Thirukkural Chapter 95 - Medicine

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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)

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)

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)

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