A History of Indian Medical Literature v1.c21.44

v1.c21.44

BHARADVĀJA 167 is the member of the assembly of sages, described in the opening chapter of the Carakasamhitā, who is their deputee to the abode of Indra in order to enlist his aid in removing the diseases which had befallen mankind. Bharadvāja’s request is granted by Indra, who transmits to him the medical science, 168 subsequently passed on to the other sages, among whom Ātreya is the most prominent one. He is also one of the sages who, through the use of the brāhmarasāyana, became free from disease and the afflictions of old age (Ca.Ci.1³.4–6). Bharadvāja is, however, strikingly absent when a group of sages approaches Indra for instruction on a second occasion (Ca.Ci. 1⁴.3). 169 In the discussion on the origin of the individual (Ca.Sū.25), Bharadvāja rejects Bhadrakāpya’s view and advances that svabhāva (nature, i.e., the laws of nature) has to be regarded as the origin of the individual and his diseases. 170 Bharadvāja contradicts Ātreya in the chapter on the descent of the embryo into the womb (garbhāvakrānti; Ca.Śā.3), disagreeing with the latter’s statement that the embryo arises from a combination of elements, which consists of the parents, the ātman, sātmya (suitability) and nourishment (rasa), with the psyche (sattva) as an associated element. Although being strongly opposed to Ātreya’s view, Bharadvāja does not bring forward an alternative thesis and restricts himself to an enumeration of proofs to the contrary.