• Time Period: 6th Century BCE

• Sushrut Samhita, compiled in the 6th Century BCE, is an ancient Indian text that extensively covers various aspects of surgery and medicine. This text is attributed to Maharshi Sushrut, an ancient Indian medical expert, and is believed to date back to around 600 BCE. Maharshi Sushrut has described over 300 surgical procedures and about 125 surgical instruments.

• Location: Bharatvarsh, possibly Varanasi

• Source: Sushrut Samhita; various chapters

• The descriptions of surgical instruments and techniques are found in different chapters of Sushrut Samhita, outlining the knowledge and practices of ancient surgery.

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• EVIDENCE:

  • Literature: Sushrut Samhita

  • Section: Shalya Tantra

  • Verses: Sushruta Samhita, Sutrasthana

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यत्र यत्र सुजात्यांतरमुत्कृष्टं तत्तत्तस्य दण्डो भवति।

इत्थं च चैकैकस्यास्य प्रकारस्य दण्डो द्वादशाध्याये भवति।

तेनैषः करोति।

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• Meaning: Wherever a particular instrument is excellently designed, there its handle is created accordingly. Thus, each type of instrument has its specific handle described in the twelfth chapter.

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• Modern Science Connection: Surgical instruments described in Sushrut Samhita showcase early knowledge influencing Modern surgical practices.

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The detailed descriptions of surgical instruments in Sushrut Samhita demonstrate the advanced understanding of surgery in ancient times. The knowledge embedded in this ancient text has laid the foundations for surgical practices, and while modern surgical instruments may differ in design and materials, there is a clear historical connection between the ancient tools described in Sushrut Samhita and the contemporary instruments used in surgery.