[Agnivesha's query] After finishing his daily worship and yagna (religious sacrifice), Punarvasu was sitting admidst the sages. Then with concentrated mind, looking like a flame of fire, Agnivesha asked him,
“Sir, please explain the etiology, symptomatology and treatment of disease (vatashonita) which is a combination of vata and rakta, and is like that of fire and wind. The teacher (Punarvasu) explained.
[Etiological factors] Excess intake of salty, sour, pungent, alkalies and fatty substances, hot food, consumption of rotten and dried flesh, fleshes of aquatic animals like fish, animals living in the area where there are dense forest and heavy rainfall, cake of oil seeds after extraction of oil (pindyaka), radish (Raphanus sativus),