Contents: 1. Introduction to Ayurveda. 2. Introduction to Darsana sastra. 3. Padartha Vijnana. 4. Introduction to dravya and mahabhuta. 5. Kala and dik. 6. Atman (the soul). 7. Manas (the mind). 8. The Guna (attributes). 9. The karma (action). 10. Samanya-visesa-samavaya and abhava. 11. Pramana vijnana (Epistemology). 12. Pratyaksa pramana (perception). 13. Anumana pramana. 14. Description of Sabda (testimony). 15. Upamana-yukti and other pramana. 16. Vividha Vadas (different philosophical thoughts). 17. Srsti and Tatva. 18. Nidra and Swapna (sleep and dream). 19. Tantra Yukti (device of treatise or maxim). Alphabetical index.

"The present work "Padartha Vijnana", by a well known scholar and author of repute Prof. Dr. Y.C. Mishra, is a complete and comprehensive treatise, which deals with the basic principles of Ayurveda. This is the first book in English which deals with the subject in all completeness and clarity, covering the various unique aspects of basic principles of Ayurved like manas (mind), atman (soul), indriyas (sense organs) and ayu (life).

The book, no doubt, will prove as most useful asset to the under and postgraduate students of Ayurveda. It will also prove helpful to all those, who are interested to peep in the basic fundamentals of the science as well as the art of living known as Ayurveda.

The author, being a senior professor in the subject of basic principles of Ayurveda, with a good background of Sanskrta language and philosophy, the book bears a rare blend of conceptual authenticity, linguistic clarity and philosophical based scientific temper. It is an unique attempt to fill the gap in the field of Ayurvedic literature."