औषधेष्वपि सर्वेषु हास्यं श्रेष्ठं वदन्ति ह। स्वाधीनं सुलभं चैवारोग्यानन्दविवर्धनम्॥
auṣadheṣv api sarveṣu hāsyaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ vadanti ha । svādhīnaṃ sulabhaṃ caivārogyānandavivardhanam ॥
Meaning of Auṣadheṣv Api Sarveṣu Hāsyaṃ
It is truly said that among all the medicines laughter is the best medicine, because it is free and easy to obtain and it results in increase of happiness and health. So keep smiling.
Word by word
- औषधेषुauṣadheṣu
among medicines
ओषधि
- अपि सर्वेषुapi sarveṣu
among all
सर्व
- हास्यम्hāsyam
laughter
√हस्
- श्रेष्ठम्śreṣṭham
the best
श्रेष्ठ
- वदन्ति हvadanti ha
they indeed say
√वद्
- स्वाधीनम्svādhīnam
within one's own control
स्व + अधीन
- सुलभम्sulabham
easy to obtain
सु + √लभ्
- च एवcaiva
and indeed
- आरोग्यानन्दविवर्धनम्ārogyānandavivardhanam
increasing health and joy
आरोग्य + आनन्द + वि + √वृध्
Commentary
The verse calls laughter the finest medicine because it is both svādhīna, within one's own reach, and sulabha, readily available. Unlike a remedy that must be obtained from elsewhere, a cheerful disposition can be cultivated in ordinary life and shared without depletion. The comparison does not make laughter a substitute for medical treatment; it recognizes the close relationship between mental ease, social warmth, and bodily well-being. Its practical wisdom lies in treating joy as a daily health resource rather than an occasional reward. A smile cannot solve every affliction, but it can lighten strain, strengthen companionship, and help the mind meet difficulty with greater resilience.
Original Post
More subhashitams on Health
View topic pageदेव्या यया ततमिदं जगदात्मशक्त्या निश्शेषदेवगणशक्तिसमूहमूर्त्या। तामम्बिकामखिलदेवमहर्षिपूज्यां भक्त्या नताः स्म विदधातु शुभानि सा नः॥
devyā yayā tatamidaṃ jagadātmaśaktyā niśśeṣadevagaṇaśaktisamūhamūrtyā । tāmambikāmakhiladevamaharṣipūjyāṃ bhaktyā natāḥ sma vidadhātu śubhāni sā naḥ ॥
A prayer from Devi Mahatmyam to Ambika, who pervades the world and embodies all divine powers, asking for blessings for everyone.
सुखोपविष्टास्ते तत्र पुण्यां चक्रुः कथामिमाम्। धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणामारोग्यं मूलमुत्तमम्॥
sukhopaviṣṭās te tatra puṇyāṃ cakruḥ kathām imām । dharmārthakāmamokṣāṇām ārogyaṃ mūlam uttamam ॥
Charaka Samhita presents good health as the foremost foundation for pursuing dharma, prosperity, desire and liberation.
हिताहितं सुखं दुःखमायुस्तस्य हिताहितम्। मानं च तच्च यत्रोक्तमायुर्वेदः स उच्यते॥
hitāhitaṃ sukhaṃ duḥkham āyus tasya hitāhitam । mānaṃ ca tac ca yatroktam āyurvedaḥ sa ucyate ॥
Charaka Samhita defines Ayurveda through beneficial and harmful, happy and unhappy forms of life and the measure of lifespan.