Chapter 95: Medicine

Verse 945
Above, a householder is taking his lunch on a banana leaf. He is eating wholesome rice and curry with lots of fresh vegetables. Behind him a family elder who has followed this diet his whole life is smiling and physically fit. Below, a less controlled man is eating and drinking over abundantly. His diet is alcohol, fish and meat. Nearby, an elder in his household, who is following this diet, is suffering from many ailments.

TAKA Presents the Tirukural

You can access the entire text, in Tamil and English here:
Weaver’s Wisdom

Verse 941

Disease is but deficiency or excess of three life forces,
defined by writers of scientific texts as air, fire and water.

Verse 942

The body requires no medicine if you eat
only after the food you have already eaten is digested.

Verse 943

Once digestion is complete, eat with moderation;
that is the way to prolong the life of the body.

Verse 944

Assured the last meal has digested and sensing a keen appetite,
savor only foods that are fully agreeable.

Verse 945

Life remains unharmed when one eats with restraint,
refraining from foods that have proven disagreeable.

Verse 946

The pleasures of health abide in the man who eats moderately.
The pains of disease dwell with him who eats excessively.

Verse 947

The thoughtless glutton who gorges himself beyond the limits
of his digestive fires will be consumed by limitless ills.

Verse 948

Diagnose the illness, trace its cause,
seek the appropriate remedy and apply it skillfully.

Verse 949

An accomplished doctor prescribes a remedy after considering
the patient’s nature, the disease’s nature and the time of year.

Verse 950

Medicine consists of a patient, a physician, a prescription
and a nurse–each of these having four parts.