Medicine

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.

Tamil Transliteration
Mikinum Kuraiyinum Noiseyyum Noolor
Valimudhalaa Enniya Moondru.

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.

Tamil Transliteration
Marundhena Ventaavaam Yaakkaikku Arundhiyadhu
Atradhu Potri Unin.

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.

Tamil Transliteration
Atraal Aravarindhu Unka Aqdhutampu
Petraan Netidhuykkum Aaru.

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).

Tamil Transliteration
Atradhu Arindhu Kataippitiththu Maaralla
Thuykka Thuvarap Pasiththu.

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.

Tamil Transliteration
Maarupaatu Illaadha Unti Maruththunnin
Oorupaatu Illai Uyirkku.

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.

Tamil Transliteration
Izhivarindhu Unpaankan Inpampol Nirkum
Kazhiper Iraiyaankan Noi.

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).

Tamil Transliteration
Theeyala Vandrith Theriyaan Peridhunnin
Noyala Vindrip Patum.

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).

Tamil Transliteration
Noinaati Noimudhal Naati Adhudhanikkum
Vaainaati Vaaippach Cheyal.

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).

Tamil Transliteration
Utraan Alavum Piniyalavum Kaalamum
Katraan Karudhich Cheyal.

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.

Tamil Transliteration
Utravan Theerppaan Marundhuzhaich Chelvaanendru
Appaal Naar Kootre Marundhu.