India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c8.s7.3

c8.s7.3

Pāṇini brought up in the traditions of Takshaśilā uses several words for disease, such as *gada* (VI.3.70), *upatāpa* (VII.3.61) and *sparśa* (III.3.16), the last probably referring to contagious diseases. A medical doctor is called *agadaṁkāra* (VI.3.70). The herbs were known as *oshadhi* and the medicines as *aushadha* (V.4.37, *Oshadher-ajātau*). Since an *aushadha* was a compound of several ingredients to suit the needs of each case Pāṇini takes the view that it did not form a genus or class like the herbs.