Shloka Charak Su 30/26
the aims and objectives of Ayurveda, the science of life has been
beautifully coined in the above shloka.
To lead a good life health is priority. Through ayurvedic concepts it is
necessary to maintain health and in case of a diseased state gaining back
the normal health.
Aims and objectives of ayurveda have been divided into two aspects namely:
- Swasthasya Swathya Rakshanam (Preventive and Social medicine)
- Aturasya Vikar Prashamanam (Therapeutics)
These two aspects reflect the unique approach of ayurveda.
Therapeutics is not strictly related to dravya chikitsa i.e. treatment with
medicines but also to the form of bhava chikitsa i.e. treatment without
medicines and in the form of achar rasayan (good conducts both personal as
well as social).
The two objectives though defined clearly in a concise statement, have been
explained in great details in the scripturesThe four chatushtayas that form
the basis of a good human life is a unique feature of ayurveda. Following of
the chatushtayas it is not only necessary to maintain good health but also
to treat a particular disease if inflicted from what so ever caused.
Ayurveda has not restricted itself as the path, which treats diseases but
being the science of life has covered all the aspects necessary to maintain
health and to restore it when inflicted with a disease.
Charak has specified in the following shloka chark sutrasthan 5/103 that
ignorance is no excuse and we have to take pains to learn and to follow
various rules and regulations to remain healthy.
These rules and regulations are nothing but guidelines to remain fit,
refrain from diseases and lead a healthy life. These guidelines have been
mentioned under the topic of swasthavrutta.
Despite of all the preventive measures if we suffer from a disease we
should be able to known the probable causes of that disease and the probable
fallacies on our part in following the rules and regulations put before us
in the form of the first objective.
Ignorance and fallacies lead to disease and it is here that the second
objective of aaturasya vikara prashamana comes into picture.
