The Sushruta Samhita — trans. Bhishagratna

The refuse of another's dishes, as well as articles of fo„d infested with flies, insects, etc.^ or po sessed of an objectionable colour, taste, smell, touch or

* Some explain "Jyotish" as a blaz. of fire and others explain it as stars.

t The fram^rs of the Ayurveda were aware of the fact that the human system is incapable of directly assimilating starchy substances without converting them into sugar. This has been emphasised in the Sutra- S hana, where Sus'ruta insists that a food stuff, in order to be worthy of the epithet, must be Madhura (z ^ , of sweet flavour) and contain a large qnantity of proteid matter si;ch as is found in milk, butter. meat, etc— ^d.

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sound or those which producelan unpleasant impression in the mind, or food of like nature as well as those served (handled) by many persons should not be partaken of (in spite of repeated requests in '.that behalf). It is not advisable to sit down to a meal without washing one's hands and feet. One should never take anything by repressing a natural urging for stool and urine, nor sit down to a meal just at the break or the close of day, nor in an unprotected situation {i.e. without any shade, or without something to sit upon). One should not take his meal after the expiry of the (daily) appointed time nor in an insufficient or inordinate quantity, nor partake of food whose Sneha (oleaginous substance) has been removed. 75.

Metrical Text :— It is forbidden to see one's image reflected in water, nor is it advisable to plunge naked into water. Curd should never be taken at night, nor should it be taken (at all) without sugar * or clarified butter, nor without saturating it with Mudgasoup or the admixture of honey, nor without (the expressed juice of) the A'malaka, nor with any hot substance f or article, as otherwise it may bring on Kushtha (cutaneous affections), erysipelas, etc. 76-77.

Exercise, addiction to wine, gambling and music are bad. One should not bear witness to any fact (before a

* Dallana adds that curd should not be taken without an addition of water and salt as well. This is also the practice in general.

76-77.

Exercise, addiction to wine, gambling and music are bad. One should not bear witness to any fact (before a

* Dallana adds that curd should not be taken without an addition of water and salt as well. This is also the practice in general.

t All the existing editions of the Sus'ruta Samhila read *'«f|'^; " (i e., curd should not be taken with any "hot" substance). Here it should be noted that the term "hot" may also include the substances which are heat« making in their potency. Here, however, the reading seems to be incorrect. The lines are found verbatim in the work of Charaka, where he reads "^^j" ^'•<?'» hot curd should not be taken, since it produces, as he himself tells us later on, an aggravation of the blood and the Pitta.— Ed,p. 497 law court), nor stand surety for anj^ body. One should not use the shoe, umbrella, garland (of flowers), ornaments or ragged clothes previously used by anothjer. Never defile a Brdhmana, or a fire, or a cow by touching them before washing (your hands and mouth) after eating. 78.

IVIemorable Verses :— The general rules of (good) conduct are described above. Health, wealth and longevity never fall to the lot of those who do not follow these rules of conduct. A wise man should take food of such tastes (Rasa) in any particular season of the year as is antidotal to the bodily Dosha which is naturally aggravated in that season. 79-80.

Rules of drinking water, etc. :— Water should not betaken during the rainy season and only in moderate quantities in autumn. Water may be sparingly taken during the first four months of the rainy season ;^if found to be indispensably necessary). Hot water should be taken in winter and spring (Vasanta), but cold water to one's fill in summer. Sidhu and Arishta should be taken in winter and spring. Water boiled and subsequently cooled should be drunk in summer and meat-juice in Prdvrit. Yusha (Mudgasoup, etc.,) should be taken in the rainy season and cold water after the expiry of the rains. These rules should be observed only by persons in sound health, whereas the rules regarding persons suffering from any disease should be regulated by the prescription, of any diet according to the particular Doshas involved in each case. 81-82.

Any Sneha (such as oil or clarified butter) saturated with powdered Saindhava salt and Pippali should be regularly taken for the purpose of imp;:ovittg the digestive capacity. The natural urging of the body

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The natural urging of the body

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should never be repressed (as a repressed physical propulsion is sure to usher in a physical distemper). A Sneha (oleaginous substance) should be freely and largely used during the Pr^vrit and the spring seasons as well as in antumn (Sarat)as such a proceeding would act as a good appetising measure and a cure for diseases. Emetics, purgatives and applications of Vastis are respectively beneficial in diseases due to the actions of the deranged Kapha, Pitta andVayu, whereas a regular course of physical exercise tends (equally) to curb an aggravation of all the three preceding Doshas of the body, so much so that their aggravation can never be detected in persons in the habit of taking it regularly every day, though otherwise addicted to an incompatible diet, etc. 83-86.

The attention should not be diverted to any other subject at the time of urination, defecation, sexual intercourse, taking of food, as well as at the time of taking emetics and purgatives, etc. It is not wise to anticipate and indulge in the gloomy thoughts of a future and probable invasion of a disease, and to suffer any physical privation on that account. 87-88.

All sexual excesses should be studiously abstained inasmuch as they are sure to produce Sula (colic), cough, asthma, fever, emaciation, phthisis, jaundice, epilepsy, convulsions, etc. A person, who is moderate in sexual intercourse, lives a long life, becomes good-looking, healthy, strong and firm in his nerves and muscles, and becomes capable of averting (untimely) decay. One may visit his wife (lit. a woman) on each fourth night in all the seasons of the year except in summer when he may see her once a fortnight. 89- A.

Women unfit to visit :— A woman in her menses, not amorously disposed, uncleanly in -her

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