Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

Among flesh of all animals of the deer species, that of the Ena is the best Among birds, the meat of the Lava is the best, Among animals living in holes, the meat of the Godha is the best. Among fishes, the meat of the Rohita is the best-f

Among all kinds of ghee, that from cow’s milk is the best Among all varieties of milk, that of the cow is the best. Among all oils from vegetable substances, that from sesame is the best. Among animals living in marshy regions, the fat of the hog is the best. Among all piscatorial animals, the fat of the porpoise is the best. Among aquatic fovyl, the fat of the Pakahansa is the best,3®

Among all kinds of pecking fowls, the fat of the cock is the best. Among all animals that feed on twigs and leaves, the fat of the goat is the best. Among roots, ginger is the best. Among fruits, Uvse passae are the best. Among all the products ;of the sugar-cane, sugar is the best,

Thus have been mentioned those articles that are, by nature, numbered among the best varieties of food.40

We 9hall now lay dovyn some of those articles that are very baneful.

A small variety of Yava (called Yavaka), being highly unsuit¬ able as diet, is regarded as the worst. Among the paddies known by the napie of Cami, Masha is the worst, Among waters, the worst is that of rivers in the season of rains. Among salts, the worst is brapkish earth. Among potherbs, the \yorst is the mustard seed plant. Among meat, the worst is beef.*4 *

Among birds, the meat of the black pigeon is the worst. Among animals living in holes, the flesh of the frog is the worst. Among fishes, the worst is Ghilchima. Among ghee, that from q Ena is a speeies qf deer, pf black colour, beautiful eyes, short legs, Lava is a sort of quail ; Perdix Chinensis.

Godha is the Iguana. Rohita is the ordinary Rohu fish or Cyprinus Roliila.

* Masha is the Pheseolus radiaius, Roxb. ‘Yavaka’ is a small variety of the Hordeum kexastichum, Linn. ‘XJshara’ is a kind of dry and saltish earth, \yhich poor people take as a substitute of for sea-salt.— T.

OH A RA KA -SA MHITA .

p. 275

sheep’s miil< is the worst. Among milk, that from sheep is the worst. Among vegetable oils, that from Kusumbha is the wsrst. Among aninials living irt marshy regions, the fat of the buffalo is the worst Among animals of the piscatorial genus, the fat of the crocodile is the worst. Among aquatic fowl, the fat of the Kakafnadgu is the Worst.

Of all birds, the fat of the Karandava is the worst. Of all animals that feed on branches of trees, the fat of the elephant is the worst.*41*

Of all bulbous roots, the Mulaka is the worst. Of fruits, the Worst is the Nikncha. Of all modifications of the juice of the sugarcane, the worst is Phanifa;

Thus are those things explained which are the foremo'st of those modifications of food that are, as regards their very nature', productive of consequences the most baneful.f43

Of the modifications of food those have been explained that are beneficial and baneful. After this, once more, We shall lay down, principally, what those articles are that are used in the Wellknown (curative) operations and in medicines, along with those that are subsidiary. J 44

‘Chilchima is a kind of sprat ; Cljipea cultraia. ‘Kakamadgu’ is the water-hen or gallinule.

* Some texts read ‘Chataka’ for ‘Karandava.’ The formet means a kind of sparrow, the latter an aquatic fowl Of the duck species. — T.

t ‘Nikucha’ is spelt variously, such as ‘Likucha’ and ‘Lakucha,’ In Bengal it is generally known by the name of Madara.’ It is, of course, the Artocarpus Lakoocha, Roxb.

‘Phanita* is the inspissated juice of the sugarcane. ‘Prakrishtatamani’ is the correct reading, and not ‘Nikrishtatamani. ’ The meaning is “the chief of those articles that ate baneful afe mentioned.” — T.

J A few Only of those modifications of food that are beneficial and baneful have been mentioned. These are, therefore, called the ‘Avayava’ of those modifications, meaning ‘a portion,’ i.e., some. ‘Karma’ implies the curative operations of purging vomiting, &C. The articles used in ‘Karma’ and those in medicines are to be named, together with their ‘AUnVandhas,’ i.e., the subsidiary articles, for promoting the action of ‘Karma’ and of medicines. — T.

p. 276

OHARA KA - SA MHI TA .

They are as follows : —

Food is the foremost of all articles that support life.

Of all articles that are assuring, water is the foremost.

Of all articles that dispel fatigue or exhaustion, the best is wine.

Of all articles that prolong life, milk is the best.

Of all articles that promote nutrition and lead to increase of flesh, the best is meat.

Of all articles that are soothing, the best is juice.

Of all articles that promote the relish of food, the best is salt.

Of all articles that are agreeable to the taste, the best are those that have a sour taste.*45

Of all things that promote strength, the best is the flesh of the cock (or hen).

Of all things that increase the semen, the best is the vital seed of the alligator.

Of all things that allay phlegm and bile, the best is honey.

Of all things that allay wind and bile, the best is ghee.

Of all things that allay wind and phlegm the best is oil.