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.
f Generally speaking, ‘Grahi’ or inspissants are medicines which dry up the fluids of the body. A particular drug is called ‘Samgrahi’ when it either dries up the fluids or restrains their escape from the body or the particular parts of the body where they are generated. — T.
$ ‘Pidana’ is explained by Gangadhara as ‘akrishya-sankocha-kara.’ — T.
‘Ropana’ is explained by the same Commentator as ‘Vranasya mangsadipurana.’ — T.
§ “Stambhana or constipators are medicines which, from their drying, astringent, and cooling qualities, and from their easy digestibility, increase the air and retain the secretions.” — U. C. Dutt’s Mat. Med. of the Hindus.
CHARAKA-SAMHITA.
,315
It causes abdominal flatulence.
It restrains the free utterance of speech.
It obstructs the ducts of the system.
It produces darkness of complexion.
It destroys virility.
Restraining the secretions (constipating them), it brings about untimely decrepitude.
It restrains the wind, urine, and stools.
It produces emaciation.
It brings about heaviness and pain in the body.
It produces thirst.
It retains fluids and secretions and prevents them from flowing or escaping out of the body.
In consequence of its being rough, clear, and dry, it brings about Hemiplegia, Paralysis, Spasmodic contractions, facial paralysis, and other diseases of the kind that spring from excited wind.68
Even thus the six Tastes, separately or (in admixture), taken or administered properly and in due measure, prove beneficial unto all creatures endued with life. If administered otherwise, they produce evil consequences. Hence, the physician possessed of learning should administer them properly and in due measure, with the view of producing only beneficial consequences.*69
Here occur some verses.
That object which is sweet in Taste and Assimilation, should be known as cooling in Energy. That which is sour in Taste and Assimilation, should be known as heating in Energy. So also
The particle ‘va,’ following ‘Prithaktwena,’ means, by implication, admixture. — T.
p. 316
CHA RA KA -SAM RITA .
that object which is pungent in Taste and Assimilation, should be known as heating in energy.1
The virtues of objects, in brief, are gatherable from instructions as regards their Tastes. Presently, instructions are being laid down respecting those objects that are otherwise in energy or that be¬ come otherwise upon Assimilation.*2
Of such as Milk, as Ghee, as Ghavya and Chitraka, and others of the kind, the physician should indicate the properties by (a reference to) their Taste.3
There are some sweet things that are, however, of heating energy, as also some astringent things and some that are bitter, and some that are bitter-astringents as the compound called Mahat Panchamula, and the meat of some animals living in marshy regions (that are so).4t
Rock-salt, though saline in taste, is not of heating energy ; so Amalaka (. Phyllanthus Emblica , Linn.), though possessed of a sour taste, is not of heating energy. Arka (a), Aguru (5), and Guduchi (c), amongst things that are bitter, are endued with heat¬ ing properties.6
Some objects possessed of a sour taste are of constipating effects ; while some, of the same taste, produce purging effects ; of the former, Kapithwa (d), is an example ; of the latter Amalaka (e), 8 1 j- ‘Mahat-Panchamula’ consists of Aigle marmelos, Echites frutescens, Roxb., Gmelina arborea, Linn., Bignonia suaveolens, Roxb., and Premna serratifolia, Linn. — T’
* The sense seems to be this : generally speaking, the properties of objects are gatherable from taste and assimilation. There are certain objects, however, whose pro¬ perties do not obey this rule or law. What they are, will be enumerated below. — T.
a. Calatropis gigantea or procera ; syn. Asclepias gigantea ; Willd.
b. Aquilaria Agallocha, Roxb.
c. Tinospora Cordifolia, Miers ; syn. Menispermum Cordifolium, Willd.
d. Kapithwa is Feronia elephantum ; (the wood-apple tree.)
e. Amalaka is Phyllanthus Etnblica,, Linn :
CHAR A KA-SAMHITA .
p. 317
Although things possessed of a pungent taste do not lead to increase of semen, yet Pippali (/), and Nagara ( g ), do lead to such increase. Things possessed of an astringent taste generally in¬ crease the wind and retain the secretions, and are, besides, cooling in respect of their properties, yet Abhaya ( h ), is held to be different.7
For these reasons, by laying down instructions in respect of Taste alone, the properties of all objects are incapable of being indicated. Even such difference of properties is seen in objects and objects, though all of them may be possessed of even the same taste.*8
In consequence of its dryness, the Astringent Taste is, of all things that are dry, the foremost ; the Pungent is middling ; the Bitter is inferior.
In consequence of its heating properties, the Saline, among all things heating, is the foremost ; the Sour is middling ; and the Pungent is inferior.
In consequence of its oilness, among all things oily the Sweet taste is the foremost ; the Sour taste is middling; and the Saline taste is inferior.9-10
As regards cooling properties, the Sweet taste is the foremost ; the Astringent taste is middling ; and the Bitter taste is inferior.
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