Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna
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The translator’s English as printed (Avinash Chandra Kaviratna). The original-language text is not held; names are romanised as the translator printed them.
All the numerous diseases that appear in the body, arising from the disorders of one’s constituent elements, are not separable from ( disorders of ) bile, phlegm and wind. All diseases, however, that are accidental, are distinguished therefrom.1 The Accidental becoming aggravated, follows the Constitutional disease ; similarly the Constitutional, becoming aggravated, follows the Accidental. ‘j' Hence, ascertaining properly the adjunct and the cause, the work of treatment should be commenced.2
* ‘Sthana-samsthana-prakriti-viceshan’ is explained by the Commentators as follows : ‘slhana’ is the seat or place, where the wind, &c. have been excited, such as blood, or stomach, &c. ‘Samsthana’ is ‘lingam’ or particular indications or symptoms noticeable ; •Prakriti’ is cause, such as excessive eating or sleeping, absence of oily food or of sleep, &c. — T.
t What is stated here is this: diseases are either Constitutional or Accidental. The former are evidently inseparable from disorders of wind, bile and phlegm. The latter may at first sight be regarded as separable therefrom. But even Accidental diseases, when aggravated, (as when a wound is deep and has begun to fester), fever, loss of strength and appetite, headache, and other Constitutional diseases may set in, caused by disorders of wind, bile, and phlegm induced by the Accidental disease. A Constitutional disease also, becoming aggravated, may apparently be cured ; but in con¬ sequence of its seeds being present in the body, one becomes more susceptible of catching diseaes by accidents than another who has been always hale. — T.
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charaka-samhitA.
Thus ends the Nineteenth Lesson called the Ashtodariya in the treatise of Agniveya as revised by Charaka.
LESSON XX.
We shall now expound the Lesson called Maharoga. Thus said the illustrious son of Atri.*1
The diseases that occur are of four kinds : They are i. Acci¬ dental, 2. those born of wind, 3. those born of bile, and 4. those born of phlegm.
Though distributed into four kinds, their character as disease is of one kind, in consequence of the common element being present in all of them of producing affliction or pain.
In consequence, again, of diseases being distributed into two kinds, viz., Accidental and Constitutional, their causes are of two kinds.
In consequence, again, of the distinction between mind and body, the substrata of disease are of two kinds.
The modifications, again, of those four are innumerable, in consequence of the differences in respect of causes, seats, symp¬ toms, areas, and varieties, being innumerable.f 2-6
The immediate causes of Accidental diseases are, verily, wounds inflicted by nails, or teeth, or falls, incantations ( with Atharvan rites), curses (of men possessed of ascetic puissance), assaults of evil spirits, acts of violence (done with weapons, &c). binding, pressure, cords, burns, Mantras, fall of lightning, and the assaults of other physical agents.7 4
Of all Constitutional diseases the causes are disorders of wind, bile, and phlegm.8 f In the sixth sentence, some texts omit ‘esham.’ The sense remains the same. ‘Prakriti’ is cause ; ‘adhishthanam’ is seat ; ‘linga’ is symptoms or external ; indications ; ‘ayatana’ is the area or place where wind, bile, or phlegm, may be excited or attenuated ; ‘ vikalpa’ is variety, as in the case of swellings, in respect of pairi, color, extent, &c. — T.
* ‘Maharogadhyaya’ implies an elaborate or long-extending lesson on diseases. Here numerous diseases have been named, and their causes, and other considerations. — T.
charaka-samhita.
p. 221
The inducing causes of both Accidental and Constitutional diseases are injudicious correlation of objects with the senses, want of wisdom or foresight, and time.
Verily, all the four kinds of diseases, when aggravated, follow one another. No doubt, however, can arise in the mailer of distinguishing one from another.9
Accidental disease arises at first with pain and afterwards causes disorders of wind, bile, and phlegm.
In Constitutional diseases, wind, bile, and phlegm in the first instance become disordered and afterwards lead to pain.
The respective divisions of the body shall now be laid down that constitute the seats of the three faults ( viz., wind, bile, and phlegm).10
They are as follow : —
The hypogastric or pubic region, the place where the faeces collect, the regions about the loins, the thighs, the feet and the bones are the seats of wind. That portion of the stomach, however, where digestion goes on, among the seats of wind, is in particular the seat thereof.11
Sweat, the thorax, saliva, blood, and that portion of the stomach where undigested food remains, are the seats of bile. Amongst these all, the last is especially the seat of bile.12
The thorax, the head, the throat, all the joints, that portion of of the stomach which holds the undigested food, and the fat are the seats of phlegm. Amongst these all, the thorax is especially the seat of phlegm.13
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