The Compendium of Caraka 1.10.4

1.10.4

neti maitreyaḥ, kiṃ kāraṇaṃ dṛśyante hyāturāḥ kecidupakaraṇavantaśca paricārakasaṃpannāścātmavantaśca kuśalaiśca bhiṣagbhiranuṣṭhitāḥ& samuttiṣṭhamānāḥ, tathāyuktāścāpare mriyamāṇāḥ; tasmādbheṣajamakiṃcitkaraṃ bhavati, tadyathā --- śvabhre sarasi ca prasiktamalpamudakaṃ, nadyāṃ vā syandamānāyāṃ pāṃsudhāne vā pāṃsumuṣṭiḥ prakīrṇa iti; tathā 'apare dṛśyante 'anupakaraṇāścāparicārakāścānātmavantaścākuśalaiśca bhiṣagbhiranuṣṭhitāḥ samuttiṣṭhamānāḥ, tathāyuktā mriyamāṇāścāpare /

'Not so,' said Maitreya. 'For what reason? For some patients are seen who possess equipment, are attended by excellent attendants, have self-control, and are treated by skilled physicians, yet they die; and others similarly situated survive. Therefore, medicine is ineffective, just as a little water poured into a pit or a lake, or a handful of dust scattered into a flowing river or a dust-heap. Likewise, others are seen who lack equipment, lack attendants, lack self-control, and are treated by unskilled physicians, yet they recover; and others similarly situated die.