Charaka shapath (or, Charaka oath) is a certain passage of text in Charaka Samhita, a Sanskrit text on Ayurveda (Indian traditional medicine) believed to have been composed between 100 BCE and 200 CE. The passage referred to as Charaka Shapath is written in the form a set of instructions by a teacher to prospective students of the science of medicine. According to Charaka Samhita, the unconditional agreement to abide by these instructions is a necessary precondition to be eligible to be taught in the science of medicine. The passage gives explicit instructions on the necessity of practicing asceticism during student life, student-teacher relationship, the importance of committing oneself fully and completely for the well-being of the patient, whom to treat, how to behave with women, and several other related issues. The passage appears as paragraphs 13–14 in Chapter 8 of the Vimanasthana (the third Sthana) in Charaka Samhita.[1]
Charaka Shapath: Text in Devanagari with English translation
The original text of Charaka Shapath in the Sanskrit language in the Devanagari script along with an English translation of the same is reproduced below. The text and translation are taken mostly from Charaka Samhita, Shree Galabkuverba Ayurveic Society, Jamnagar India, 1947, Volume II, pp. 865–871.[2][3] The original Sanskrit version is also available as an ebook in the portal of the National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage, Hyderabad.[4]
Charaka oath to replace Hippocratic oath in Medical Colleges in India
In a discussion meeting with the authorities of all medical colleges in India, the National Medical Commission of India presented a proposal to replace the Hippocratic Oath with the "Maharshi Charaka Shapath" while conducting the white coat ceremony with parents in medical colleges.[5][6] However, several medical practitioners individually and collectively have protested against the proposal.[7][8]
Additional reading
- Meharban Singh (1997). "Oaths, codes, ethics and the essence of medicine: A time for resurrection" (PDF). The National Medical Journal of India. 10 (4): 190–193. PMID 9325646. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- Shaan Bhandarkar (21 November 2020). "The Hypocrisy of Hippocrates: Ethics from Medical Oaths". The Yale Global Health Review. 8 (1). Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- "Oath of Initiation (Caraka Samhita)". Encyclopedia.com. Encyclopedia of Bioethics. Archived from the original on 2022-03-14. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- "Rogabhishagjitiya Vimana: Vimana Sthana Chapter 8. Methods of conquering debate and disease". Charak Samhita New Live Edition. Charak Samhita Research, Training and Skill Development Centre. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
- For another English translation of the Charak shapath see: Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna (1890). Charaka-Samhita – translated in to English. Calcutta: Pareshnath Sarma, son of Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna. pp. 552–557. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
References
- ^ A. V. R. Murthy, Dhanya C. P. (November 2018). "The Medical Oath of Cosecration of Ancient India" (PDF). Journal of Vishwa Ayurved Parishad: 9–16. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 February 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ^ The Caraka Samhita. Jamnagar, India: Shree Gulabkunverba Ayurvedic Society. 1949. pp. 865–871. Retrieved 14 February 2022. (Note: The Caraka Samhita expounded by the worshipful Atreya Punravasu, compiled by the great sage Agnivesa and redacted by Caraka and Dridhabala. Edited and published in six volumes with translations in Hindi, Gujarati and English.)
- ^ I A Menon and H F Haberman (July 1070). "The medical students' oath of ancient India". Med. Hist. 4 (3): 295–299. doi:10.1017/s0025727300015593. PMC 1034061. PMID 4921981.
- ^ "चरकसंहिता". e-Samhita. Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha (CCRAS), New Delhi. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ^ The Wire staff. "Medical Commission Board Proposes To Replace Hippocratic Oath With 'Charak Shapath'". Science : The Wire. The Wire. Archived from the original on 2022-03-14. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ^ FP Staff. "Explained: What the Hippocratic Oath is and proposal of replacing it with Charak Shapath". Firstpost. Firstpost. Archived from the original on 2022-03-14. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ^ Bobins Abraham (11 February 2022). "Doctors Angry Over Alleged Proposal To Replace Hippocratic Oath With 'Charak Shapath'". India Times. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ^ Staff Reporter (13 February 2022). "Kerala IMA opposes 'Maharshi Charak Shapath'". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 2022-03-14. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
