na cainaṁ sahasākramya jarā samadhirohati |
sthirībhavati māṁsaṁ ca vyāyāmābhiratasya ca ||
(Suśruta-saṁhitā: Cikitsā-sthāna, 4.42)
“Old age does not assail one suddenly. The flesh of one who engages in exercise remains firm.”
śarīropacayaḥ kāntir gātrāṇāṁ suvibhaktatā |
dīptāgnitvam anālasyaṁ sthiratvaṁ lāghavaṁ mṛjā ||
śrama-klama-pipāsoṣṇa-śītādīnāṁ sāhiṣṇutā |
ārogyaṁ cāpi paramaṁ vyāyāmād upajāyate ||
(Suśruta-saṁhitā: Cikitsā-sthāna, 4.39-40)
“Development of the body, luster, a well-proportioned figure, good digestion, an absence of lethargy, steadiness, lightness, pure skin, tolerance of the fatigue of exertion, thirst, heat, cold, and so on, and full freedom from disease [all] arise from exercise.”
śarīrāyāsajanaṁ karma vyāyāma-saṁjñitam |
tat-kṛtvā tu sukhaṁ dehaṁ vimṛdrīyāt samantataḥ ||
(Suśruta-saṁhitā: Cikitsā-sthāna, 4.38)
“Action that produces fatigue in the body is called vyāyāma (exercise). After doing this, however, thoroughly massage the relaxed body.”
śarīra-ceṣṭā yā ceṣṭā sthairyārthā bala-vardhinī |
deha-vyāyāma-saṁkhyātā mātrayā tāṁ samācaret ||
(Caraka-saṁhitā: 7.31)
“Movement of the body which is desirable, for the purpose of steadiness [alt. longevity], and increasing of strength is known as exercise of the body. Perform this in proper measure.”
pathye sati gadārtasya kim auṣadha-niṣevaṇaiḥ |
pathye’sati gadārtasya kim auṣadha-niṣevaṇaiḥ ||
(Vaidya-jīvana: 1.10)
“When someone suffering from a disease follows a proper diet, then what is the use of taking medicine? [And] When someone suffering from a disease does not follow a proper diet, then what is the use of taking medicine?”
