Relevance of Sushruta’s Trividha Shastra Karma (Chedana, Bhedana,Lekhana) in Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS): AModernSurgical
Abstract
Sushruta, hailed as the father of surgery, described Trividha Shastra Karma—Chedana
(excision), Bhedana (incision), and Lekhana (scraping)—as the foundation of all operative
interventions. Modern surgery, particularly Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS), aims to achieve
maximal therapeutic benefit with minimal tissue trauma, reduced blood loss, faster healing, and
improved cosmetic outcomes. This conceptual shift aligns deeply with Sushruta’s principles
emphasizing precision, minimal injury, gentle tissue handling, and doshic balance.
This review critically explores the relevance of Chedana, Bhedana, and Lekhana within MIS
practices such as laparoscopy, endoscopy, arthroscopy, laser surgery, and radio-frequency
ablative techniques. The article correlates surgical objectives, instruments, tissue handling,
postoperative recovery, and preventive strategies described by Sushruta with modern MIS
standards. Ayurvedic principles related to wound healing, asepsis, suture materials, and operative
ergonomics are also analyzed. The findings demonstrate that the foundational logic of MIS is
deeply rooted in Sushruta’s surgical wisdom.
Keywords
Trividha Shastra Karma, Chedana, Bhedana, Lekhana, Sushruta, Minimally Invasive Surgery, laparoscopic surgery, endoscopic surgery, Ayurvedic surgery.