Tantrayukti: The Classical Method for Understanding Samhita Texts – A Review

Background: The classical texts of Ayurveda are written in a short and packed style, where one verse may hold a full idea and many meanings are only hinted at or spread over other chapters. To read them correctly, the Acharyas gave a set of tools called Tantrayukti; Charaka Samhita describes 36 and Sushruta Samhita 32. Today these tools are mostly memorised for examinations and seldom used while reading, which leads to literal and sometimes wrong understanding. Aim and Objectives: Aim: To review the concept of Tantrayukti and its role in understanding the Samhita texts. Objectives: To collect and compare the description of Tantrayukti from classical Ayurvedic and allied texts. To explain the 36 Tantrayukti in simple language with examples. To present the step-wise process of text understanding through Tantrayukti in flow chart form. To discuss the present-day use of Tantrayukti in teaching and research. Material and Methods: Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita and Ashtanga Hridaya with their main commentaries, Tantrayukti Vichara and the Arthashastra were studied. Books on Sanskrit text methodology, journal articles and reliable online sources were also reviewed. The matter was compared, grouped and presented with tables and flow charts. Result & Discussion: Tantrayukti act as a built-in key to the Samhita and guard the reader against literal reading. Their steps closely match the stages of modern scientific writing and research. Conclusion: Tantrayukti is a complete and practical method for reading the Samhitas correctly. It should be taught with live examples so that students can use it in study, clinical work and research.