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And, when one debater repeatedly oversteps and breaches the accepted code of conduct, the Madhyastha might have to disqualify him and award the debate to the other. At times, he may even disqualify both the parties and scrap the event declaring it null and void.<ref name=":3" />  

And, when one debater repeatedly oversteps and breaches the accepted code of conduct, the Madhyastha might have to disqualify him and award the debate to the other. At times, he may even disqualify both the parties and scrap the event declaring it null and void.<ref name=":3" />  

== चरकसंहितायां सम्भाषाविधिः ॥ Sambhasha in Charaka Samhita ==

== चरकसंहितायां सम्भाषाविधिः ॥ Sambhasha in Charaka Samhita ==

It is said that,  <blockquote>भिषक् भिषजा सह संभाषेत ।<ref name=":11" /> ''bhiṣak bhiṣajā saha saṁbhāṣeta ।''</blockquote>Meaning: A physician should discuss (a problem) with another physician<ref name=":12" /> to solve the problem and clear the doubt is a 'Tadvidya Sambhasha'.  

Sambhasha is essentially that which is used to discuss a problem or a topic to explore the thoughts of intellectual people and to give a relevant conclusion. In the context of the Charaka samhita, Sambhasha refers to the discussion of a physician with another physician.<ref name=":9" /> It says,  <blockquote>भिषक् भिषजा सह संभाषेत ।<ref name=":11" /> ''bhiṣak bhiṣajā saha saṁbhāṣeta ।''</blockquote>Meaning: A physician should discuss (a problem) with another physician<ref name=":12" />

 

Thus, in the Charaka Samhita, Sambhasha referred to such discussions between physicians to solve a problem and clear doubts. And in general, a discussion amongst experts of one branch about a topic related to their subject. And this method of discussion amongst experts of the same field served the purpose of achieving thorough knowledge of the subject.<ref name=":9" /> 

=== संभाषायाः प्रयोजनम् ॥ Purpose of Sambhasha ===

=== संभाषायाः प्रयोजनम् ॥ Purpose of Sambhasha ===

The purposes of Sambhasha are enumerated as,

The purposes of Sambhasha as enumerated in the Charaka Samhita (Vimana Sthana, Adhyaya 8) are,

# Enjoyment through knowledge

# Enjoyment through knowledge

# Encouraging oratory skills

# Encouragement of oratory skills

# Gaining command and confidence over a certain topic as well as fame

# Gaining command and confidence over a certain topic  

# To acquire new knowledge about various things as well as develop scholarship and skill of defeating the opponent.<ref name=":9" /> (Charaka Samhita, Vimana Sthana, Chapter 8, Verse 15-16)

# Fame

<blockquote>तद्विद्यसम्भाषा हि ज्ञानाभियोगसंहर्षकरो भवति, वैशारद्यमपि चाभिनिवर्तयति, वचनशक्तिमपि चाधत्ते, यशश्चाभिदीपयति पूर्वश्रुते च संदेहवतः पुनः श्रवणाच्छ्रुतसंशयमपकर्षति श्रुते चासंदेहवतो भूयोऽध्यवसायमभिनिर्वर्तयति अश्रुतमपि च कञ्चिदर्थे श्रोत्रविषयमापादयति यच्चाचार्यः शिष्याय शुश्रूषवे प्रसन्नः क्रमेणोपदिशति गुह्याभिमतमर्थजातं तत् परस्परेण सह जल्पन् पिण्डेन विजिगीषुराह संहर्षात् तस्मात्तद्विद्यसंभाषाम्भिप्रशंसन्ति कुशलाः ॥१२॥<ref name=":11" /></blockquote><blockquote>''tadvidyasambhāṣā hi jñānābhiyogasaṁharṣakaro bhavati, vaiśāradyamapi cābhinivartayati, vacanaśaktimapi cādhatte, yaśaścābhidīpayati pūrvaśrute ca saṁdehavataḥ punaḥ śravaṇācchrutasaṁśayamapakarṣati śrute cāsaṁdehavato bhūyo'dhyavasāyamabhinirvartayati aśrutamapi ca kañcidarthe śrotraviṣayamāpādayati yaccācāryaḥ śiṣyāya śuśrūṣave prasannaḥ krameṇopadiśati guhyābhimatamarthajātaṁ tat paraspareṇa saha jalpan piṇḍena vijigīṣurāha saṁharṣāt tasmāttadvidyasaṁbhāṣāmbhipraśaṁsanti kuśalāḥ ॥12॥''</blockquote>Meaning: Discussion with a person of the same branch of science is indeed what makes for the increase of knowledge and happiness. It contributes towards the clarity of understanding, increases dialectical skill, broadcasts reputation, dispels doubts regarding things heard by repeated hearing, and confirms the ideas of those that have no doubts. It enables one to hear a few things in the course of discussion. Sometimes, secret meanings which the teacher imparts to the ministering disciple in a propitious moment gradually, is revealed by the excited disputant, desirous of victory, in the process of discussion. Hence, it is that discussion with men of the same branch of science, is applauded by the wise.<ref name=":12" />

# Acquiring new knowledge about various things  

 

# Developing scholarship and skill of defeating the opponent.<ref name=":9" />

<blockquote>तद्विद्यसम्भाषा हि ज्ञानाभियोगसंहर्षकरो भवति, वैशारद्यमपि चाभिनिवर्तयति, वचनशक्तिमपि चाधत्ते, यशश्चाभिदीपयति पूर्वश्रुते च संदेहवतः पुनः श्रवणाच्छ्रुतसंशयमपकर्षति श्रुते चासंदेहवतो भूयोऽध्यवसायमभिनिर्वर्तयति अश्रुतमपि च कञ्चिदर्थे श्रोत्रविषयमापादयति यच्चाचार्यः शिष्याय शुश्रूषवे प्रसन्नः क्रमेणोपदिशति गुह्याभिमतमर्थजातं तत् परस्परेण सह जल्पन् पिण्डेन विजिगीषुराह संहर्षात् तस्मात्तद्विद्यसंभाषाम्भिप्रशंसन्ति कुशलाः ॥१२॥<ref name=":11" /> </blockquote><blockquote>''tadvidyasambhāṣā hi jñānābhiyogasaṁharṣakaro bhavati, vaiśāradyamapi cābhinivartayati, vacanaśaktimapi cādhatte, yaśaścābhidīpayati pūrvaśrute ca saṁdehavataḥ punaḥ śravaṇācchrutasaṁśayamapakarṣati śrute cāsaṁdehavato bhūyo'dhyavasāyamabhinirvartayati aśrutamapi ca kañcidarthe śrotraviṣayamāpādayati yaccācāryaḥ śiṣyāya śuśrūṣave prasannaḥ krameṇopadiśati guhyābhimatamarthajātaṁ tat paraspareṇa saha jalpan piṇḍena vijigīṣurāha saṁharṣāt tasmāttadvidyasaṁbhāṣāmbhipraśaṁsanti kuśalāḥ ॥12॥''</blockquote>Meaning: Discussion with a person of the same branch of science is indeed what makes for the increase of knowledge and happiness. It contributes towards the clarity of understanding, increases dialectical skill, broadcasts reputation, dispels doubts regarding things heard by repeated hearing, and confirms the ideas of those that have no doubts. It enables one to hear a few things in the course of discussion. Sometimes, secret meanings which the teacher imparts to the ministering disciple in a propitious moment gradually, is revealed by the excited disputant, desirous of victory, in the process of discussion. Hence, it is that discussion with men of the same branch of science, is applauded by the wise.<ref name=":12" />

 

The method of discussion with experts of the same field serves the purpose of achieving thorough knowledge of the subject. In the context of Charaka samhita, Sambhasha refers to the discussion of a physician with another physician. Or in general, the discussion amongst experts of one branch about a topic related to their subject.<ref name=":9" />

There was, for a considerable period of time, a very lively and extensively practiced tradition of formal debates in ancient India. These debates were conducted, sometimes with royal patronage, to examine various religious, philosophical, moral and doctrinal issues. For example, [[Brhadaranyaka Upanishad (बृहदारण्यकोपनिषद्)|Brhadaranyaka Upanishad]], has references to Raja Janaka as not only organizing and patronizing debates between the sages and priests but also as participating in such debates. Women also participated in these debates. [[Gargi (गार्गी)|Gargi]] was a woman scholar who used to participate in the debates in Raja Janaka's court.<ref name=":0" />

There was, for a considerable period of time, a very lively and extensively practiced tradition of formal debates in ancient India. These debates were conducted, sometimes with royal patronage, to examine various religious, philosophical, moral and doctrinal issues. For example, [[Brhadaranyaka Upanishad (बृहदारण्यकोपनिषद्)|Brhadaranyaka Upanishad]], has references to Raja Janaka as not only organizing and patronizing debates between the sages and priests but also as participating in such debates. Women also participated in these debates. [[Gargi (गार्गी)|Gargi]] was a woman scholar who used to participate in the debates in Raja Janaka's court.<ref name=":0" />