Sushruta Samhita Sutrasthana Chapter 34: Yuktaseniya Adhyaya (Physician According the Army)

The 34th chapter of Sutrasthana of Sushruta Samhita is named as Yuktaseniya Adhyaya. This chapter deals with the topic “Physician according the army”.

अथातो युक्तोसेनीयमध्यायं व्याख्यास्यामः ॥१॥
यथोवाच भगवान धन्वन्तरिः ॥२॥
We will now expound the chapter by name Yuktaseniya – (duties of) the physician accompanying the army; as revealed by the venerable Dhanvantari.

Bhishak karya: Duties of the Army Physician

नृपतेर्युक्तसेनस्य परनभिजिगीषतः।
भिषजा रक्षणं कार्यं यथा तदुपदेक्ष्यते ॥३॥
विजिगीषुः सहामात्यैर्यात्रायुक्तः प्रयत्नतः ।
रक्षितव्यो विशेषेण विषादेव नरधिपः ॥४॥
पन्थानमुदकं छायां भक्तं यवसमिन्धनम् |
दूषयन्त्यरयस्तच्च जानीयाच्छोधयेत्तथा ||५||
तस्य लिङ्गं चिकित्सा च कल्पस्थाने प्रवक्ष्यते |६|
Now will describe how the physician should put all efforts to protect the king who is accompanied by his army and who has a desire to conquer the enemies. The king desirous of winning over his enemies and is marching together with his army and ministers with the same motive should especially (always) be protected from the poisons (the king will always be in a threat of getting poisoned in one or the other way).
The road, water, shade (of trees etc), food and other eatables, fodder and fuel etc are all contaminated with poison by the enemies of the King. The physician should thoroughly know and understand the signs of poisoning of different things. He should also know different ways of purifying or detoxifying those poisons. The signs of these kinds of poisoning and their treatment shall be described in Kalpa Sthana section of this treatise (Sushruta Samhita).

Mrityu Bheda: Kinds of death

एकोत्तरं मृत्युशतमथर्वाणः प्रचक्षते ||६||
तत्रैकः कालसंयुक्तः शेषा आगन्तवः स्मृताः |७|
According to the followers of Atharva Veda, death is of one hundred and one types (occurs in 101 types). One among these is accompanied by Kala i.e. time or stipulated life span and the remaining kinds of death are either accidental or premature in nature and hence called as Agantu Mrtyu.

दोषागन्तुजमृत्युभ्यो रसमन्त्रविशारदौ॥७॥
रक्षेतां नृपतिं नित्यं यत्तौ वैद्यपुरोहितौ।
The physician and the priest, who are versed in the knowledge of tastes (mineral medicine preparations including those prepared from purified mercury?) and sacred hymns respectively, shall protect the king from the deaths caused by doshas (aggravation) and external causes (like injury, curse, poisons etc) with all efforts.

Revelation of eight branched Ayurveda by Lord Brahma

ब्रह्मा वेदाङ्गमष्टाङ्गमायुर्वेदमभाषत॥८॥
पुरोहितमते तस्माद्वर्तेत भिषगात्मवान् ।
Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe, has revealed Ayurveda made up of eight branches as a branch of Veda. Therefore, the wise physician should follow the opinions and instructions of the priests.

Impact of bad deeds of the king

संकरः सर्ववर्णानां प्रणाशो धर्मकर्मणाम् ॥९॥
प्रजानामपि चोच्छित्तिर्नृपव्यसनहेतुतः ।
When the king is on the wrong path or is addicted to bad habits, admixture of all castes, destruction of righteousness and cessation of all religious activities (auspicious activities like sacrificial rituals etc) and destruction of subjects (people of the kingdom) will occur.

Raja Daivasamanah: King similar to God

पुरुषाणां नृपाणां च केवलं तुल्यमूर्तिता॥१०॥
आज्ञा त्यागः क्षमा धैर्यं विक्रमश्चाप्यमानुषः।
तस्माद्देवमिवाभीक्ष्णं वाङ्म्नः कर्मभिः शुभैः ॥११॥
चिन्त्तयेन्नुपतिं वैद्यः श्रेयांसीच्छन् विचक्षणः
The common man and the king are so much similar to each other in appearance, both being humans. The king becomes supreme and super human owing to his ability to command, sacrifice, forgive and having courage and valour.
Hence, a wise physician, desirous of reputation, just like a God, with his auspicious speech, thoughts and actions, being a well wisher of the king, should constantly (continuously) think about protecting and serving the king.

Vaidya sthana: Place of the physician

स्कन्धावारे च महति राजगेहादनन्तारम् ॥१२॥
भवेत्सन्निहितो वैद्यः सर्वोपकरणान्वित ः ।
तत्रस्थमेनं ध्वजवद्यशःख्यातिसमुच्छ्रितम् ॥१३॥
उपसर्पन्त्यमोहेन विषशल्यामयार्दिताः ।
स्वतन्त्रकुशलोऽन्येषु शास्त्रार्थेष्वबहिष्कृतः ॥१४॥
वैद्यो ध्वज इवाभाति नृपतद्विद्यपूजितः ।
In the big camp of the army, the physician should reside next to the palace (dwelling place) of the king, equipped with all requirements. The physician, who has earned great reputation and success like a royal banner by staying there, is approached with a clear mind by all those suffering from the impact of foreign bodies and diseases.
The physician who is proficient in his own science and not ignorant of other sciences, shines like the royal banner and will be honoured by the king as well as by those proficient in the science (Ayurveda).

Chikitsa Pada: Limbs of treatment

वैद्यो व्याध्युपसृष्टश्च भेषजं परिचारकः ॥१५॥
एते पादाश्चिकित्सायाः कर्मसाधनहेतवः ।
गुणवद्भिस्त्रिभिः पादैश्चतुर्थो गुणवान् भिषक् ॥१६॥
व्याधिमल्पेन कालेन महान्तमपि साघयेत्।
वैद्यहीनास्त्रयः पादा गुणवन्तोऽप्यपार्थकाः॥१७॥
उद्रातृहोतृब्रह्माणो यथाऽध्वंर्यु विनाऽध्वरे ।
वैद्यस्तु गुणवानेकस्तारयेदातुरं सदा॥१८॥
प्लवं प्रतितरैर्हीनं कर्णधार इवाम्भसि।
Below mentioned are the four limbs of treatment. They are also responsible for the success of the treatment, when they operate together –

–              Vaidya – physician,
–              Vyadhi Upasrshta / Rogi – sick person, patient
–              Bheshaja – medicines
–              Paricharaka – attendants, nurse

The physician possessing good qualities would cure even a severe / dreadful disease within a short time when associated with the other three limbs i.e. patient, medicine and attendant endowed with good qualities.

On the other hand, the other three limbs i.e. patient, medicine and attendant, in spite of being bestowed with all good qualities would become futile in conducting successful treatment of diseases without the involvement of the most important limb i.e. the physician, just like Udgatr (priests of Sama Veda), Hotr (priests of Rig Veda) and Brahmana (priests of Atharva Veda) would be futile in conducting the sacrifice, without the presence of Adhvaryu (priests of Yajur Veda).

Just like a navigator alone can save the boat in the water even without other assistants or oars, the physician bestowed with good qualities alone can save the patient always, even without the help of anyone.

Vaidya Guna: Qualities of the physician

तत्त्वाधिगतशास्त्रार्थो दृष्टकर्मा स्वयंकृती॥१९॥
लघुहस्तः शुचिः शूरः सज्जोपस्करभेजषजः ।
प्रत्युत्पन्नमतिर्धिमान् व्यवसायी विशारदः ॥२०॥
सत्यधर्मपरो यश्च स भिषक् पाद उच्यते॥

The physician endowed with below mentioned qualities is the first limb of the treatment. He should –

–              have studied the science (of Ayurveda) thoroughly and understood it perfectly,
–              have seen the treatments being performed,
–              have gained experience by doing it by himself (practical experience),
–              has firmness of hand,
–              be clean,
–              be brave (bold),
–              be possessing all equipments and drugs required,
–              intelligent to manage any situation,
–              ingenious,
–              skilful,
–              well-versed (in precepts and practice),
–              adhering to truth and righteousness

Rogi Guna: Qualities of the patient

आयुष्मान् सत्त्ववान् साध्यो द्रव्यवानात्मवानपि॥।२१॥
आस्तिको वैद्यवाक्यस्थो व्याधितः  पाद उच्यते ॥

The rogi i.e. patient having the below mentioned qualities is considered as another limb (third limb) of treatment. He should –

–              have a long life,
–              have a strong mind (will power),
–              have curable disease such a patient,
–              be wealthy (have money),
–              have control over self,
–              have belief in God etc,
–              be obedient to the physician

Ausadha Guna: Qualities of the drug

प्रशस्तदेशसंभूतं प्रशस्तेऽहति चोद्धतम् ॥२२॥
युक्तमात्रं मनस्कान्तं गन्धवर्णरसान्वितम् ।
दोषघ्नमग्लानिकरमविकारि विपर्यये॥।
समीक्ष्य दत्तं काले  च भेषजं पाद उच्यते ॥२३॥
The medicine is known as another limb (third limb) when it satisfies the below mentioned conditions (is endowed with below mentioned qualities). It should –

–              have been grown in an auspicious place,
–              collected on precious day,
–              used in appropriate quantity (dose),
–              pleasing to the mind,
–              endowed with good smell, colour and taste,
–              mitigating the Doshas,
–              not causing exhaustion,
–              not causing great distress (or complications) even during sickness,
–              administered properly and at correct time

Paricharaka guna: Qualities of the attendants

स्निग्धोऽजुगुप्सुर्बलवान् युक्तो व्याधितरक्षणे॥
वौद्यवाक्यकृदश्रान्तः पादः परिचरः स्मृतः ॥२४॥

Paricaraka or attendant having the below mentioned qualities shall be considered as another limb (fourth limb) of treatment. He should –

–              be affectionate,
–              not disgusting,
–              strong,
–              desirous of protecting the patient,
–              obeying the instructions of the physician scrupulously and untiring;

इति  श्रीसुश्रुतसंहितायां सूत्रस्थाते युक्तसेनीयो नाम  चतुस्त्रिंशत्तमोऽध्यायः ॥३४॥

Thus ends the Thirty fourth chapter by name Yuktaseniya in Sutra  Sthana of Susruta samhita.