Stances (Dravya) is five hundred and seventy-three, -these have already been explained in detail. The three qualities (viz., Sattva, Rajas and Tamas) have also been explained in connection with the (three) different Doshas (viz., Váyu, Pitta and Kapha) which are generally said to have sixty-two) combinations. 6 — 8.
Different Combinations of Doshas: —The three Doshas separately have three combinations, viz., where one of the Doshas is aggravated and the other two are in their normal state. Taken two at a time, both of them aggravated, whether equally or unequally (with the third in its normal state), the number of combinations would be nine; while the number of combinations would be thirteen if they are taken three at a time— all of them aggravated, both equally and unequally (thus making twenty-five in all with the aggravated Doshas). With an equal number of combinations in cases of the diminution of the Doshas' (taken one, two or three at a time) we have fifty combinations. The number of combinations (taken one, two and three at a time) with the aggravated and diminished Doshas mixed together would be twelve only. — Thus making sixty-two in all. 9
The number of combinations, when mixed together, would be innumerable. It, therefore, behoves a physician to treat a patient with the different combinations of the (six different) Rasas after properly diagnosing the disease with a due regard to the aggravation of the different Doshas and without going into any further details. In ameliorating a disease, the physician is the doer of that action the effect whereof is health and the instruments with which the action is performed are the Rasas while the Doshas are the causes. The opposite hereof is want of health. 10.
