Astanga Hrudaya

Progress:74.8%

द्रव्यमेव रसादीनां श्रेष्ठं, ते हि तदाश्रयाः। पञ्चभूतात्मकं तत्तु क्ष्मामधिष्ठाय जायते॥१॥

Importance of the substance - Dravya Pradhanya- Dravya – (substance / mass of the substance) is the most important factor among Rasa (tastes) and other qualities; because all of these qualities are residing in the substance only. Dravya/Mass is composed of five basic elements. (Notes :- Panchabhuta refers to five basic elements – Earth (solid), Water, Fire, Air and Ether. As per a philosophy, called as Sankhya philosophy, every substance on earth is composed of these five basic elements, in different proportions. The dominant part of the basic element decides the nature of the substance)

english translation

dravyameva rasAdInAM zreSThaM, te hi tadAzrayAH। paJcabhUtAtmakaM tattu kSmAmadhiSThAya jAyate॥1॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript

अम्बुयोन्यग्निपवननभसां समवायतः। तन्निर्वृत्तिर्विशेषश्च व्यपदेशस्तु भूयसा॥२॥

It has Kshma – solidity as its substratum, it takes origin from Ambu (Ap Bhuta – water element), Agni (Tejas Bhuta – Fire element), Pavana (Vayu Bhuta – air element) and Nabhas (Akasha Bhuta – ether element), with their intimate and inseparable combination. Its identification/designation is decided by the predominance of particular element in the Dravya (mass / substance). Five Basic elements – Prithvi – Earth – Gandha (smell) is the special quality, Guru (heaviness), Khara (roughness), Kathina (hard) etc are its general qualities. Ap – Water – Rasa (taste) is its special quality, Tejas – Fire – Rupa (appearance) is its special quality Vayu – Air – Sparsha (touch) is its special quality Akasha – Ether – Shabda (sound) is its special quality These elements combine together in an inseparable combination (Samavaya) to become gross objects and give rise to the formation of all the substances of this universe. Hence the entire universe is Panchabhautik (composed of five elements, hence designated as Prapancha). The proportion/quantity of each Bhuta (element) varies and hence the existence of variety of substances in this universe, each one very different and unique. Whichever element is predominant in any substance bestows its name to that substance. If Prithvi Bhuta (earth element) is more than the other four in a certain combination, then the substance the gets formed is called Parthiva – solid; If Ap Bhuta (water element) is dominant – then Apya – liquid If Tejas Bhuta (fire element) is more, it will be Taijasa (Agneya), if Vayu Bhuta (air element) it will be Vayavya, and if Akasabhuta (space element) is more, it will be Akasheeya (Nabhasa). Thus all the substances of the universe are classified into five kinds.

english translation

ambuyonyagnipavananabhasAM samavAyataH। tannirvRttirvizeSazca vyapadezastu bhUyasA॥2॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript

तस्मान्नैकरसं द्रव्यं भूतसङ्घातसम्भवात्। नैकदोषास्ततो रोगास्तत्र व्यक्तो रसः स्मृतः॥३॥

Rasa – Anurasa – (Primary and secondary tastes) :- Taste in a substance also arises out of Pancha mahabhuta (5 element) combination. Hence, because of the combination of the elements, there is no substance having only one taste. Similarly, there is no disease arising out of a single Dosha. Any disease will have involvement of more than one Dosha.

english translation

tasmAnnaikarasaM dravyaM bhUtasaGghAtasambhavAt। naikadoSAstato rogAstatra vyakto rasaH smRtaH॥3॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript

अव्यक्तोऽनुरसः किञ्चिदन्ते व्यक्तोऽपि चेष्यते। गुर्वादयो गुणा द्रव्ये पृथिव्यादौ रसाश्रये॥४॥

Taste (rasa) is of two types. Primary taste (Rasa) – the taste that is perceived clearly. The one that manifests clearly in a substance. Secondary taste (Anurasa) – which are not clearly manifest or which are recognized at the end. Guru (heaviness) etc qualities present in the Prithvi (earth) etc substances of are residing in the taste of the substance);

english translation

avyakto'nurasaH kiJcidante vyakto'pi ceSyate। gurvAdayo guNA dravye pRthivyAdau rasAzraye॥4॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript

रसेषु व्यपदिश्यन्ते साहचर्योपचारतः। तत्र द्रव्यं गुरुस्थूलस्थिरगन्धगुणोल्बणम्॥५॥

Qualities of a substance are ascribed to the taste because of their intimate co-existence. Qualities of substances based on the predominance of elements – Qualities of solid substances – (Parthiva Dravya Laksana)- Earth has – Guru (heaviness, heavy to digest), Sthula (bulky), Sthira (stable) and Gandha (smell) qualities.

english translation

raseSu vyapadizyante sAhacaryopacArataH। tatra dravyaM gurusthUlasthiragandhaguNolbaNam॥5॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript