A History of Indian Medical Literature v1.c24.233

v1.c24.233

After listening to Ātreya’s teachings, Agniveśa, esteemed by Bheḍa and the other sages, remained unsatisfied; he asked why some patients, provided with all things necessary to recovery, die, whereas others, devoid of these things, attain full health (40.59–62ab). In reply to this question, (Ātreya) Punarvasu gives a discourse on the factors influencing the course of a disease and the outcome of the theraputic process; he concludes that the restricted power of medicine should be accepted, but that this science, nevertheless, holds out hope for suffering mankind, when practised by honest, learned and experienced physicians (40.62cd–77). 1180