PRABHAVA

PRABHĀVA

• Prabhāva is a unique, inexplicable specific action of a dravya (substance) which cannot be explained based on rasa, guṇa, vīrya, or vipāka.

• It is considered a specific potency or special power that produces a particular effect irrespective of the known pharmacological properties.

Sanskrit Śloka (Cakrapāṇi on Caraka Saṃhitā Sūtrasthāna 26/11):
यत्तु तेषां विशेषेण कर्म तत् प्राभाविकं स्मृतम्।

NATURE OF PRABHĀVA

• Prabhāva is a distinct, inherent power of a substance.

• It brings about a specific effect that is neither due to rasa (taste), guṇa (quality), vīrya (potency), nor vipāka (post-digestive effect).

• Considered incomprehensible or unexplainable by usual logic or principles.

• It is accepted as a doṣa-pratyanīka karma (antagonistic action) based on śakti viśeṣa (special power).

IMPORTANCE OF PRABHĀVA

• Explains the exceptions in pharmacological actions.

• Useful in understanding unique effects of drugs that do not follow the general rules of rasa-guṇa-vīrya.

• Shows that Ayurveda accommodates experiential knowledge, beyond only logic-based categorization.

Sloka (Bhāva Prakāśa):

CHARACTERISTICS OF PRABHĀVA

• Ahetuka – Cannot be explained by any known cause (like rasa, guṇa, etc.).

• Svabhāvataḥ siddha – Naturally inherent in the dravya.

• Na rūḍha – Not based on commonly observed or explained traits.

• Eka dravya karma – Sometimes observed in only one specific dravya.

EXAMPLES OF PRABHĀVA

1. Gomedaka (Garnet stone)

   • Despite having uṣṇa vīrya, it is used in raktapitta (bleeding disorders), which are pitta-dominant.

   • This hemostatic effect is due to prabhāva, not rasa or vīrya.

2. Harītakī (Terminalia chebula)

   • Possesses madhura (sweet), amla (sour), kaṭu (pungent), tikta (bitter), kaṣāya (astringent) rasa – all rasas except lavaṇa.

   • Still acts as bṛṃhaṇa (nourishing) and rasāyana (rejuvenator), due to prabhāva.

3. Pippalī (Long pepper)

   • Though uṣṇa vīrya, it does not aggravate pitta as expected.

   • Has deepana-pācana (digestive and carminative) and rasāyana effect – attributed to prabhāva.

4. Viṣa (Poisons)

   • Despite having opposite rasa or guṇa, they act in specific diseases due to their prabhāva.

5. Madya (Alcohol)

   • Exhibits mano-haratva (mind-altering effect) which cannot be explained merely by rasa or guṇa – thus, due to prabhāva.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PRABHĀVA AND OTHER DRAVYA GUṆAS

RELEVANT CLASSICAL REFERENCES ON PRABHĀVA

• Caraka Saṃhitā Sūtrasthāna 26/11:
  Explains prabhāva as an exceptional factor when rasa, guṇa, vīrya, and vipāka fail to explain a dravya's effect.

• Bhāva Prakāśa and Cakrapāṇi Ṭīkā also elaborate that prabhāva indicates a distinctive power that justifies otherwise inexplicable drug actions.