Ashtanga Hrudaya Sutra Sthana Chapter 11: Doshadi Vijnaniyam Adhyayam (Details of Tridoshas)

दोषधातुमला मूलं सदा देहस्य
Dosha – Vata, Pitta and Kapha
Dhatu – Body tissues – Rasa, Rakta, Mamsa, Meda, Asthi, Majja and Shukra
Mala – Waste products – Sweda, Mutra and Pureesha
are the roots / chief constituents of the body.

Functions of Normal Vata Dosha

तं चलः|
उत्साहोच्छ्वासनिश्वासचेष्टावेगप्रवर्तनैः||१||
सम्यग्गत्या च धातूनामक्षाणां पाटवेन च|
अनुगृह्णात्यविकृतः
The non-vitiated (avikrita) vata helps the body by promoting
Utsaha – enthusiasm,
Ucchvasa nisvasa – controlling exhalation and inhalation,
Chesta – regulating all the movements,
Vega pravartanaih – initiating the free flow of body’s natural urges,
Samyaggatya ca dhatunam – causing proper nourishment and functions of the tissues in the body and
Akshanam patavena ca – proper functioning (perception) of sense organs.

Symptoms of decreased waste products – Mala Kshaya Lakshana:
Symptoms of decreased Pureesha (faeces) – Pureesha Kshaya Lakshana:
पुरीषे वायुरान्त्राणि सशब्दो वेष्टयन्निव ।
कुक्षौ भ्रमति यात्यूर्ध्वं हृत्पार्श्वे पीडयन् भृशम् ॥ २१ ॥
Decrease of faeces gives rise to
Vayurantrani sashabdo veshtayanniva – gurgling noise in the intestines and bloating.
The vata moves around and travels in the upward direction (urdhvam) in the intestine causing discomfort and pain in the region of the hrit (heart) and parshva (flanks).

Symptoms of decreased Mutra (urine) – Mutra Kshaya Lakshana:
मूत्रेऽल्पं मूत्रयेत् कृच्छ्राद्विवर्णं सास्रमेव वा ।
Decrease of urine causes
Alpam mutrayet – scanty urination,
Krichrat – dysuria,
Vivarnam – urine discoloration or
Sasrameva va – hematuria.

Symptoms of decreased Sweda (sweat) – Sweda Kshaya Lakshana:
स्वेदे रोमच्युतिः स्तब्धरोमता स्फुटनं त्वचः ॥ २२ ॥
Decrease of sweat leads to
Roma chyuti – falling of hair,
Stabdha romata – stiffness of hair and
Sphutanam tvacha – cracking of the skin.

Symptoms of decrease of wastes of small quantities – Sukshma Mala Kshaya Lakshana:
मलानामतिसूक्ष्माणां दुर्लक्ष्यं लक्षयेत् क्षयम् ।
स्वमलायनसंशोषतोदशून्यत्वलाघवैः ॥ २३ ॥
Decrease of Malas which are of small quantities are difficult to perceive, it should be inferred by
Samshosha – dryness,
Toda – pricking pain,
Shunyatva – emptiness and
Laghavaih – lightness of Svamalayana (their respective sites of production and elimination).

Method of identifying Kshaya (decrease) and Vriddhi (increase) of Dosha, Dhatu and Mala:
दोषादीनां यथास्वं च विद्याद्वृद्धिक्षयौ भिषक् ।
क्षयेण विपरीतानां गुणानां वर्धनेन च ॥ २४ ॥
वृद्धिं मलानां सङ्गाच्च क्षयं चातिविसर्गतः ।
मलोचितत्वाद्देहस्य क्षयो वृद्धैस्तु पीडनः ॥ २५ ॥
The decrease of Dosha, Dhatu etc can be observed by the increase of opposite qualities.
The increase of Dosha Dhatu etc can be observed by the increase of similar qualities.
The increase of Malas is observed by their non-elimination (too much of waste product accumulation leading to obstruction) and their decrease by too much elimination in little quantities.
Since the body is accustomed to accumulation of waste products in the intestines and bladder, the decreased formation of waste products is considered to be more troublesome in comparison to its increase.

Ashraya-Ashrayi Sambandha – Relationship between Dosha and Dhatu:
तत्रास्थीनि स्थितो वायुः पित्तं तु स्वेदरक्तयोः ।
श्लेष्मा शेषेषु तेनैषामाश्रयाश्रयिणामिथः ॥ २६ ॥
यदेकस्य तदन्यस्य वर्धनक्षपणौषधम् ।
अस्थिमारुतयोर्नैवं
Tatra asthani sthito vayuh – in the bones reside the Vata
Pittam tu sveda raktayo – Pitta resides in the sweat (sweda) and blood (rakta)
Sleshma shesheshu – kapha (shleshma) resides in the rest of the dhatus (tissues) and malas (waste products, other than those mentioned for Vata and Pitta)
Due to this reason, the doshas and dhatus are related mutually in ashraya ashrayi (abode and resident) relationship.
When one among the ashraya (tissues) and ashrayi (doshas) increases, the other one too increases; similarly if one decreases, the other too decreases.
This can be treated with the help of vardhana (increasing, when there is decrease) and kshapana (decreasing when there is increase).
Asthi marutayor naivam – but the above rule is not applicable in case of asthi (bone) and vata. If vata decreases, then the asthi increases and when vata increases, the asthi decreases.

Cause of increase and decrease of Dosha, their treatment:
प्रायो वृद्धिर्हि तर्पणात् ॥ २७ ॥
श्लेष्मणानुगता तस्मात् सङ्क्षयस्तद्विपर्ययात् ।
वायुनानुगतास्माच्च वृद्धिक्षयसमुद्भवान् ॥ २८ ॥
विकारान् साधयेच्छीघ्रं क्रमाल्लङ्घनबृंहणैः ।
वायोरन्यत्र तज्जांस्तु तैरेवोत्क्रमयोजितैः ॥ २९ ॥
The increase of Doshas, Dhatus and Mala is usually due to excess nutrition (tarpana), which is followed later on with increase of Kapha.
The decrease of Doshas, Dhatus and Mala is due to kshaya (loss of nutrition) which is followed, later with increase of Vayu (Vata).
Hence, the diseases arising from increase of Dosha and Dhatu should be usually treated quickly by adopting Langhana (therapies causing thinning of the body).
The diseases arising from the decrease of Dosha and Dhatu should be treated with Brimhana therapy (nourishing therapies).
But in the case of Vata, the order is reversed. If Vata is increased, then Brihmana therapy should be adopted and if Vata decreases then Langhana therapy should be adopted.

Specific treatments for diseases due to increase and decrease of Dhatus and Mala:
विशेषाद्रक्तवृद्ध्युत्थान् रक्तस्रुतिविरेचनैः ।
मांसवृद्धिभवान् रोगान् शस्त्रक्षाराग्निकर्मभिः ॥ ३० ॥
Diseases arising from increase of blood should be treated by
Raktasruti – bloodletting and
Virechana – purgation.
Diseases caused due to increase of muscle tissue should be treated with the help of
Shastrakarma – sharp instruments (surgery),
Ksharakarma – use of caustic alkalis and
Agnikarma – fire cautery.

स्थौल्यकार्श्योपचारेण मेदोजानस्थिसङ्क्षयात् ।
जातान् क्षीरघृतैस्तिक्तसंयुतैर्वस्तिभिस्तथा ॥ ३१ ॥
Diseases caused by increase and decrease of fat (meda) should be treated by therapies indicated for sthoulya (obesity) and karshya (emaciation) respectively.
Diseases caused by decrease of bone tissue should be treated by basti (enema therapy) prepared with ksheera (milk), grita (ghee) and tikta (bitter) drugs.

Treatment for diseases due to increase of Majja (bone marrow) and Shukra (reproductive fliud, semen):
मज्जशुक्रोद्भवान् रोगान् भोजनैः स्वादुतिक्तकैः ।
वृद्धं शुक्रं व्यवायाद्यैर् यच्चान्यच्छुक्रशोषिकम् ॥ ३१+१ ॥
Majja and Shukra Dhatu related disorders should be treated with foods predominant in Svada (sweet) and Tikta (bitter) rasa.
Increase of Shukra Dhatu can by managed by vyavaya (sexual intercourse) or with herbs to dry up excess shukra (Shukra Shoshikam)

Treatment for diseases due to increase and decrease of Purisha (faeces):
विड्वृद्धिजानतीसारक्रियया विट्क्षयोद्भवान् ।
मेषाजमध्यकुल्माषयवमाषद्वयादिभिः ॥ ३२ ॥
Diseases caused by the increase of faeces should be treated on the lines of atisara (diarrhea).
Diseases caused by decrease of feces should be treated by the use of abdominal viscera of mesha (ram / sheep) or aja (goat), kulmasha (half steamed pulses), yava (barley) and masha dvaya (two varieties of black gram) etc. for food.

Treatment for increase and decrease of Mutra (urine) and decrease of Sweda (sweat):
मूत्रवृद्धिक्षयोत्थांश्च मेहकृच्छ्रचिकित्सया ।
व्यायामाभ्यञ्जनस्वेदमद्यैः स्वेदक्षयोद्भवान् ॥ ३३ ॥
Increase and decrease of mutra (urine) should be treated by adopting the treatments indicated for meha (urinary disorders, diabetes) and krichra (dysuria) respectively.
Diseases caused due to decrease of sweda (sweat) should be treated by adopting
Vyayama – physical exercises,
Abhyanjana – oil bath (massage),
Sweda – sudation therapies and
Madya – use of wine.

Relation of Kayagni with increase and decrease of Dhatu:
स्वस्थानस्थस्य कायाग्नेरंशा धातुषु संश्रिताः ।
तेषां सादातिदीप्तिभ्यां धातुवृद्धिक्षयोद्भवः ॥ ३४ ॥
पूर्वो धातुः परं कुर्याद्वृद्धः क्षीणश्च तद्विधम् ।
Located (present) in its own seat (place), the kayagni or the fire in the body has portions of itself located in the dhatu (tissues) also.
The decrease and increase of these agnis or fires (located in the tissues) will lead to Dhatu vriddhi (increase of tissues) and dhatu kshaya (decrease of the tissues) respectively.
When the purva dhatu (preceding tissue) gets increased, it also increases the succeeding dhatu (example, if rasa dhatu increases, it subsequently leads to increase of rakta dhatu).
Similarly, when the preceding tissue decreases, it also decreases the succeeding tissue.

Effects of vitiated Doshas – Dushta Dosha Karmani:
दोषा दुष्टा रसैर्धातून् दूषयन्त्युभये मलान् ॥ ३५ ॥
अधो द्वे सप्त शिरसि खानि स्वेदवहानि च ।
मला मलायनानि स्युर्यथास्वं तेष्वतो गदाः ॥ ३६ ॥
The doshas which are vitiated by unmethodical consumption of rasas (tastes) further vitiate the tissues. Later, these two (the vitiated doshas and dhatus) together vitiate the malas (waste products).
The vitiated malas (waste products) in turn vitiate the malayanas (channels of elimination of waste products) among which
Adho dve – two are located in the lower portion of the body (anus and urethra),
Sapta shirasi – seven are located in the head (2 in eyes, 2 in ears, 2 nostrils and 1 mouth) and
Khani svedavahani ca – the channels of sweat are innumerable and located all throughout the body.
From these vitiated channels develop many diseases related to the channels.

Ojas – The essence of the tissues:
ओजस्तु तेजो धातूनां शुक्रान्तानां परं स्मृतम् ।
हृदयस्थमपि व्यापि देहस्थितिनिबन्धनम् ॥ ३७ ॥
स्निग्धं सोमात्मकं शुद्धं ईषल्लोहितपीतकम् ।
यन्नाशे नियतं नाशो यस्मिन् तिष्ठति तिष्ठति ॥ ३८ ॥
निष्पद्यन्ते यतो भावा विविधा देहसंश्रयाः ।
Ojas is the essence of the Dhatus;
It is mainly located in the hridaya (heart). It is present all over the body and regulates health.
Qualities of Ojas –
Snigdha – unctuous, oily,
Somatmaka – watery,
Shuddha – clear,
Ishat Lohita Peetakam – slight reddish yellow in colour;
Loss of Ojas leads to loss of life.
All aspects of health are related to Ojas.

Causes of decrease of Ojas – Ojo Kshaya Karanani:
ओजः क्षीयते कोपक्षुद्ध्यानशोकश्रमादिभिः ॥ ३९ ॥
बिभेति दुर्बलोऽभीक्ष्णं ध्यायति व्यथितेन्द्रियः ।
दुश्छायो दुर्मना रूक्षो भवेत् क्षामश्च तत्क्षये ॥ ४० ॥
जीवनीयौषधक्षीररसाद्यास्तत्र भेषजम् ।
Causes for decrease of Ojas:
Ojas undergoes decrease in quantity by
Kopa – anger,
Kshut – hunger (starvation),
Dhyana – worry,
Shoka – grief,
Shrama – exertion etc.

Symptoms of decrease of Ojas:
The person presents with the following symptoms –
Bibheti – becomes fretful,
Durbalam – debilitated,
Abhikshnam dhyayati – repeatedly worries without any reason,
Vyathitendriyah – feels discomfort in sense organs,
Duhchayo – develops bad complexion,
Durmana – negative thoughts and
Ruksha – dryness.
Treatment for decrease of Ojas:
Use of drugs of Jivaniya group, ksheera (milk), rasa (meat juice) etc.

Increase of Ojas – Ojo Vriddhi:
ओजोविवृद्धौ देहस्य तुष्टिपुष्टिबलोदयः ॥ ४१ ॥
Increase of Ojas brings about
Tushti – contentment,
Pushti – nourishment of the body and
Bala – increase of strength.

Method of food consumption to combat Dosha increase and decrease:
यदन्नं द्वेष्टि यदपि प्रार्थयेताविरोधि तु ।
तत्तत्त्यजन्समश्नञ्च तौ तौ वृद्धिक्षयौ जयेत् ॥ ४२ ॥
The foods that are disliked should be rejected, and the foods which are desired should be consumed, taking care that the foods are avirodhi (not opposite to the qualities of doshas).
The above mentioned 2 measures will control the vriddhi (increase) and kshaya (decrease) of the doshas respectively.

कुर्वते हि रुचिं दोषा विपरीतसमानयोः ।
वृद्धाः क्षीणाश्च भूयिष्ठं लक्षयन्त्यबुधान तत् ॥ ४३ ॥
The doshas which have undergone vriddhi (increase) and ksheena (decrease) will generally produce a desire for foods which are viparita (dissimilar) and samana (similar) in properties to those of the doshas respectively, but the unintelligent person does not recognize them.

Behaviour of doshas when they are increased decreased and balanced:
यथाबलं यथास्वं च दोषावृद्धा वितन्वते ।
रूपाणि जहति क्षीणाः समाः स्वं कर्म कुर्वते ॥ ४४ ॥
The doshas which have undergone vriddha (increase) will produce their respective signs and symptoms according to their strength (less, moderate or severe vitiation),
The ksheena (decreased) doshas do not produce their respective features and
The sama (balanced) doshas will attend to their normal functions.

Reason for protecting the normalcy of Doshas:
य एव देहस्य समा विवृद्ध्यै त एव दोषा विषमावधाय ।
यस्मादतस्ते हितचर्ययैव क्षयाद्विवृद्धेरिव रक्षणीयाः ॥ ४५ ॥
The very same doshas, which when sama (balanced), are the cause for growth of the body, when vishama (abnormal), will become the cause for vadha (destruction) of the body.
Hence, by adopting suitable measures, the body should be protected from kshaya (decrease) and vivriddhi (increase) of doshas.

इति श्री वैद्यपतिसिंहगुप्तसूनु वाग्भटविरचितायां अष्टाङ्गहृदय संहितायां सूत्रस्थाने दोषादिविज्ञानीयो नाम एकादशोऽध्याय: |
Thus ends the 11th chapter of Ashtangahridaya Samhita Sutrasthana, named Doshadi Vijnaneeya Adhyaya, written by Shrimad Vagbhata, son of Shri Vaidyapati Simhagupta.