सुखोपविष्टास्ते तत्र पुण्यां चक्रुः कथामिमाम्। धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणामारोग्यं मूलमुत्तमम्॥
sukhopaviṣṭās te tatra puṇyāṃ cakruḥ kathām imām । dharmārthakāmamokṣāṇām ārogyaṃ mūlam uttamam ॥
Meaning of Sukhopaviṣṭās Te Tatra Puṇyāṃ
The great sages, sitting peacefully, narrated this sacred story. According to which good health is the main foundation for attaining the four goals of life - Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha.
Word by word
- सुखोपविष्टाःsukhopaviṣṭāḥ
seated comfortably
सुख + उप + √विश्
- ते तत्रte tatra
they there
- पुण्याम्puṇyām
auspicious or sacred
- चक्रुःcakruḥ
they held or conducted
√कृ
- कथाम् इमाम्kathām imām
this discourse
- धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणाम्dharmārthakāmamokṣāṇām
of dharma, artha, kama and moksha
धर्म + अर्थ + काम + मोक्ष
- आरोग्यम्ārogyam
health or freedom from illness
अ + रोग
- मूलम् उत्तमम्mūlam uttamam
the foremost foundation
Commentary
The verse opens with the sages seated at ease and engaged in a puṇyā kathā, an auspicious discourse. It then says that ārogya, freedom from illness or sound health, is the highest root from which the four puruṣārthas can be pursued. By naming dharma, artha, kāma and mokṣa together, it encompasses ethical responsibility, material means, human aspirations and spiritual liberation. Health is not the final aim of life here. It is the basis that makes movement toward every aim possible. The image of the sages' composed gathering also suits the teaching, joining bodily ease with thoughtful deliberation. In modern life, the verse asks us to regard care for health as support for meaningful action rather than as an isolated personal concern.
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More from Charaka Samhita
View source pageहिताहितं 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.
विद्या वितर्को विज्ञानं स्मृतिस्तत्परता क्रिया। यस्यैते षड्गुणास्तस्य नासाध्यमतिवर्तते॥
vidyā vitarko vijñānaṃ smṛtis tatparatā kriyā । yasyaite ṣaḍguṇās tasya nāsādhyam ativartate ॥
Knowledge, reasoning, discernment, memory, readiness, and active effort together give a person the practical capability to accomplish difficult work.
More subhashitams on Health
View topic pageहिताहितं 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.
एको धर्मः परं श्रेयः क्षमैका शान्तिरुत्तमा। विद्यैका परमा तृप्तिरहिंसैका सुखावहा॥
eko dharmaḥ paraṁ śreyaḥ kṣamaikā śāntir uttamā । vidyaikā paramā tṛptir ahiṁsaikā sukhāvahā ॥
A verse from Vidura Niti in the Mahabharata that pairs four virtues with what each one alone can give: dharma brings the highest good, forgiveness the finest peace, knowledge true contentment, and non-violence lasting happiness.
स्वाधीनैव समृद्धिर्जनोपजीव्यत्वमुच्छ्रयश्छाया। सत्पुंसो मरुभूरिव जीवनमात्रं समाशास्यम्॥
svādhīnaiva samṛddhir janopajīvyatvam ucchrayaś chāyā । satpuṃso marubhūr iva jīvanamātraṁ samāśāsyam ॥
For a good person, as for a tree standing in the desert, self-reliant abundance, support for others, height and shade come naturally, so only that life itself need be wished for.