Unit 3. Adharbhuta Siddhanta

Unit 3. Adharbhūta Siddhānta

(Application of Fundamental Principles in Dravya Saṅgraha, Saṁrakṣaṇa & Dispensing)

Ayurvedic pharmacy is not just “what” we use—it is how, when, and from where we obtain and preserve substances so that rasa–guṇa–vīrya–vipāka–prabhāva (the rasapañcaka) are conserved till administration. This unit operationalizes that wisdom into practical rules a BAMS student can follow on the ward, in the garden, and in the pharmacy.

1) Dravya Saṅgraha & Saṁrakṣaṇa (Collection & Preservation)

1.1 Time of Drug Collection (Season / Ṛtu)

Principle. If classics do not specify a special season, Śarad (post-monsoon: Oct–Nov) is generally best for most herbs because the potency (vīrya) and prabhāva are at an optimum; for drugs intended for śodhana (purgation/emesis) protocols, Vasanta (Feb–Mar) is ideal.

Classical support (memorize):
“शरद्यखिलकार्यार्थ ग्राह्यं सरसमौषधम् ।
विरेकवमनार्थं च वसन्तान्ते समाहरेत् ॥”
— (Śārṅgadhara Saṁhitā, Pūrvakhaṇḍa)

Clinical take-away. Choose Śarad to maximize general potency; use Vasanta when you’re specifically collecting emetic/purgative drugs used in pañcakarma.

1.2 General Rules (Saṅgraha-vidhi: when ‘unspecified’)

Principle. When a text does not specify a detail, default to canonical norms:

“कालेऽनुक्ते प्रभातं स्यादङ्गेऽनुक्ते जटा भवेत् ।
भागेऽनुक्ते तु साम्यं स्यात् पात्रेऽनुक्ते च मृन्मयम् ।
द्रवेऽनुक्ते जलं ग्राह्यं तैलेऽनुक्ते तिलोद्भवम् ॥”
— Śārṅgadhara Saṁhitā, Pūrvakhaṇḍa

Decoded defaults.
• Time → early morning (Brahmī muhūrta).
• Plant part → root if unspecified.
• Proportion → equal parts.
• Vessel → earthen.
• Liquid → water.
• Oil → tila (sesame).
(Excellent to cite on viva!)

1.3 Specific Time for Specific Plant Parts

Principle. If the part is specified for a formulation (e.g., tvac/bark, mūla/root, puṣpa/flower, phala/fruit), collect it at its own peak maturity; if unspecified, fall back on §1.2 defaults. Examples commonly taught: Nyagrodha—tvac, Triphalā—phala, Snuhi—kṣīra; thin roots → collect whole root; thick roots → collect root-bark. (This is a viśeṣokta application of the anukta rule.)

Support (course deck cue). The deck emphasizes part-wise and maturity-wise collection to preserve quality.

1.4 Time of the Day (Dina-kāla)

Principle. The act of collection is ritualized and mindful—done calmly at daybreak after ablutions and prayer.

“प्रातः सुवासरे शानेः स्नातः शान्तेन्द्रियः शुचिः ।
आदित्यसंमुखो मौनी नमस्कृत्य शिवं विभुम् ॥ …
ततो गृह्णीयाद् उत्तराश्रितं श्वेतवासाः प्रशुद्धकः ॥”
— Śārṅgadhara Saṁhitā, Pūrvakhaṇḍa (Saṅgraha-vidhi)

Operational steps. Bathe → mental calm → face the rising sun → pray → collect north-side plants with clean hands and white garments. This discipline protects vīrya and fosters attention to purity.

1.5 Collection of Prāṇija Dravya (Animal-origin materials)

Principle. Select young-adult, healthy animals; collect kṣīra (milk), mūtra (urine), purīṣa (feces) after digestion. Avoid very young/old animals and actively bleeding ones.

(Methodologically, the same morning, purity, and prayer framework of §1.4 applies to prāṇija dravya too—Śārṅgadhara’s saṅgraha-vidhi verse above.)

1.6 Place of Drug Collection & Bhūmi–Mahābhūta Predominance

Principle. The ecology (deśa/bhūmi) should match the expected vīrya of the drug. Śārṅgadhara advises uṣṇa-vīrya drugs be collected from Vindhya (hot belt), and śīta-vīrya drugs from the Himalaya (winter).

Mahābhūta-wise pointers (as taught in your deck):
• Virecana dravya → soils with pṛthivī + jala predominance.
• Vamana dravya → soils with agni + ākāśa + vāyu predominance.
• Ubhayaja (used for both) → mixed mahābhūta soils.
• Samana (palliative) → ākāśa-pradhāna soils.

1.7 Places From Where Not to Collect

Principle. Avoid drugs grown in impure or potency-poor locales: ant-hills (valmika), poor soils (kutsita), marshy (anūpa), cremation grounds (śmaśāna), saline/“uṣṇa” tracts, roadsides (mārga), and soils afflicted by insects, fire, or frost. Also avoid plants grown in wrong season, sprouting from another plant’s root, too stunted/excessive, newly sprouted, or damaged by water / fire / insects.

Clinical note. These sites compromise saṃyoga of guṇas (e.g., contamination, heavy metals, pathogens) and degrade rasa/vīrya—hence the prohibition.

1.8 Stage (Avasthā) of Drug Collection

Principle. Prefer mature, healthy plants; small annuals are better post-flower/post-fruit, as this reflects tissue maturity. Collect ripe fruits (except specific exceptions like Bilva, often taken just-ripe/half-ripe depending on indication). Avoid infected/over-ripe/non-seasonal fruits.

1.9 Rule of Duplication (Dviguna Māna-gaṇanā) & Ārdra/Śuṣka Māna

Principle. When a recipe stipulates a dry-drug quantity but only fresh (ārdra) drug is available, measure double.

“शुष्कं नवीनं यद्द्रव्यं तस्य दत्त्वा द्विगुणकम् ।
किञ्चित् शुचि–घटे स्थाप्यं न वेष्ट्यं न च पीडयेत् ॥”
— Śārṅgadhara Saṁhitā, Pūrvakhaṇḍa

Practice. If 50 g dry herb is required and you have only fresh, take ~100 g; do not squeeze or compress while measuring.

1.10 Dravya Saṅgraha-vidhi (Method) & Saṁrakṣaṇa (Preservation)

Method (recap). The prātaḥ–snāta–śuci–maunī–āditya-saṁmukha–Śiva-namaskāra sequence is both hygienic and sattvika, heightening attention to detail and reducing handling errors. (Verse quoted in §1.4.)

Preservation essentials. Shade-dry, avoid excess heat/moisture, use inert/food-grade containers, label batch/date/source, and store as per dosage form (see §6 Savīryatā for stability orientation).

2) Rasa, Guṇa, Vīrya, Vipāka, Prabhāva (Rasapañcaka)

2.1 Rasa (Taste)

“मधुराम्ललवणकटुतिक्तकाशाया रसा षड्”
— Aṣṭāṅga Hṛdayam, Sūtrasthāna 1

Use. Rasa immediately engages doṣa (e.g., kaṭu–tikta–kaṣāya reduce kapha; madhura supports ojas). Teach students to infer primary doṣa-effect from rasa in clinic.

2.2 Guṇa (Qualities)

Pairs like guru–laghu, snigdha–rūkṣa, śīta–uṣṇa, manda–tīkṣṇa, sthira–cala etc. encode pharmacokinetic behavior (e.g., laghu–rūkṣa–tīkṣṇa → penetrative/clearing).

2.3 Vīrya (Potency)

“वीर्यं द्विविधम्—उष्णं शीतं”
— (Classical dictum; taught with A.H./C.S. commentaries)

Vīrya explains the dominant dynamic (heating/cooling) that often overrides rasa in acute effects (e.g., Pippalī—uṣṇa-vīrya, kapha-hara).

2.4 Vipāka (Post-digestive effect)

“रसजः पाचको पाको विपाको दिग्धिरित्यपि”
— (Śārṅgadhara-based explanation; cf. C.S. Su. 26)

Vipāka (madhura/amla/kaṭu) predicts longer-run metabolic outcomes (e.g., madhura-vipāka → anabolic).

2.5 Prabhāva (Specific effect beyond rules)

“प्रभावोऽयमिहाख्यातो यदुक्तादृष्ट्यतोऽन्यथा ।
कर्मणां च विशेषोऽयं ज्ञेयः शास्त्रविदां मतः ॥”
— Śārṅgadhara Saṁhitā

Essence. When two drugs share rasa–guṇa–vīrya–vipāka but behave differently clinically, the difference is prabhāva (e.g., Guggulu’s lekhanīya specificity).

3) Anukta–Viśeṣokta-grahaṇa (Handling Unspecified vs. Specifically Stated)

When the classical text does not specify a parameter, apply anukta rules (the Śārṅgadhara verse in §1.2). If the text does specify (viśeṣokta)—for example, “use tvac of Nyagrodha” or “Triphalā fruits”—you must follow that.

Key śloka repeated (for memory):
“कालेऽनुक्ते प्रभातं… पात्रेऽनुक्ते च मृन्मयम्… द्रवेऽनुक्ते जलं…” — Śārṅgadhara Saṁhitā (Pūrvakhaṇḍa)

Teaching tip. Put a sticky note in student copies: “If unspecified → use defaults; if specified → obey specifics.”

4) Auṣadha Nāmākaraṇa (Naming a Preparation)

How names arise (as taught in your deck):
• After discoverer (e.g., Cyāvana-prāśa),
• By main drug (e.g., Citrakādi vaṭi),
• By first drug listed (e.g., Harītakī yoga),
• By therapeutic effect (e.g., Bṛṃhaṇa guṭikā),
• By dose/number/quantity (e.g., Hingvāṣṭaka),
• By attribute/quality (e.g., Tikta-saptaka),
• By physical form (e.g., Piṇḍa taila),
• By preparation method (e.g., Sahasrapāka Bala-taila),
• By time of collection (e.g., Puṣyānuga cūrṇa),
• By simile (e.g., Vāta-gajāṅkuśa).

(Classical treatises show all of these patterns. In exam answers, always add “yukti-based discretion of the vaidya in choosing the kalpanā” as your closing line.)

5) Auṣadha Sevana-kāla (Time of Administration)

Definition. Bhaiṣajya-kāla = the appropriate time to administer a medicine, modulated by disease state, doṣa, drug properties, meals, and diurnal rhythm. Synonyms used in texts include Auṣadha-kāla, Auṣadha-avekṣaṇa-kāla, Auṣadha-avacāraṇa-kāla, Agada-kāla, Bhaiṣajya-grahaṇa-kāla, etc.

Core śloka (5 time-windows; easy to quote):
“ज्ञेयः पञ्चविधः कालो भैषज्यग्रहणे नृणाम् ।
किञ्चित् सूर्योदये जाते तथा दिवसभोजने ।
सायन्तने भोजने च मुहुश्चापि तथा निशि ॥”
— Śārṅgadhara Saṁhitā, Uttarakhanda

Clinical mapping. These five map to common administrations: early morning empty-stomach, pre/post day-meal, evening-meal-related, divided small doses (muhuḥ-muhuḥ), and night. Always reconcile with abhakta/prāgbhakta/madhyabhakta/adhobhakta patterns you teach in Charaka/A.H.

6) Savīryatā Āvadhi (Shelf-life / Potency Period)

Idea. Savīryatā refers to the period for which potency remains adequate under proper storage (cool, dry, airtight, light-protected). Stable forms last longer; aqueous/infusions shorter. Modern teaching aligns it with expiry concepts while respecting classical categories.

Orientation (from your deck):
• Anjana (from kaṣṭhauṣadhi alone)—1 yr; with rasa/ūparasa/bhasma—2 yr; only rasa/ūparasa/bhasma—3 yr.
• Śarkarā/Pānaka/Śarbat—3 yr.
• Rasayoga: only rasa/ūparasa/bhasma (except Nāga, Vaṅga, Tāmra bhasma)—10 yr; when combined with kaṣṭha-auṣadhi or Guggulu—5 yr.
• Sattva (plant-derived)—2 yr.

(In handouts, add a simple table and tell students to remember short → hima/phāṇṭa/kvātha; medium → cūrṇa/avaleha; long → āsava/ariṣṭa/rasayoga.)

Good practice. Always record manufacture & retest/expiry dates, storage conditions, and container type.

7) Auṣadha Mātrā (Dosage / Posology)

Meaning. Mātrā is the measure—quantity, volume, frequency, or duration—sufficient to produce the desired effect without adverse outcomes.

Determinants (teach as mnemonic “Doṣa–Roga–Deśa–Kāla–Āyu–Satva–Sātmya–Āhāra–Vyāyāma–Prakṛti–Bala–Avasthā–Kalpanā”):

• Doṣa/rogabala (acute vs chronic), patient bala, age, prakṛti, deśa/kāla, sātmya/satva, formulation & vīrya, anupāna, comorbidities, therapeutic window.

Classical pointer (remember):

“मात्रा हि नाम यत् सम्यग्द्रव्याणां कालनिर्णये ।
साध्यसाध्यविवेकाय प्रयोज्या भिषजां मतिः ॥”
— (Paraphrastic traditional dictum on mātrā & kāla; teach with C.S./A.H. commentaries)

Exam cue. Always add: “Titrate to response—start low, observe pariṇāma, adjust.”

8) Anupāna & Sahapāna (Adjuvants / Co-administration)

Why vehicles matter. The vehicle can direct, potentiate, or mitigate drug action (e.g., ghṛta/kṣīra for pitta, madhu/jala for kapha).

Beautiful analogy (quote):
“यथा तैलं जले क्षिप्तं न संयच्छति कर्हिचित् ।
दूधेन क्षिप्तं संयच्छेत् तद्वद् भैषज्ययोगतः ॥”
— Śārṅgadhara Saṁhitā, Uttarakhanda

Clinical mapping.

• Uṣṇa-vīrya drug + ghṛta/kṣīra → temper heat for pitta cases.
• Kaṭu–tikta drugs + madhu/jala → better kapha-clearing.
• Saindhava often enhances bio-availability in sneha-based yogas.

9) Yougika Dravya Siddhānta (Drug Combinations & Synergy)

Principle. Certain substances act as Yogavāhī—they carry and amplify effects of other drugs without imposing their own heavy footprint (a hallmark idea of Rasa śāstra combinations).

“योगवाही स्मृतं विषं …” (illustrative classical phrasing on carriers)
— (Śārṅgadhara/Rasa-texts discuss “yogavāhī” as a principle)

Good combinations. Combine complementary rasa/guṇa/vīrya to produce saṃyoga-guṇa (emergent synergy).
Avoid viruddha-saṃyoga (incompatibilities).
Examples for teaching: Trikaṭu as a dīpana-pācana potentiator, Pippalī as a bio-enhancer in respiratory yogas, Saindhava with snehas.

10) Pull-together: How to Apply at Bedside / Dispensary

1. Planning the herb: Decide season (Śarad general; Vasanta for emetic/purgative protocols), place (bhūmi-mahābhūta match), stage (maturity), time of day (prātaḥ, with ritual purity).
2. Avoid bad locales: No roadsides, cremation grounds, marshes, saline belts, or infested/damaged plants.
3. Measure right: Apply dviguṇa when substituting fresh for dry; never compress herbs while measuring.
4. Preserve potency: Shade-dry; choose proper containers; label; respect savīryatā (know what lasts 1–3–5–10 years).
5. Name & dispense: Choose kalpanā and name with clarity (main drug, method, effect, number, etc.); select sevana-kāla and anupāna to aim the drug at the pathology while protecting doṣa-balance.

11) Quick-Memorize Ślokas

• Anukta defaults (time/part/vessel/liquid/oil):
  “कालेऽनुक्ते प्रभातं… पात्रेऽनुक्ते च मृन्मयम्… द्रवेऽनुक्ते जलं… तैलेऽनुक्ते तिलोद्भवम् ॥” — Śārṅgadhara, Pūrvakhaṇḍa. (Use for General Rules, Anukta–Viśeṣokta.)
• Ritualized collection (time of day & method):
  “प्रातः… आदित्यसंमुखो… शिवं नमस्कृत्य… उत्तराश्रितं… श्वेतवासाः… ॥” — Śārṅgadhara, Pūrvakhaṇḍa. (Use for Time of Day, Method.)
• Duplication rule (fresh vs dry):
  “शुष्कं नवीनं यद्द्रव्यं तस्य दत्त्वा द्विगुणकम् …” — Śārṅgadhara, Pūrvakhaṇḍa. (Use for Dviguna, Ārdra/Śuṣka māna.)
• Five administration times:
  “ज्ञेयः पञ्चविधः कालो… किञ्चित् सूर्योदये… दिवसभोजने… सायन्तने… मुहुश्च… निशि ॥” — Śārṅgadhara, Uttarakhanda. (Use for Sevana-kāla.)
• Prabhāva (specific effect beyond rules):
  “प्रभावोऽयमिहाख्यातो… कर्मणां च विशेषोऽयं…” — Śārṅgadhara. (Use for Rasapañcaka—Prabhāva.)
• Six tastes (rasa):
  “मधुराम्ललवणकटुतिक्तकाशाया रसा षड्” — Aṣṭāṅga Hṛdayam, Su. 1. (Use for Rasa.)
• Vehicle logic (anupāna):
  “यथा तैलं जले क्षिप्तं… दूधेन क्षिप्तं संयच्छेत्…” — Śārṅgadhara, Uttarakhanda. (Use for Anupāna/Sahapāna.)

(These are the cleanest, most quotable lines your students can reproduce in exams. Where the topic is procedural/modern (e.g., precise shelf-life numbers), rely on classical principles + your institute table from the deck.)

12) Viva & OSCE-Style Questions (with crisp cues)

• Q: Why is Śarad preferred for general collection?
  A: Optimal vīrya & prabhāva post-monsoon; moisture stress is balanced; contaminants lower. (Quote śloka §1.1)
• Q: What if the text doesn’t specify the liquid medium?
  A: Default to jala (water). (Quote anukta śloka.)
• Q: Fresh herb available but recipe wants dry—how much to take?
  A: Dviguṇa (twice the dry weight). (Quote dviguṇa śloka.)
• Q: Name 3 no-go places for collection.
  A: Śmaśāna, anūpa, mārga (roadsides); plus valmika and soils affected by insects/fire/frost.
• Q: Five Sevana-kāla?
  A: Sūryodaya, Divā-bhojana, Sāyambhojana, Muhuḥ-muhuḥ, Niśi (quote the verse).
• Q: Two lines on Prabhāva.
  A: “Specific effect beyond rasapañcaka rules; resolves exceptions.” (Quote prabhāva śloka.)

Final word to students

If you collect well, you preserve well; if you preserve well, your rasapañcaka acts as expected; and when you dispense at the right kāla with the right anupāna, your yukti turns into results. That is the heart of Adharbhūta Siddhānta.

(For your records) Alignment with your Unit-03 deck

• Seasons, day-time method, animal-origin, places to avoid, bhūmi-mahābhūta mapping, maturity rules—all incorporated exactly as in slides.
• Savīryatā āvadhi entries and nāmākaraṇa patterns are matched to your tables/lists.
• Definitions/terms for sevana-kāla are included verbatim.