Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

Godhuma (wheat) unites fractures, is destructive of wind, agreeable in taste, cooling, prolongs life, promotes nutrition and increases corpulency, enhances the semen, is oily, makes the body consistent and hard, and is heavy.23

* Cyamaka is Pftnicum frumcntaceum, Eoxb.

t The varieties here mentioned are very small kinds of paddy. Most of them grow wild and are gathered when ripe, by special processes. Many of these do not really fall within the genus Oryza Saliva, but the Ris’nis followed the popular phraseology in calling them all as paddy. — T.

CHARAKA-S-AMHITA.

p. 333

Nandimukhi and Madhuni are sweet, oily, and cooling.

Thus ends the first group consisting of the diverse varieties of the grain called £uka-dhanya.*24

Here ends the Cuka-Dhanya group.

Mudga ( Phaseolus Mungo , Linn. ) is astringent sweet in taste, dry and cooling ; in assimilation it is pungent ; it is, besides, light, clear, and destructive of both phlegm and bile. It is the foremost of all things whose soup or boiled juice is taken.25

Masha ( Phaseolus radiatus Roxb.) increases the semen, is greatly destructive of wind, oily, warm, sweet, heavy, invigorating, increases the quantity of faeces, and if weakness or loss of virile power takes place, it restores that power quickly.28

That variety of this article which is called Rajamasha ( Vigna sinensis, Savi, syn. Dolichos sinensis, Linn.) has consistency, creates a relish for food, causes phlegm, semen, acidity, and bile. It is agreeable, provocative of wind, dry, astringent in taste, is, clear, and heavy.27

That variety of Masha which is known by the name of Kulattha (. Dolichos biflorus, Roxb.) is warm and astringent; in assimilation it is sour; isdestructive of phlegm, semen, and wind. It isan inspissant, and is beneficial in consumption, hiccup, asthma, and piles.28

Makushtaka ( called also Van-Mudga, Phaseolus lobatus, ) is sweet in taste and assimilation, an inspissant, dry, and cooling. It is beneficial in haemorrhages, Fevers, and other diseases.29

Chanaka ( Gicer arietinum, Linn), Masura ( Cicer lens, Roxb; syn. Vicia lens, Benth ), Khandika {Pisum sativum, Linn), and other kinds of pulses and pease are light, cooling, sweet, as¬ tringent, and dry. They are beneficial in affections of bilious,

* Both Nandhmukhi and Madhuni are varieties of wheat ( Triticum vulgare , Linn. ). Dhanya, as previously shown, includes grain of almost every species. By Cuka-Dhanya is meant all bearded grains. — T.

p. 334

phlegm. They are also regarded as praiseworthy in the prepara¬ tion of soups and’ plasters. Amongst them all, Masura ( Gicer lens, lioxb. ) is an inspissant for it dries up the fluids of the body ; while Kalaya ( or Khandira, Pisum sativum, Linn. ), is highly provocative of wind.30-31

Tila ( Sesatnum Indicum, Linn.) is oily, heating, sweet, keen, astringent, and bitter. It keeps the skin soft, promotes the growth of hair, increases strength, is destructive of wind, and creates phlegm and bile.32

The different varieties of beans are heavy, sweet, cooling, destructive of strength, and possessed of drying qualities. When oilified, they are fit to be eaten by men endued with strength.33

The particular variety of beans called Cimvi ( several species of Dolichos are known by it ) is dry and astringent. It provokes the wind within the stomach. It does not benefit the semen. It is not beneficial to the eyes also. It takes a longtime for digestion.34

Adhaki( Cytisus Cajan, Linn ; syn. Cajanus Indicus, Spreng. ) is destructive of phlegm and bile ; provokes wind ; and allays phlegm and wind when both are excited together.

Avalguja (called also Somraja, Vernonia anthelmintica, Willd ; syn. Senatula anthelmintica, Roxb.), Edagaja ( called also Chakramardda, Cassia Tora, Linn.) and Nishpava (called in Bengali, Barbati, Vigna catjang), are provocative of wind and bile.

Kakanda ( a black variety of the beans called Cimvi ), Uma ( called also Atasi, Linum usitatissimum, Linn.), and Atmagupta ( called also Alkusi, Mucuna pruriens) produce effects similar to those of Masha ( Phaseolus radiatus.)

Thus ends the second group, called £ami Dbanya; as expounded by the Rishi.38-38

Here ends the Cami-Dkdnya Group.

The cow, ass, mule, camel, horse, leopard, lion, bear, ape, wolf, tiger, hyena, the hairy dog called Babhru, cat, mouse, fox, jackal,

CHARA K4-SA A/H l TA .

p. 335

liavvk, dog, Chasha (a), crow, Ca9aghjii (b), Madhuhan (c), Bhasa (d), vulture, owl, Kulingalca ( e ), Dhunika (/), and the ospreys, — these beasts and birds are called Prasahas.*

£weta (g), £yama (h), Chitra-pushta (*), Kalaka (/), Kakunimriga ( k ), Kurchika (/), Chillita ( m ), frogs, Iguana, £alwaka (»), Gandaka ( o ), Kadali (/>), Nakula (q), and £vvavit (r), these animals are classed as Bhumi^aya (or living in holes).37-10 a. Ordinarily applied to the blue jay ( Coradas Indica) ; sometimes, it is applied to the kingfisher. — T.