A History of Indian Medical Literature v1.c8.126

v1.c8.126

Vāmaka, king of Kāśī, inquires whether the origin of man is the same as that of his diseases. Pārīkṣi Maudgalya brings forward that, as the puruṣa arises from ātman, the diseases also arise from it. Śaraloman disagrees; in his view, manas, also called sattva, when pervaded by rajas and tamas, is the basis of the human body and its diseases. Vāryovida contradicts him, being convinced that rasa is to be regarded as the prime cause. Hiraṇyākṣa says that the puruṣa originates from the six dhātus, as expounded by the ancient Sāṃkhyas.460 Kauśika proposes that a human being originates from his parents, who also transmit the diseases inherent in the human condition. The puruṣa and his diseases are a product of karman in Bhadrakāpya’s eyes, but of svabhāva in Bharadvāja’s opinion. Kāṅkāyana posits Prajāpati as the prime cause, bhikṣu Ātreya regards kāla (time) as such.461 At the end of this discussion, Ātreya Punarvasu declares that all the entities (bhāva) that generate a human being, when suitably combined, cause his disorders when this suitable combination is interfered with (25.5–29).462