History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c43.156

v3.c43.156

Aparārka (pp. 365-366 on Yāj. I. 209) quotes a long passage from the Nandipurāṇa about the founding of hospitals (ārogyaśālā) where medicines were supplied free to patients. ‘Since the four *puruṣārthas* (goals of life) viz. dharma, artha, kāma and mokṣa, depend upon health, he who provides for securing this may be said to have made gifts of everything.’ The passage further states that a competent physician should be appointed. Hemādri (dāna, pp. 893-95) quotes the same passage and another from the Skandapurāṇa to the same effect.