heavy Vipaka pacifies Vata and Pitta; light Vipaka pacifies Kapha.
Among these, cold, soft, and hot qualities are perceived by touch; slimy and clear qualities are perceived by both touch and vision; unctuous and dry qualities are perceived by vision; sharp quality causes discomfort in the mouth.
Heavy Vipaka causes loose stool and urine due to Kapha irritation; light Vipaka causes constipation and urine retention due to Vata aggravation. Thus, when elements have similar qualities, the specific taste should be noted. For example, sweet and heavy are earthy, sweet and unctuous are watery."
This Shloka provides a detailed understanding of the various qualities known as Virya and their effects on the doshas, explaining how each quality interacts with the body and influences therapeutic outcomes.
भवति चात्र-
गुणा य उक्ता द्रव्येषु शरीरेष्वपि ते तथा |
स्थानवृद्धिक्षयास्तस्माद्देहिनां द्रव्यहेतुकाः ||१२||
"It is said here: The qualities mentioned in substances are similarly present in bodies. Therefore, the states of increase and decrease in living beings are due to substances."
This Shloka emphasizes that the same qualities found in medicinal substances are also present in the human body, and the changes in the body's state, whether increase or decrease, are influenced by these substances.
इति सुश्रुतसंहितायां सूत्रस्थाने द्रव्यविशेषविज्ञानीयो नामैकचत्वारिंशत्तमोऽध्यायः ||४१||
"Thus concludes the forty-first chapter named Dravya Vishesha Vijnaniya (Understanding Specific Substances) in the Sushruta Samhita, Sutrasthana section."
We have completed yet another insightful chapter in the Sushruta Samhita! This chapter provided a deeper understanding of the specific properties and classifications of various medicinal substances.