The Sushruta Samhita — trans. Bhishagratna

6.

Features of the different Castes

among^St snakes : — The snakes whose skin is lustrous like a pearl or silver, is coloured yellow and looks like gold and emits a sweet smell, should be regarded as belonging to the Brsflimaiia species of snakes. Those which are glossy, extremely irritable in their nature and marked with spots on their skin resembling the discs of the sun and moon, or of the shape of a conchshell (Ambuja) or an umbrella, should be regarded as belonging to the Kshatriya species. The snakes of the Vais'ya caste are coloured black or red or blackish grey or ash-coloured or pigeon-coloured and are (crooked or hard in their structures) like a Vajra. The snakes which resemble a buffalo or a leopard in colour and lustre or are rough-skinned or are possessed of a colour other than the preceding ones should be considered as belonging to the Sudra class. 7.

The poison of all hooded snakes (Phani) deranges and aggravates the bodily Ydyu, that of the Mandali (circular spotted) species aggravates the Pitta, while that of the Rdjimin (striped) class aggravates the bodily Kapha. The poison of a snake of hybrid (Vaikaranja) origin aggravates the two particular Doshas of the body which its parents would have separately aggravated — a fact which helps us to ascertain the species to which its parents belong. 8.

Particular habits of different kinds

of snakes :— Now hear me describe the special

Chap. IV.] KALPA STHANAM. /O/

habits of each of these families of snakes. A snake of the Rdjimdn species, is found abroad in the fourth or the last quarter of the night, the Mandali snakes are found to be out in the three preceding watches, while the Darvi-kara snakes are found to be abroad (in quest of prey) only in the day time. 9.

A Darvi-kara snake of tender age, a middle-aged Rdjimin snake and an old Mandali snake are as fatal as personified death. A snake of extremely tender age, as well as the one roughly handled by a mungoose, or oppressed with water, as well as an extremely old and emaciated one, or one which is extremely frightened or has recently cast off its slough should be considered as mild-venomed. ion.

Names of the different Species of

ion.

Names of the different Species of

Darvi-karaSnakeS : — Snakes known as Krishna- Sarpa, Mahi-krishna, Krishnodara, Sveta-kapota, Vald haka, Mahd-Sarpa, Sankha-pdla, Lohitdksha, Gavedhuka, Parisarpa Khanda-phana, Kakuda, Padma, Mahi-Padma, Darbha-pushpa, Dadhi-mukha, Pundarika, Bhrukuti-mukha, Vishkira, Pushpdbhikirna, Giri-sarpa, Riju-sarpa, Svetodara, Maha-s'iras, Alagarda and As'ivisha belong to the family of Darvi-kira snakes. 12

Names of the different Species of

Mandali Snakes: — Snakes known as Adarshamandala, S'veta-mandala, Rakta-mandala, Chitra-mandala, Prishata, Rodhra-pushpa, Milindaka, Gonasa, Vriddha-gonasa, Panasa, Mahd-panasa, Venu-patraka,S'is'uka, Madana, P^limhira, Pingala, Tantuka, Pushpa-pdndu, Shadga, Agnika, Vabhru, Kashdya, Kalusha, Pdravata, Hastdbharana, Chitraka and Enipada belong to the family of the Mandali species of snakes. 13.

Names of the different species of

RsCjiman Snakes r—Snakes known as Punda-

7o8 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. fChap. IV.

rika, Rdji-chitra, Anguia-rdji, Vindu-r^ji, Kardamaka, Trina-soshakas, Sarshapaka, Sveta-hanu,Darbha-pushpa, Chakraka,Godhumaka, Kikvisada belong to the Ratjimj^n family of snakes. 14

Names of the different species of

NirviSha snakes :— The Galagoli, Suka-patra, Ajagara, Divyaka, Varshdhika, Pushpa-sakali, Jyotiratha, Kshirika, Pushpaka, Ahi-patika, Andhahika, Gaur^hika and the Vrikshe-saya belong to the Nirvisha (non-venomous) group of snakes. 15.

Names and Origin of the different species of Vaii{:aranja snakes s— The Vaikaranja snakes are the cross-bred of the above first three species, viz., Darvi-kara, etc., and are known as Mdkuli, Potagala and Snigdha-raji. Those born of a Krishna-sarpa father and Gonasi mother or the contrary are known as Mdkuli, A Rdjila father and Gonasi mother or the contrary bring forth a (hybrid species known as the) Potagala, and a Krishna-sarpa father and a Rdjimati mother or the contrary produce a Snigdha-rdji snake. According to several authorities, the poison of a snake of the first of these three hybrid subfamilies partakes of the nature of that of its father while that of the remaining two partakes of the nature of their mother. 16.

Sub-famiiies of the Vaikaranja

16.

Sub-famiiies of the Vaikaranja

Snakes : — Seven other sub-families arise out of the three aforesaid families of Vaikaranja snakes and are known as Divyelaka, Lodhra-pushpaka, Rdji-chitraka, Potagala, Pushpabhikirna, Darbha-pushpsi and VelHtaka. Of these the first three species resemble the Rajlla and the last four resemble the Mandali species of snakes. Thus we have finished describing the eighty different families of snakes. 17.

p. 709

Characteristic features of Wlale and female snakes :— The eyes, the tongue, the mouth and the head of a male serpent are large, while those of a female snake are small Those which partake of both these features and are mild-venomed and not (easily) irritable, should be considered as hermaphrodite (Napumsaka). 18.

Now we shall describe the general features of snakebites : — Why does snake-poison prove instantaneously fatal like a sharp sword, thunder-bolt or fire ? Why is it that a case of snake bite, if neglected even for a very short time (Muhurta) at the outset, terminates in the death of the patient without (even) giving him an opportunity of speaking ? 19-20.

From the general characteristics of the bites, it should be presumed that they may be divided into three kinds. We shall, therefore, describe in detail the specific features of the bites of these three kinds (instead of all of them separately). It will be both beneficial to the patient and will leave no room for the confusion of the physician. From the specific features of these three kinds of snake-bites should be inferred all other snakebites, 21.

Specific symptoms of a bite by a
Darvi-kara snake:— A black colour of the skin,

eyes, nails, tooth, urine and stool and the seat of the bite, roughness of the body and heaviness of the head, pain in t.b'=r joints, weakness of the back, neck and waist yawning, shivering, hoarseness of the voice, a rattling sound in the throat, lassitude, dry eructation, cough and difficult breathing, hiccough, upward course of the bodily Vayu, pain (S'ula) and consequent aching of the limbs, thirst, excessive salivation, foaming in the mouth, choking of the external orifices of the body (such as yiO THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. CCbap- IV.

the mouth and the nostrils) and peculiar pains (such as the pricking, piercing pain in the body) due to the aggravation of the bodily Vdyu, — these are the specific symptoms of a bite by a snake of the Darvi-kara species. 22,

Specific symptoms of a bite by a