[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Science, technology and education](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science) › [Vada in Theory and Practice: Studies in Debates, Dialogues and Discussions in Indian Intellectual Discourses](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.tripathi-2021) › c7.s2.4 # Vada in Theory and Practice: Studies in Debates, Dialogues and Discussions in Indian Intellectual Discourses c7.s2.4 Vāda in Theory and Practice: Studies in Debates, Dialogues and Discussions in Indian Intellectual Discourses c7.s2.4 - **Language:** English ### [c7.s2.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.tripathi-2021.c7.s2.4) According to Caraka, the whole discourse in his text is delivered through four sections/segments: \*tantra\* (text), \*sthāna\* (section), \*adhyāya\* (chapters) and \*praśna\* (queries and their answers) by the \*pravaktṛs\* (spokesmen/proponents) of this \*śāstra\*. The themes are to be explained in brief and in detail through the five stages of \*pratijñā\*, \*hetu\*, \*udāharaṇa\*, \*upanaya\* and \*nigamana\*, so that the discussion is made comprehensible for all the three types of disciples — brilliant, average and dull.³³ Caraka has also given the model of questions and answers that can proceed between a \*guru\* and his \*śiṣya\* of this \*śāstra\*.³⁴ He has used the term \*sambhāṣā\* (conversation) instead of \*kathā\* (discussion). Themes for discussions or questions between two \*vaidyas\* have also been defined by Caraka. They comprise of a group of eight categories — \*tantra\* (treatise or the text), \*tantrārtha\* (contents of the text), \*sthāna\* (sections in the text), \*sthānārtha\* (contents of the sections), \*adhyāya\* (chapters), \*adhyāyārtha\* (contents of the chapters), \*praśna\* (topics) and \*praśnārtha\* (contents of the topics).³⁵ - [Previous: c7.s2.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.tripathi-2021.c7.s2.3) - [Next: c7.s2.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.tripathi-2021.c7.s2.5) - [Up: c7.s2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.tripathi-2021.c7.s2) ## Linked texts (1) - [Carakasaṃhitā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.med.samhita.caraka) — Agniveśa (Āyurveda) & Caraka, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.tripathi-2021.c7.s2.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.tripathi-2021.c7.s2.4) · Pramāṇa