The Sushruta Samhita — trans. Bhishagratna

8.

Metrical Texts : —The use of the (expressed juice of a) Soma plant, the lord of all medicinal herbs is followed by rejuvenation of the sys'.em of its user and enables him to witness ten thousand summers on earth in the full enjoyment of a new (youthful) body. Such a person bears a charmed life against fire, water, poison and weapon and develops a muscular energy in his limbs which would be in no way inferior to the combined strength of a thousand excited (rutted) elephants, of the Bhadrd class (which are the most ferocious and irresistible) in their sixtieth year. Equipped with such an excellent physique, he can easily and without any opposition cross the Kshiroda (ocean) and go up to the abode of S'akra (the king of the gods) and roam to the extreme confines of Uttara (northern) Kuru or to any other place he likes. He is invested with a beauty of frame which belongs to Kandarpa (the god of love) and his complexion (lustre) vies with the beams of the full moon. The presence of such a beautiful man gladdens the hearts of all, and the entire Veda with all their allied branches* of knowledgep. 537 instinctively dawn upon his consciousness. Like the gods, he knows no failure in life and roams about in the world in the full glory of divine majesty. 9.

* The allied branches of the study of the Vedas are six in num They are :— f?j=^ ^j^ ^T^TW f%^ W^^ ^?i: I

Distinctive features of the Soma

Plants : — A Soma plant of whatever species is furnished with fifteen leaves which wax and wane with the waxing and the waning of the moon. Thus one leaf grows every day in the lighted fortnight attaining the greatest number (fifteen) in the night of the full moon and then the leaves begin to decrease in number dropping one by one every day till the bare stem of the creeper is left on the night of the new moon. 10.

Their description :— The Ams'um^n species of the Soma is characterised by a smell like that of clarified butter and has a bulb, while the Rajata-prabha is possessed of a bulb resembling a plantain in shape. The Munjavdn puts forth leaves like those of a garlic while the Chandramdh species is possessed of a golden colour and is aquatic in its habitat. The Garuddhrita and S^veldksha species are yellowish (Pandura) and look like the cast-off skins of a snake and are usually found to be pendent from the boughs of trees 11.

The Garuddhrita and S^veldksha species are yellowish (Pandura) and look like the cast-off skins of a snake and are usually found to be pendent from the boughs of trees 11.

All other species are marked with parti-coloured circular rings. Possession of fifteen leaves of variegated colours, a bulb, a creeper-like appearance, and secretion of milky juice are the general characteristics of all the Soma plants. 12- A.

Their habitats :— The Himdlayas,"the Arvuda, the Sahya, the Mahendra, the Malaya, the S'ri-Parvata, the Deva-giri, the Deva-saha, the Pdripdtra, the Vindhya mountains and lake Devasunda are the habitats of the Soma plants. Somas, of the Chandramdh species are often found to be floating here and there on the mighty stream of the river Sindhu (Indus) which flows down at the foot

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538 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA [Chap. XXIX.

of the five large mountains lying to the north bank beyond the Vitasta (river). The Munjavan and the Amsumin species may also be likewise found in the same locality while those known as the G^yatri, Traishtubha Pamkta, Jagata, S'amkara, and others looking as beautiful as the moon are found to float on the surface of the divine lake known as the little Manasa in Kashmir. 12-B.

The Soma plants are invisible to the impious or to the ungrateful as well to the unbeliever in the curative virtues of medicine and to those spiteful to the Brahmanas. 12.

Thus ends the Twenty-ninth Chapter of the Chikitsita Sthdnam in the Sus'ruta Samhit^ which deals with the Prophylactic elixirs for the innate maladies.

CHAPTER XXX.

Now we shall discourse on the tonic remedies which remove mental and physical distress (Nivrittasamtapiya-Rasayana). i.

lYIetrical Text :— Even in this world mortals may live happily, free from disease and care like the gods in heaven if they (mortals) can secure the aftermentioned drugs (of all-healing potency). 2.

Persons unfit for the use of Ras£(- yana : —The (following) seven classes of persons, viz , the intemperate, the lazy, the indigent, the unwise, the immoral (Vyasani)* the sinful and the triflers of medicine, are unfit to take these ambrosial (Rasdyana) drugs on account of their respective ignorance, inaclivily, poverty, vascillation, intemperance, impiety and inability to secure the genuine medicines. 3.

Names of all-healing drugs :— Now

3.

Names of all-healing drugs :— Now

we shall discourse on these drugs. They are S'vetakdpoti, Krishna-kdpoti, Gonasi, Vdrdhi^ Kanyd^ Chhatrd, Ati-chchatrd^ Karenu^ Ajd, Chakrakd, Adityaparnini, Suvarchald, Brahma- suvarchald^ S'rdvani, Mahd'S'rdvani, Golomi, Aja-lomi and Mahd'Vegavati, These are the nam^s of the eighteen different kinds of drugs of mighty potency. The mode of their use, their

•^ijf^if ii a technical term and is divided into two classes, viz., ^-[4^:31 {?.^., produced by pafsion or desire) and ^'^5f (^i?., originated from anger). The first group comprises hunting, dice-playing, day-sleep, censuring, addiciion to woman, intoxication, singing, dancing, playing on musical instruments and idle wanderings. The second class comprises wickedness, violence, malice, jealousy, envy, extravagance, roughness in language and assault. See Manu, Ch. 7. 47, 48.

p. 540

therapeutical effects and the religious rites to be observed in their connection, have been described in the Sdstras and are identical with those of the Soma plants. In order to use them a man should enter the (prescribed) chamber (Ag2ira) and perform the (prescribed) Homa ceremonies. A Kudava measure of the milky juice of the secreting species of the plants should be taken once for all after entering the chamber. 4.

Three twigs or branches, however, to the length of a span of those of the non-secreting species having roots should be taken for a single dose. The (whole of) S'veta-kdpoti with its leaves and roots should be used. A quantity of the severed pieces of either of the Gonasi, Ajagari (Suvarchala) or Krishna-kdpoti species including their thorns, and weighing a Musti (Sanakha-mushtika;* should be boiled with (an adequate quantity of; milk (and water). The milk thus cooked and prepared should be passed through a piece of cloth and taken only once duly consecrated. The milk cooked and prepared with one of the Chahrakd\ species also should be taken with milk only once, whereas (that of one of) the Brahnia-suvarchald species should be taken for seven days in succession. 5.

Five Palas of any of the remaining species should be boiled with an A'dhaka measure of milk and taken down with one quarter left. This should then be strained and the milk thus cooked should be taken in a single