A History of Indian Medical Literature v1.c24.234

v1.c24.234

The study of the Aṣṭāṅgahṛdaya is recommended. The work is described as being based on the Aṣṭāṅgasaṃgraha (40.78–80). The results to be obtained by studying it are mentioned (40.81–82). The excellence of the Aṣṭāṅgahṛdaya derives from the incorporation of the contributions of both Caraka and Suśruta (40.83–84). Someone unwilling to accept the counsel to study the Aṣṭāṅgahṛdaya, should laboriously go through the primordial treatise (expounded by Brahmā) and devote his whole life to it (40.85). One should not give credit to the words of other teachers, but hold to what has been said (in this treatise) by someone who regards himself as impartial (40.86–87). The foremost criterion for the acceptibility of teachings is not that they have been exposed by sages, but the well-chosen way of expressing them (subhāṣita) (40.88).