లంఖణం పరమౌశధం

lankhanam paramaushadham

Translation

Fasting is the best medicine.

Meaning

For centuries, fasting is recommended as cure for any ailment by doctors practicing Indian medicine, Ayurveda.

Related Phrases

If you greedily eat stale rice, it is like being forced to fast for ten days.

This proverb warns about the consequences of greed or lack of patience. It suggests that trying to satisfy a desire through improper or unhealthy means (like eating spoiled food) will result in much greater suffering or loss (like falling ill and being unable to eat for days) than the initial hunger or desire itself.

Like remembering the conversations of the wedding night while on a day of fasting.

This proverb describes the act of dwelling on past pleasures or happy memories while currently experiencing hardship or deprivation. It is used when someone fruitlessly reminisces about a time of abundance or joy during a period of struggle, highlighting the stark contrast between better days and the current difficult reality.

An intercalary Âshâḍha. The month Âshâḍha corresponds with June—July. Said by a man when excusing himself for not observing the rules of the house in which he was staying.

This expression is used to describe a situation where there is an unnecessary or redundant addition to an already problematic or complicated situation. In the Hindu lunar calendar, an 'Adhika Masam' (extra month) can sometimes be Ashadha; figuratively, it refers to something surplus, unwanted, or a delay that complicates matters.

There is nothing on this earth that is not a medicine.

This proverb suggests that every element or herb found in nature has medicinal properties or a specific purpose. It is used to emphasize that everything in the world has inherent value and utility, even if its benefits are not immediately apparent to us.

There is nothing on this earth that is not medicine.

This proverb suggests that every plant, herb, or substance found in nature possesses some medicinal value or purpose. It is often used to emphasize the importance of traditional medicine, biodiversity, and the idea that solutions to health problems can be found in the natural world around us if we have the knowledge to identify them.

Like remembering the conversations of the wedding night on a day of fasting.

This proverb describes the act of thinking about past luxuries, pleasures, or happy times while currently facing hardships or hunger. It highlights the irony and additional misery of reminiscing about abundance when one is in a state of deprivation.

Pleasures of the past during days of starvation

This expression is used to describe the act of reminiscing about past luxuries, wealth, or good times while currently experiencing hardship or poverty. It highlights the contrast between former prosperity and present suffering, often suggesting that dwelling on past glory does not help current struggles.

Character is more important than caste

This proverb emphasizes that a person's character, virtues, and behavior are far more significant than their social status, lineage, or the community they were born into. It is used to advocate for meritocracy and moral integrity over inherited identity.

People die because their lifespan has ended, not because of a lack of medicine.

This proverb highlights the belief in destiny and the limits of medical science. It suggests that when a person's time is up according to fate (Ayushu), no amount of medicine or treatment can save them. It is often used to provide comfort during bereavement or to explain why treatments fail despite the best medical efforts.

[ The benefit derived from ] the medicine is to be deducted from [ the harm done by ] carelessness in diet, and the balance remaining is an increase of the disease. Diet cures more than the lancet. The best physicians are Dr. Diet, Dr. Quiet, and Dr. Merryman. శ.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where the efforts or resources spent to solve a problem (medicine) were neutralized by mistakes or poor management (lack of dietary discipline), resulting in the original problem getting even worse. It highlights how wasted effort leads to a worse outcome than before.