The Sushruta Samhita — trans. Bhishagratna
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89- A.
Women unfit to visit :— A woman in her menses, not amorously disposed, uncleanly in -herp. 409 habits, not sufficiently endeared and endearing and belonging to a higher social order* older than one's self,, affected with any disease, wanting in any limbs, inimically disposed to one's self, in her period of gestation, suffering from any uterine disorder, belonging to his own blood (Gotra), or leading the life of an anchorite, or who is his preceptor's wife, should not be gone unto by a man (seeking health and longevity). A woman should not be gone unto in the Sandhyds (morning and evening), as well as on the Parva daysf (prescribed in the S'^stras), early in the morning, at mid-day, or in the dead of night. Going unto a woman at an infamous, unwholesome, or exposed place is similarly forbidden. Sexual intercourse by a man who is hungry, or thirsty, or who may be suffering from any disease, or may be angry, or in a cheerless spirit, is strictly forbidden. A man should not go unto a woman by repressing a natural urging for Vdta (flatus), stool or urine, or if he is in a weak state of health, (as it would be highly injurious to his health). Incest with lower animals, unnatural sexual intercourse, obstruction of semen in its passage, as well as sexual intercourse with a woman having any vaginal disease are strictly forbidden even in respect of a strong person. 89-B.
It is highly injurious for a man to indulge excessively in sexual intercourse, or to enjoy it while standing, or while lying on his back, or to shake his head at the time ; these should not be indulged in by an intelligent t The Parva days are the 8th, the 14th and 15th days of either fortnights and the last days of the solar months. — Ed.
* The text has "Varna-Vriddha" which literally means superior to the man in respect of Varna or the magnetic vibrations of the body, which are determined by one's birth in a certain family. It means several castes of the Hindus.— Ed.
500 THE SUSHktJTA SAMMITA. tChap. XXlV, and judicious person even (occasionally for pleasure's sake. 89-C.
Evil effects of the foregoing abuses :
— Ed.
500 THE SUSHktJTA SAMMITA. tChap. XXlV, and judicious person even (occasionally for pleasure's sake. 89-C.
Evil effects of the foregoing abuses :
— Visiting a woman in her menses results in the loss of sight, longevity and vital power, and should be accordingly considered as a sinful act. The duration of a man's life is diminished by going unto a woman, older in age or higher in social status (Varna), or unto the wife of his preceptor or superior, in the morning or the evening, or on the Parva days (the interdicted days), or'unto a woman belonging to the same blood as he. A visit to a woman big with child is extremely painful and injurious to the foetus confined in the womb. A visit to a diseased woman results in the loss of the man's vital power. A going unto a deformed, uncleanly, spiteful, non amorous, or sterile woman, or at an unclean, infamous, or exposed place is detrimental to the semen and intellect of the visitor 89-D.
Similarly, sexual intercourse enjoyed by a man at noon time, or by one who is in an enfeebled, thirsty, or hungry state of the body, in a standing up posture, or in a cheerless mood, brings on an excessive loss of semen and aggravation of the bodily Vdyu. Phthisis due to the loss of semen is the result of over-intemperance in sexual matters. Pain, enlargement of the spleen, epilepsy and even death may follow from sexual gratifications in a diseased state of health. The Vdyu and the Pitta become aggravated by the sexual intercourse enjoyed early in the morning or at midnight. An incest with lower animals, unnatural sexual intercourse, or that with a woman having a diseased vagina is attended with an excessive loss of semen and an aggravation of the bodily Vdyu, and is the cause of Upadamsa (syphilitic virus). An act of coition enjoyed by
Chap. XXIV.] CHIKITSA STHANAM. 5OI
holding the woman on one's bosom or by repressing the natural urgings towards urination or defecation, as well as a repressing of seminal discharge would help the early formation of seminal concretions (in the bladder). 89-E.
XXIV.] CHIKITSA STHANAM. 5OI
holding the woman on one's bosom or by repressing the natural urgings towards urination or defecation, as well as a repressing of seminal discharge would help the early formation of seminal concretions (in the bladder). 89-E.
Hence these (injurious and harmful) practices should be shunned by a man for his welfare in this life as well as for that in the next. On the contrary, repression of a natural and (legitimate) sexual desire, from a sense of unwise delicacy or shame, is a physical sin.* Hence a healthy and passionate man possessed of the necessary fecundating element, under the course of a proper Vdjikarana (aphrodisiac) remedy, should cheerfully go unto and duly enjoy the pleasures of company with a girl, beautiful in looks, tender in years, modest, virtuous, equally passionate, cheerful, kindred to him both in physical and mental temperaments, and well-decked with ornaments. Fatigue after coition should be removed by the enjoyment of a bath f, a cool breeze, or a t A bath is recommended for a man of strong virile power, in case of sexufil intercourse in the day time or it may be possible to take a bath early in summer nights.— Dallana.
* It should be always borne in mind that God has implanted this desire in the mind of man and provided him with the necessary organic appendages only for the propagation of his species and not for the gratification of any diseased or morbid sexual propensity which is found nowhere else in Nature save and except in debauched human subjects and which lowers them even below the level of brutes. Hence love should be the essence of the bond which binds a couple and converts them into a kind of human centaur, the man and the wife, and union sexually considered, should be effected only under the promptings of that sacred instinct in Nature which makes the lilies blow and causes the pollens to unite their fecundating principles with one another and which a healthy unsophisticated human heart can instinctively read as the seed time of youthful exuberance.
p. 502
sound sleep. Food or milk, saturated with sugar, and meat-juice, prove very refreshing after the act. 89.
Thus ends the Twenty-fourth Chapter in the Chikitsita Sthdnam of the Sus'ruta Samhitd which deals with the rules of Hygiene and the prophylactic measures in general.
CHAPTER XXV.
Now we shall discourse on the medical treatment of a variety of diseases (Misraka-Chikitsita). i.