Chapter 95 – Medicine / Marundhu
Couplets / kuratpaakal
Couplet 941
The learned books count three, with wind as first; of these,
As any one prevail, or fail; ’twill cause disease.
Explanation
If (food and work are either) excessive or deficient, the three things enumerated by (medical) writers, flatulence, biliousness, and phlegm, will cause (one) disease.
Transliteration
Mikinum Kuraiyinum Noiseyyum Noolor
Valimudhalaa Enniya Moondru.
Couplet 942
No need of medicine to heal your body’s pain,
If, what you ate before digested well, you eat again.
Explanation
No medicine is necessary for him who eats after assuring (himself) that what he has (already) eaten has been digested.
Transliteration
Marundhena Ventaavaam Yaakkaikku Arundhiyadhu
Atradhu Potri Unin.
Couplet 943
Who has a body gained may long the gift retain,
If, food digested well, in measure due he eat again.
Explanation
If (one’s food has been) digested let one eat with moderation; (for) that is the way to prolong the life of an embodied soul.
Transliteration
Atraal Aravarindhu Unka Aqdhutampu
Petraan Netidhuykkum Aaru.
Couplet 944
Knowing the food digested well, when hunger prompteth thee,
With constant care, the viands choose that well agree.
Explanation
(First) assure yourself that your food has been digested and never fail to eat, when very hungry, whatever is not disagreeable (to you).
Transliteration
Atradhu Arindhu Kataippitiththu Maaralla
Thuykka Thuvarap Pasiththu.
Couplet 945
With self-denial take the well-selected meal;
So shall thy frame no sudden sickness feel.
Explanation
There will be no disaster to one’s life if one eats with moderation, food that is not disagreeable.
Transliteration
Maarupaatu Illaadha Unti Maruththunnin
Oorupaatu Illai Uyirkku.
Couplet 946
On modest temperance as pleasures pure,
So pain attends the greedy epicure.
Explanation
As pleasure dwells with him who eats moderately, so disease (dwells) with the glutton who eats voraciously.
Transliteration
Izhivarindhu Unpaankan Inpampol Nirkum
Kazhiper Iraiyaankan Noi.
Couplet 947
Who largely feeds, nor measure of the fire within maintains,
That thoughtless man shall feel unmeasured pains.
Explanation
He will be afflicted with numberless diseases, who eats immoderately, ignorant (of the rules of health).
Transliteration
Theeyala Vandrith Theriyaan Peridhunnin
Noyala Vindrip Patum.
Couplet 948
Disease, its cause, what may abate the ill:
Let leech examine these, then use his skill.
Explanation
Let the physician enquire into the (nature of the) disease, its cause and its method of cure and treat it faithfully according to (medical rule).
Transliteration
Noinaati Noimudhal Naati Adhudhanikkum
Vaainaati Vaaippach Cheyal.
Couplet 949
The habitudes of patient and disease, the crises of the ill
These must the learned leech think over well, then use his skill.
Explanation
The learned (physician) should ascertain the condition of his patient; the nature of his disease, and the season (of the year) and (then) proceed (with his treatment).
Transliteration
Utraan Alavum Piniyalavum Kaalamum
Katraan Karudhich Cheyal.
Couplet 950
For patient, leech, and remedies, and him who waits by patient’s side,
The art of medicine must fourfold code of laws provide.
Explanation
Medical science consists of four parts, viz, patient, physician, medicine and compounder; and each of these (again) contains four sub-divisions.
Transliteration
Utravan Theerppaan Marundhuzhaich Chelvaanendru
Appaal Naar Kootre Marundhu.
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