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                                                   '''Preamble of ''Sutra sthana'''''

                                                   '''Preamble of ''Sutra sthana'''''

                                               '''(Section on Fundamental Principles)'''

                                               '''(Section on Fundamental Principles)'''

 

श्लोकस्थानं समुद्दिष्टं तन्त्रस्यास्य शिरः शुभम्   

श्लोकस्थानं समुद्दिष्टं तन्त्रस्यास्य शिरः शुभम्   

Per the above verse, the Sutra sthana (Section on fundamental principles) of Charaka Samhita deserves the same place as head deserves in human body. In ancient times, the Sutra sthana was always placed first among samhitas(ancient reference texts of Ayurveda).Thus, this important section lays the foundation for the whole Charaka Samhita by means of the basic principles documented in it.  

Besides the foundational principles, this section also establishes various technical terms that are used in subsequent sections of the Charaka Samhita. This helps in providing a base to not just Ayurveda practitioners, but also teachers, researchers and scholars.  

 

From the standpoint of its structure, the Sutra sthana consists of thirty chapters, grouped into eight logical groupings. The first seven are chatushkas(or tetrads, i.e., groups of four), while the last one is a sangrahadvaya(a group of two chapters).

Per the above verse, the ''Sutra sthana'' (Section on fundamental principles) of [[Charaka Samhita]] deserves the same place as the head deserves in the human body. In ancient times, the ''Sutra sthana'' was always placed first among ''Samhitas''(ancient reference texts of Ayurveda).Thus, this important section lays the foundation for the whole [[Charaka Samhita]] by means of the basic principles documented in it.  

The first chatushka is also known as Bheshaja or the Aushadha (medicine) Chatushka. This tetrad deals with various medicines to be used in various forms either externally or internally (i.e., bheshaja). The very first chapter of this chatushka(also the first chapter of the Charaka Samhita itself), the Deerghanjiviteeya Adhyaya, establishes technical concepts such as vata, pitta, kapha, rasa(taste), shat karana (six causes), etc. which are integral to Ayurveda and used extensively throughout Charaka samhita. Besides these technical terms, the first chapter also describes various medicines, like Phalini Dravya (a group of drugs having therapeutically useful fruits), Moolini Dravya (a group of drugs having therapeutically useful roots), Mahasneha (four kinds of fats), Lavana(salts), various types of mutra(urine) and ksheera(milk). This chapter also emphasizes on the rational use of medications, since irrational use of even good medicines can cause more harm than good. The chapter then goes on to explain the important concept of Trisutra (three principles ofAyurveda) i.e. hetu (causes), linga(sign and symptoms) and aushadha (medicine).  

Besides the foundational principles, this section also establishes various technical terms that are used in subsequent sections of the [[Charaka Samhita]]. This helps in providing a base to not just Ayurveda practitioners, but also teachers, researchers and scholars.  

From the standpoint of its structure, the ''Sutra sthana'' consists of thirty chapters, grouped into eight logical groupings. The first seven are ''chatushkas''(or tetrads, i.e., groups of four), while the last one is a ''sangrahadvaya''(a group of two chapters).

The first ''chatushka'' is also known as ''Bheshaja'' or the ''Aushadha''(medicine) ''Chatushka''. This tetrad deals with various medicines to be used in various forms either externally or internally (i.e., ''bheshaja''). The very first chapter of this ''chatushka''(also the first chapter of the [[Charaka Samhita]] itself), the [[''Deerghanjiviteeya Adhyaya'']], establishes technical concepts such as ''vata'', ''pitta'', ''kapha'', ''rasa''(taste), ''shat karana'' (six causes), etc. which are integral to Ayurveda and used extensively throughout [[Charaka Samhita]]. Besides these technical terms, the first chapter also describes various medicines, like ''Phalini Dravya'' (a group of drugs having therapeutically useful fruits), ''Moolini Dravya''(a group of drugs having therapeutically useful roots), ''Mahasneha'' (four kinds of fats), ''Lavana''(salts), various types of mutra(urine) and ksheera(milk). This chapter also emphasizes on the rational use of medications, since irrational use of even good medicines can cause more harm than good. The chapter then goes on to explain the important concept of Trisutra (three principles ofAyurveda) i.e. hetu (causes), linga(sign and symptoms) and aushadha (medicine).  

The second chapter (Apamarga Tanduliya Adhyaya) of the Bheshaja chatushka deals specifically with herbs and medicines to be used during and after Panchakarma (five methods of biopurification). Thus, the first two chapters of this tetrad describe various medicines to be used internally.  

The second chapter (Apamarga Tanduliya Adhyaya) of the Bheshaja chatushka deals specifically with herbs and medicines to be used during and after Panchakarma (five methods of biopurification). Thus, the first two chapters of this tetrad describe various medicines to be used internally.  

The third chapter (Aragvadhiya Adhyaya) advocates the use of topical medications, or medicines to be applied externally, i.e.,lepa(, topical medicines, etc).  

The third chapter (Aragvadhiya Adhyaya) advocates the use of topical medications, or medicines to be applied externally, i.e.,lepa(, topical medicines, etc).