A History of Indian Medical Literature v1.c13.23

v1.c13.23

A qualified physician (prāṇācārya)53 deserves the same honour as that bestowed on the Aśvins by Indra. The feats of the Aśvins54 are referred to: they restored the cut-off head of the sacrifice, treated Pūṣan whose teeth had fallen out, cured Bhaga who had lost his eyesight, Indra when his arms were stiff, and Śītāmśu (= Candra), when he suffered from rājayakṣman; they made the old and decrepit Cyavana young again, etc. (4.39–44). The Aśvins are therefore honoured by Indra and other gods, and the twice-born offer to them grahas,55 stotras,56 various oblations (havis), and smoke-coloured sacrificial animals (4.45–49).57 Physicians should be honoured in the same way as the Aśvins (4.50–51).