One of the great Ayurvedic texts authored by Acharya Vagbhata is  Ashtanga Hridaya. It is a brief yet complete compilation of Ayurvedic principles, synthesizing teachings from the Charaka Samhita and from the  Sushruta Samhita. The  Sutra Sthana, or the first part of this text, is composed of 30 chapters that teach the very foundation of Ayurvedic knowledge. It deals with important issues, such as maintaining health, causal factors of diseases, diet and dietetics, lifestyle, diagnosis, and treatment. Within Sutra Sthana, great emphasis is placed upon the prevention of disease rather than the cure and offers guidelines to achieve a balanced state of body, mind, and spirit. Written in the form of poetic verses for easy memorization, it stands unparalleled all over the world for Ayurvedic practitioners and scholars. Visit for more information about Ashtanga Hridaya Sutra Sthana.