Charaka Samhita, Sutra Sthana 11.54

Medicine is of three kinds: daiva-vyapasraya (ritual and meaning), yukti-vyapasraya (reasoned diet and drug), and sattvavajaya. Sattvavajaya is restraint of the mind from unwholesome objects.

त्रिविधमौषधमिति— दैवव्यपाश्रयं, युक्तिव्यपाश्रयं, सत्त्वावजयश्च । तत्र ... सत्त्वावजयः— पुनरहितेभ्योऽर्थेभ्यो मनोनिग्रहः ॥

trividham ausadham iti — daiva-vyapasrayam, yukti-vyapasrayam, sattvavajayas ca | tatra ... sattvavajayah — punar ahitebhyo 'rthebhyo mano-nigrahah ||

Medicine is of three kinds: daiva-vyapasraya (ritual and meaning), yukti-vyapasraya (reasoned diet and drug), and sattvavajaya. Sattvavajaya is restraint of the mind from unwholesome objects.

Sattva here is the mind (and its clear quality). Avajaya is winning it back. Ahita-artha are the objects, news, comparisons, and inner pictures that feed rajas and tamas. Mano-nigraha is not suppression of feeling; it is refusing to keep feeding the object that is making the week worse.

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