Sanskrit Verse
द्रव्यमाश्रित्य तिष्ठन्ति गुणाः कर्माणि च ध्रुवम्।
— (Classical Interpretation)
Explanation
This triad represents the core of Ayurvedic pharmacology. Dravya is the substance itself. Guna are its inherent qualities (e.g., heavy, light, hot, cold). Karma is the action it performs on the body (e.g., laxative, digestive). The Gunas and Karma always reside within the Dravya and are inseparable from it.
Clinical Importance
To be an effective clinician, one must understand this relationship. A physician chooses a Dravya not just by its name, but by analyzing its Gunas and predicting its Karma on the patient’s specific doshic imbalance. This is the essence of rational therapeutics in Ayurveda.