When the spermatozoa fertilize the ovum in the uterus, the fetus is formed. Spermatozoa and ovum are the causes (kaarana) of the formation of the foetus (kaarya). The cause of sustenance of living beings is food. When food is ingested, pachaka pitta [Su. Sa. Sutra Sthana 21/10]<ref name=Susruta/> and samana vata [A. Hr. Sutra Sthana 11/8]<ref name= Hridaya > Vagbhata. Ashtanga Hridayam. Edited by Harishastri Paradkar Vaidya. 1st ed. Varanasi: Krishnadas Academy;2000.</ref> act on it for digestion and further nourishment of body tissues. So, food is the cause for the nourishment of the body by the process of aharapaka (digestion) [Cha. Sa. [[Chikitsa Sthana]] 15/6-8] and dhatupaka (metabolism)[Cha. Sa. [[Chikitsa Sthana]] 15/15]. This provides strength and colour, and [[oja]] to the body.[Su. Sa. Sutra Sthana 46/3]<ref name=Susruta/> These are examples to understand the principle of kaarya (action) and kaarana (cause). | When the spermatozoa fertilize the ovum in the uterus, the fetus is formed. Spermatozoa and ovum are the causes (kaarana) of the formation of the foetus (kaarya). The cause of sustenance of living beings is food. When food is ingested, pachaka pitta [Su. Sa. Sutra Sthana 21/10]<ref name=Susruta/> and samana vata [A. Hr. Sutra Sthana 11/8]<ref name= Hridaya > Vagbhata. Ashtanga Hridayam. Edited by Harishastri Paradkar Vaidya. 1st ed. Varanasi: Krishnadas Academy;2000.</ref> act on it for digestion and further nourishment of body tissues. So, food is the cause for the nourishment of the body by the process of aharapaka (digestion) [Cha. Sa. [[Chikitsa Sthana]] 15/6-8] and dhatupaka (metabolism)[Cha. Sa. [[Chikitsa Sthana]] 15/15]. This provides strength and colour, and [[oja]] to the body.[Su. Sa. Sutra Sthana 46/3]<ref name=Susruta/> These are examples to understand the principle of kaarya (action) and kaarana (cause). |