Pāda Catuṣtaya

Question 1

What is Pāda catuṣtaya?

Answer 1

The quadrants for effective disease management

Question 2

What are the 4 quadrants of Pāda catuṣtaya?

Answer 2

bhiṣak (physician)
dravya(therapeutic substances)
upasthātā (nurse /caregiver)
rogī (patient)

Question 3

What are the 4 qualities of dravya?

Answer 3

1. Bahu kalpa (can be turned into multiple formulations)
2. Bahu guṇa (possessing multiple qualities / broad-spectrum)
3. Saṃ panna (easily available and with requisite curative values)
4. Yogya (should be given in the right context)

Question 4

What makes up an Śreṣṭa Vaidya (Ideal Physician)?

Answer 4

A physician who has the ability to utilize appropriate dravya according to the condition of rogī

Question 5

What is “dravya”?

Answer 5

a substance in which properties (Guṇa) and actions (Karma) reside and maintain an inherent relation (Samavāyasaṃbandha) with them - cannot separate the quality or property from dravya

Question 6

What theory is Ayurveda based on?

Answer 6

kārya - kāra ṇatheory

Question 7

What is the kārya - kāra ṇa theory?

Answer 7

Kārya – kāra ṇa theory says that anything in this universe is produced by some cause. Every cause has an effect and this effect may be a cause for another effect. Right from the origin of the universe to the evolvement of human beings to the origin of diseases, at each and every event, this theory can be found and explained.

Question 8

What are the two classifications of dravya?

Answer 8

Āhāra (Rasa -dominant)
Auṣadha (Vīrya dominant)

Substances that act through rasas are called Āhara and those which work through potency are called vīrya.

Question 9

What does Āhāra dravya do?

Answer 9

nourishes the tissues and gives strength, mass, and energy

Question 10

What does Auṣadha dravya do?

Answer 10

shows specific pharmacological actions in the body and helps to bring balance

Question 11

Give an example of “Properties of substances get certain therapeutic actions done in the body.”

Answer 11

Rough quality (guṇa) of Guggulu (dravya) causes scraping action, which is useful in lowering cholesterol build-up in the arteries.

Question 12

What forms the basis of pharmacological action according to Ayurveda?

Answer 12

Gunas

Question 13

What is a guna?

Answer 13

the quality of dravya through which action takes place and is inseparable from dravya

Question 14

How many GURVĀDI GUṆA (PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES) are there?

Answer 14

Ten pairs of contrasting qualities.

Question 15

Explain this guna: Guru – Heavy, Bṛṃhaṇa

Answer 15

Nourishing - Increases the body tissues, imparts heaviness to the body, and is heavy to digest

E.g. Blackgram, Aśvagandhā

Question 16

Explain this guna: Laghu – Light, Laṅghana

Answer 16

Reducing - Decreases body tissues, makes the body light, and is easy to digest

E.g. Greengram, Black Pepper

Question 17

Explain this guna: Śīta or Hima – Cold, Stambhana

Answer 17

It is arresting - Obstructs motion in the body and constricts the channels; reduces temperature or imparts coldness.

E.g. Sandalwood, Vetiver

Question 18

Explain this guna: Uṣṇa – Hot, Svedana

Answer 18

Fermenting - Increases perspiration; increases temperature or imparts heat

E.g., Dry Ginger, Citraka

Question 19

Explain this guna: Snigdha – Oily, Kledana

Answer 19

Moistening - Creates moistness in the body

E.g. Eraṇḍa, Licorice

Question 20

Explain this guna: Rūk ṣa – Dry, Śoṣaṇa

Answer 20

Absorbing - Creates dryness and absorbs fluids

E.g., Śilājatu, Barley

Question 21

Explain: Manda - Slow, Dull,Śamana

Answer 21

Slowing - Having the least amount of mobility, pacifies aggravated Pitta, increases Kapha

E.g., Śatāvari, Anantamūla

Question 22

Explain: Tīk ṣṇa– Sharp/Penetrating, Śodhana

Answer 22

Penetrating - Loosens doṣas from the body, responsible for sharpness/ quickness

E.g., Citraka, Bhallātaka

Question 23

Explain: Sthira – Stable, Dhāra

Answer 23

Stabilizing - Provides stability/ firmness

E.g., Bala, Vidārī

Question 24

Explain: Sara – Flowing, Prērana

Answer 24

Stimulating - Stimulates motion

E.g., Harītakī, Trivṛt

Question 25

Explain: Mṛdu– Soft, Ślathana

Answer 25

Loosening - Is soft and gentle on the body

E.g., Licorice, ghee

Question 26

Explain: Kaṭhina– Hard, Dṛḍ hīkaraṇa

Answer 26

Hardening - Imparts a firmness to the body

E.g., Conch shell, Coral

Question 27

Explain: Picchila – Slimy, stickiness, Lepana

Answer 27

Adhering - Gives coating

E.g., Śālmali, Psyllium Husk

Question 28

Explain: Viśada– Cleans, Viśada

Answer 28

That which cleanses the body

E.g., Neem, Honey

Question 29

Explain: Ślak ṣṇa – Smooth, Ropaṇa

Answer 29

That which heals

E.g., Licorice, Dugdha pāṣā ṇa (Talcum)

Question 30

Explain: Khara - Rough, Lekhana

Answer 30

Scrapes the channels

E.g., Guggulu, Kaṭukā

Question 31

Explain: Sthūla-Gross, Bulky, Samvaraṇā

Answer 31

Covering - Occupies the space

E.g., Vidārī, Aśvagandhā

Question 32

Explain: Sūk ṣma – Subtle, Vivaraṇa

Answer 32

Pervading - Penetrates the channels

E.g., Pepper, Honey

Question 33

Explain: Sāndra– Dense, Prasādana

Answer 33

Solidifying - Nourishes, soothe, and purifies tissues

E.g., Butter, cream

Question 34

Explain: Drava - Liquid, Vilo ḍana

Answer 34

Liquifying - Helps secretion and spreads to the tissues

E.g., Milk, castor oil

Question 35

What is rasa?

Answer 35

The special sense object perceived through the tongue (Rasanendriya). It refers to the total subjective experience arising from placing any substance in the mouth. Rasa is a directly perceivable parameter for herb identification.

Question 36

How many Different meanings of rasa are there? Name them.

Answer 36

4 that is applied in different contexts in Ayurveda.

1. Bhakṣāyati
2. Gacchati
3. Prasārati
4. Āsvādyate

Question 37

what is Āsvādyate

Answer 37

relishing - This meaning is used in the context of Dravyaguṇaśāstra for the taste of herbs

Question 38

What is Prasārati?

Answer 38

spreading - That which spreads faster in the human body is called Rasa. This is used to represent expressed juice of a herb in the context of Ayurvedic pharmacology.

Question 39

What is Gacchati?

Answer 39

constant motion / circulation -
That which moves constantly in a cyclic pattern is called Rasa. This meaning implies to the first formed dhātu in Ayurvedic physiology.

Question 40

What is Bhakṣāyati?

Answer 40

consuming - Rasa is used as a synonym for mercury in Vedic Alchemy since it engulfs other metals like gold and silver