History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c24.s4.7

v1.c24.s4.7

The *Vṛkṣāyurveda* of Surapāla²¹ has two sections, one the knowledge of the diseases of trees (*rogajñāna*) (verses 165-183) and the other on the treatment (*cikitsā*) of the diseases of plants (verses 184-222). Surapala introduces an element of systematic classification in its account of the diseases of the trees. He says that the diseases of all species of trees may briefly be classified in two groups, the internal or those arising from the body, and the extraneous or those attacking from outside (verse 165). The bodily or internal diseases arise from the disorders of wind (*vāta*), phlegm (*pitta*) and bile (*kapha*), and the extraneous diseases and ailments are caused by vermin (*kīṭa*), frost (*śīta*) etc. (verse 166).