Ayurveda is reportedly several thousands of years old and if you know anything about this ancient medical science, you probably know that it’s full of profound wisdom. Let’s take a look at some classical Ayurveda quotes and their meanings.

Or perhaps you know that it utilizes body types or constitutions to assist in determining one’s state of health. Or maybe you’ve knowingly or unknowingly seen some Ayurveda quotes already.

Regardless of what you know or don’t know about Ayurveda, you’re here, and if you’re looking for Ayurveda, you’re in the right place.

Awareness of the world around you and within you is one aspect of life that Ayurveda will teach you.

Especially once you know your constitution. When you know your body type, you’ll discover a whole new world of insight on your digestion, how to eat right for your constitution, the laws of nature, and how to honor your personal health needs with balance.

You’ll learn that what’s right for you is not necessarily right for someone else. And you’ll discover how to maintain a balance of your life energies or doshas, because, in Ayurveda, balance is health.

Ayurveda Quotes From The Classical Texts

If you dive further into studying Ayurveda, you’ll see that the ancient Ayurvedic texts are revered for their profound rules for living – to promote health as well as how to fix a diseased state of health.

Ayurveda is India’s ancient, natural medical system and it’s truly profound.

The following quotes were taken from the ancient texts on Ayurveda.

Esteemed by scholars around the world and studied by BAMS students (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine & Surgery) throughout India, these texts explain life in its entirety, the rules for living well, and how to return to good health using the science of life.

Enjoy these ancient Ayurveda quotes and if you have a question or want to share, please leave a comment below!

The Science of Life

Charaka Sutra Sthana, Chapter 1, verse 41

हिताहितं सुखं दुःखमायुस्तस्य हिताहितम्| 
मानं च तच्च यत्रोक्तमायुर्वेदः स उच्यते||४१|| 

Hitahitam sukham dukhamayustasya hitahitam
Maanam cha tacha yatrokatmayurvedah sa uchyate

Ayurveda is the science of life. Ayurveda gives remedies for…

• Hitayu – an advantageous life
• Ahita Ayu – a disadvantageous life
• Sukhayu – a happy state of health and mind
• Ahitayu – an unhappy state of health and mind

It also explains what is good and bad for life and how to measure life.

No Life Without Ojas

Charaka Sutra Sthana, Chapter 30, verse 9

वर्तयन्ति प्रीणिताः सर्वदेहिनः [ | 
यदृते सर्वभूतानां जीवितं नावतिष्ठते||९|| 

Vartyanti pidhitaah sarvadehinah,yadhyte sarvbhutaanaam jivitam na-avtishthete

Ojas keeps all living beings nourished and refreshed.
There can be no life without Ojas.

Ojas is a quantifiable liquid in the body, responsible for overall health, energy, and liveliness. It is both a mental and physical factor, the essence of all the body tissues.

To Maintain + To Heal

Charaka Sutrasthana, Chapter 30, verse 26

प्रयोजनं चास्य स्वस्थस्य स्वास्थ्यरक्षणमातुरस्य विकार प्रशमनंच||२६||
Prayojanaṃ cāsya svasthasya svāsthyarakṣaṇamāturasya vikārapraśamanaṃ

The utility of Ayurveda is to maintain the health of a healthy individual and heal the disease of the sick.

On The Power of Digestion

Charaka Sutra Sthana, Chapter 28, verse 342

बलमारोग्यमायुश्च प्राणाश्चाग्नौ प्रतिष्ठिताः| 
अन्नपानेन्धनैश्चाग्निर्ज्वलति व्येति चान्यथा  ||३४२|| 

Balamarogyamayushcha pranashchangnau
pratishthita,annapanendhanaishchagnirjwalati vyeti chanyatha

Strength, health, longevity, and vital breath are dependent upon the power of digestion including metabolism. When supplied with fuel in the form of food and drinks, this power of digestion is sustained; it dwindles when deprived of it. 

On Unwholesome Substances

Charaka Sutra Sthana, Chapter 26, verse 84

यत् किञ्चिद्दोषमास्राव्य  न निर्हरति कायतः| 
आहारजातं तत् सर्वमहितायोपपद्यते||८५|| 

Yet kinchitdoshmaasravyam na nirharati kayatah, aharjaatamtat sarvamhitayopapadhyate

All drugs and diets which dislodge the various Doshas from their proper place, but do not expel them out of the body are to be regarded as unwholesome. 

If you would like to learn more about Ayurveda and how it can positively impact your health and wellness, check out Cate Stillman’s course ‘Modern Ayurveda’ below.

On The Three Basic Pursuits

Charaka Sutra Sthana, Chapter 11, verse 3

इह खलु पुरुषेणानुपहतसत्त्वबुद्धिपौरुषपराक्रमेण हितमिह चामुष्मिंश्च लोके समनुपश्यता तिस्र एषणाः पर्येष्टव्या भवन्ति| 
तद्यथा– प्राणैषणा, धनैषणा, परलोकैषणेति||३|| 

Eh khalu purushenanupahatsatvabudhipaurushparakramen hitmih chamushmimshcha loke samnupashyata tisra aiyeshnah paryeshtavya bhavanti

Tadhyata- pranyeshna, dhanyeshna, parlokyeshnayti

The 3 basic pursuits of life

A person of normal mental faculty, intelligence, strength, and energy, has to seek three basic desires of life….

• Praneshana – the desire to live
• Dhaneshana – the desire to earn
• Paralokeshana – the desire to have a superior position after death

All Can Be Divided Into Two

Charaka Sutra Sthana, Chapter 11, verse 17

द्विविधमेव खलु सर्वं सच्चासच्च; तस्य चतुर्विधा परीक्षा– आप्तोपदेशः, प्रत्यक्षम्, अनुमानं, युक्तिश्चेति||१७|| 

Dwidhameva khalu sarvam sacchasachh, tasya chaturvidha pariksha – Aaptopdeshah, Pratyaksham, Anumanam, Yuktishcheti

All things of the universe can be divided into two.

1. Sat – true/existent
2. Asat – untrue/non existent

These can be examined using –

• Aptopadesha – scriptural testimony (words of enlightened, realized souls)
• Pratyaksha – direct perception using the sense organs
• Anumana – inference, or guessing with reason
• Yukti – reasoning with intelligence

The 3 Supports of Life

Charaka Sutra Sthana, Chapter 11, verse 35

त्रय उपस्तम्भा इति-आहारः, स्वप्नो, ब्रह्मचर्यमिति; एभिस्त्रिभिर्युक्तियुक्तैरुपस्तब्धमुपस्तम्भैः शरीरं 
बलवर्णोपचयोपचितमनुवर्ततेयावदायुःसंस्कारात् संस्कारमहितमनुपसेवमानस्य  , य इहैवोपदेक्ष्यते||३५|| 

Triya Upstambha iti- Aaharah, swapno, brahmacharyamiti, aibhistribhiryuktiyuktairupstabdhamupastambhayai shariram balvarnopchayopachitamnuvartateyaavadayu sanskaraat samskaramhitanupsevamanasya ya ihaivopdekshyate

The three supports of life are the following.

• Ahara – food
• Nidra – sleep
• Brahmacharya –  moderation of sexual intercourse (neither very frequently nor infrequent)

Healthy habits of food, sleep, and celibacy lead to good complexion, growth, and full health for the full span of one’s life.

True Saviors of Life

Charaka Sutra Sthana, Chapter 11, verse 53

प्रयोगज्ञानविज्ञानसिद्धिसिद्धाः सुखप्रदाः| 
जीविताभिसरास्ते स्युर्वैद्यत्वं तेष्ववस्थितमिति||५३|| 

Prayoggyanvighyansidhisidhah sukhpradah, jivitabhisraaste syurvaidhyatvam teshvavasthitamiti

Those [practitioners] who are accomplished in the administration of therapies, insight, and knowledge of therapeutics, are endowed with infallible success and can bring happiness to the seeker. They are saviors of life.

Health And Disease

Charaka Sutra Sthana, Chapter 9, verse 4

विकारो धातुवैषम्यं, साम्यं प्रकृतिरुच्यते| 
सुखसञ्ज्ञकमारोग्यं, विकारो दुःखमेव च||४|| 

Vikarodhatuvaishamayam, samyam prakritiruchyate, sukhsangyakamarogyam, vikarodukhmev cha

Definition of health and disease

Any disturbance in the equilibrium of Dhatus (Tridosha, body tissues, and waste products) is known as a disease.
The state of their equilibrium is health. Happiness indicates health and pain indicates disease.

Urges You Should Suppress

Charaka Sutra Sthana, Chapter 7, verse 27

लोभशोकभयक्रोधमानवेगान् विधारयेत्| 
नैर्लज्ज्येर्ष्यातिरागाणामभिध्यायाश्च बुद्धिमान्||२७|| 

Lobhshokbhyakrodhamaanvegaan vidharyet, nirlajjyeshyartiraganambhidhyaayaashcha buddhiman

A wise person should suppress mental urges pertaining to the following.
Lobha – greed

• Shoka – grief
• Bhaya – fear
• Krodha – anger
• Mana – vanity
• Nairlajja – shamelessness
• Irshya – jealousy
• Atiraga – excessive desire
• Abhidhyaya – ill will, malice

On Speaking Wisely

Charaka Sutra Sthana, Chapter 7, verse 28

परुषस्यातिमात्रस्यसूचकस्यानृतस्यच| 
वाक्यस्याकालयुक्तस्य धारयेद्वेगमुत्थितम्||२८|

Parushyatimaatrasya suchakasyaanratasya cha, vakyasyaakaalyuktasya dharyedwagamuthitam

In speaking, one should suppress the urges of…

• Parusha – speaking extremely harsh words
• Atimatra – speaking excessively
• Soochaka – backbiting
• Anruta – lies
• Akala Vakya – use of untimely words

The Many Benefits Of Exercise

Charaka Sutra Sthana, Chapter 16, verse 32

लाघवं कर्मसामर्थ्यं स्थैर्यं दुःखसहिष्णुता  | 
दोषक्षयोऽग्निवृद्धिश्च व्यायामादुपजायते||३२|| 

Laghavam karmasaamarthyam sthyaram dukhasahishnutaa, doshakshyoagnivriddhishcha vyayamadupjaayate

The right amount of exercise brings about…

• Laghavam – lightness in the body (and mind)
• Karmasaamrthyam – an increase in work capacity
• Sthairyam – an increase in body stability
• Dukha sahishunta – improvement in resistance to discomfort
• Doshakshaya – a balance of the Tridosha
• Agnivruddhi – improvement in the strength of digestion

Foods To Eat Regularly

Charaka Sutra Sthana, Chapter 22, verse 12

षष्टिकाञ्छालिमुद्गांश्च सैन्धवामलके यवान्| 
आन्तरीक्षं पयः सर्पिर्जाङ्गलं मधु चाभ्यसेत्||१२|| 

Shashtikayanchalimugdhashcha saidhavamlake yavaan, antariksham payam sarpirjaangalam madhu chabhyaseta

One should regularly take shashtika (a kind of rice harvested in sixty days), shali (rice), mudga – green gram or Averrhoa carambola, rock salt, amalaki (Amla – Emblica officinalis Gaertn), rainwater, ghee, meat of animals dwelling in arid climates and honey.

The Tridanda – The Tripods Of Life

Charaka Sutra Sthana, Chapter 1, verse 46

सत्त्वमात्मा शरीरं च त्रयमेतत्त्रिदण्डवत्| 
लोकस्तिष्ठति संयोगात्तत्र सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम्||४६|| 

Satvaatma shaariram cha tryametatridandvat, lokastishthati sayogaattra sarvam pratishthitam

The tripods of life are satva (mind), atma (soul), and shareera (body). The world is sustained by their combination. They constitute the basis for everything.

This is known as Tridanda in Sanskrit.

On Purity Of The Soul

Charaka Sutra Sthana, Chapter 1, verse 56

निर्विकारःपरस्त्वात्मासत्त्वभूतगुणेन्द्रियैः| 
चैतन्ये कारणं नित्यो द्रष्टा पश्यति हि क्रियाः||५६|| 

Nirvikarah parsatvaatama satvabhutgunendriyai, chaitanye karnam nityo drishta pashyati hi kriya

The soul is essentially devoid of all deformities. The soul is the cause of consciousness through the mind and the specific qualities of the basic elements (touch, shape, smell, taste, and sound).

• He is eternal. He is an observer. He observes all activities. 

On Medicines And Poisons

Charaka Sutra Sthana, Chapter 24, verse 126

योगादपिविषंतीक्ष्णमुत्तमं भेषजं भवेत्| 
भेषजं चापि दुर्युक्तं तीक्ष्णं सम्पद्यते विषम्||१२६|| 

Yogaadapi visham tikshmuttam bheshajam bhavet, bheshjam chaapi duryuktam tiksham sampadhyate visham

Even an acute poison can become an excellent drug if it is properly administered. On the other hand, even a drug, if not properly administered, becomes an acute poison.

On Similarities And Differences

Charaka Sutra Sthana, Chapter 26, verse 45

सामान्यमेकत्वकरं, विशेषस्तु पृथक्त्वकृत्| 
तुल्यार्थता हि सामान्यं, विशेषस्तु विपर्ययः||४५||

Samanyamekatvakaram,visheshstu prathakatvakrit, tulyartha hi samanayam, visheshastu viparyaye

Theory of Similarities and Differences:

Common features and characteristics lead to growth.
Differences or specialties in characteristics lead to division and degeneration or depletion.

How Much Food To Eat

Charaka Vimana Sthana, Chapter 2, verse 3

त्रिविधं कुक्षौ स्थापयेदवकाशांशमाहारस्याहारमुपयुञ्जानः; 
तद्यथा– एकमवकाशांशं मूर्तानामाहारविकाराणाम्, एकं द्रवाणाम्, एकंपुनर्वातपित्तश्लेष्मणाम्; 
एतावतीं ह्याहारमात्रामुपयुञ्जानो नामात्राहारजं किञ्चिदशुभं प्राप्नोति||३|| 

Trividhaṃ kukṣau sthāpayedavakāśāṃśamāhārasyāhāramupayuñjānaḥ; tadyathā- ekamavakāśāṃśaṃ mūrtānāmāhāra vikārāṇām, ekaṃ dravāṇām, ekaṃ punarvāta pitta śleṣmaṇām; etāvatīṃ hyāhāramātrāmupayuñjāno nāmātrāhārajaṃ kiñcidaśubhaṃ prāpnoti

Stomach capacity is divided into 3 parts:

One part is filled with solid food
The second part with liquids and
The third part is left for Vata, Pitta, and Kapha

One who takes food with due regard to this principle does not fall victim to harmful effects that arise out of food taken in improper quantity.

The Definition Of A Healthy Person

Sushruta Sutra, Chapter 15, verse 41

समदोषः  समाग्निश्च समधातुमलक्रियः | 
प्रसन्नात्मेन्द्रियमनाः स्वस्थ इत्यभिधीयते ||४१|| 

Samadosha Samagnishcha Sama Dhata Mala Kriya. Prassanna atma indriya manah swastha iti abhideyate

An individual that maintains a balanced state of the main elements of the body (including dosha and dhatu), adequate digestion (agni), proper excretion (mala kriya), blissful condition of soul (atma), satisfied senses (indriyan), and a happy state of mind (manas) is called a swasthya or healthy person.

If you would like to learn more about Ayurveda and how it can positively impact your health and wellness, check out Cate Stillman’s course ‘Modern Ayurveda’ below.

We hope you enjoyed these Ayurveda quotes, all of which were taken from ancient classical texts. Want more Ayurveda quotes? Let us know in the comments below!