A History of Indian Medical Literature v1.c23.7

v1.c23.7

Śalya is declared to hold he foremost place among the branches of āyurveda, because it was applied, on the occasion of Dakṣa's⁸ sacrifice, with a view to the healing of the wounds inflicted and the restoration of the head of the sacrifice.⁹ It is pre-eminent too on account of its quick action, owing to the use of sharp and blunt instruments (śastra, yantra), caustics (kṣāra), and cautery (agni) (1.17–18).