The Relevance of Ayurveda’s Teachings in Modern Medicine
This sloka appears in the Sūtra Sthāna of the Caraka Saṃhitā:
Dvividhāstu khalu bhiṣajo bhavantyāgniveśa! prāṇānāmekaiḥ saṃviśarā hantāro rogāṇām, rogāṇāmekaiḥ saṃviśarāḥ hantāraḥ prāṇānāmiti.
Translation:
“O Agniveśa,
There are two types of physicians. Listen!
One is focused on saving life (prāṇa), curing diseases, and preserving the body and mind.
The other, instead, takes life, worsens diseases, and only aims at personal profit.”
Explanation:
This profound statement from the Caraka Saṃhitā highlights the dual nature of physicians’ roles, offering insights into who is a true healer and who is not. It firmly asserts that medical negligence cannot be treated lightly. A physician’s actions, approach, knowledge, and intent can either heal the patient or worsen their condition, even leading to death.
The Two Types of Physicians:
- The First Type of Physician:
- These are the ideal physicians.
- Their focus is on protecting life and curing diseases.
- Their practice aligns with the principles of Ayurveda, aiming to balance the Tridoṣas (Vāta, Pitta, Kapha) and eliminate the root causes of diseases.
- Compassion, wisdom, and dedication to well-being define the true healer’s character.
- They treat patients with empathy and a commitment to restoring their overall health and vitality.
- The Second Type of Physician:
- These physicians cause harm due to lack of proper knowledge, negligence, or unethical practices.
- Instead of curing diseases, their interventions worsen the condition of the patient.
- Their actions, whether intentional or due to carelessness, harm the prāṇa (life force) and lead to deterioration rather than recovery.
- Such physicians can be described as incompetent or unethical, and patients must be cautious when seeking treatment from them.
Philosophical Insight:
This sloka addresses both the ethical and competence-based dimensions of medical practice:
- A physician’s intent and skill are critical.
- Ayurveda holds that protecting life is the highest duty of a healer.
- Misuse or ignorance of medical knowledge can have severe consequences.
Modern Relevance:
Even in contemporary medicine, this categorization remains relevant. For example:
- In today’s medical field, the issues of negligence and malpractice resonate with the warning in this sloka.
- The ethical, knowledgeable, and skilled physician is the life-giver and disease healer.
- Conversely, negligence, malpractice, or incompetence can turn a healer into someone who harms.
This wisdom serves as a guide and a warning for physicians:
- To approach their duty to life with reverence.
- To practice with complete knowledge and a commitment to their patients’ well-being.
Call to Action for Ayurvedic Students and Practitioners:
This teaching underscores the importance of:
- Studying deeply and gaining comprehensive knowledge.
- Practicing responsibly and ethically.
- Serving humanity with humility and dedication.
Contextual Application:
For instance, the current state of the medical field in places like Jaffna, where corruption and inefficiency are reported, can be illuminated by this teaching.
- Ethical, skilled physicians save lives and bring healing.
- Negligence, malpractice, or incompetence can have the opposite effect.
This sloka remains a guiding principle, reminding practitioners to act with dhārmic integrity and commitment to their noble purpose.