Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

b. Literally, the animal that kills rabbits. It is applied to a bird of prey. The Commentator is content with telling us only this, c. Gangadhara says that this bird is commonly called Mahua in Bengal.

d. Bhasa is the fish-eating kite.

e. Otherwise called Vana-Chataka. A variety of the sparrow, f. Otherwise called Chataka. The ordinary sparrow.

* Lower down in this Lesson the Rishi explains that the name * Prasaha ’ is applied to those beasts and birds in consequence of the suddenness and force with which they seize their food and devour it. — T.

g. The Commentator Gangadhara, without explaining what is implied by it, con¬ tents himself with observing that it is a well-known animal. It is difficult to say whether the word is used for a bird or a beast.

h. Cyama is identified by Gangadhara with a bird of a darkish hue.

i. “A well-known bird known by this name in a particular province” observes Gangadhara. Difficult to identify.

j. Some texts read ‘ Kilaka ’ and some ‘ Kanaka ’. It is believed to be a small variety of ‘chataka’ or sparrow.

k. Some texts read ‘ Kakuli-mriga ’. Gangadhara observes that among common people it is known by the name of ‘ Kauni-mriga what that is, is not well-known.

l. Some texts incorrectly read' ‘Kuchika’. It is the well-known fish called « Kunehia ’ in Bengal. It is a variety of eel.

m. Some texts incorrectly read ‘ Chillaka’. It is commonly called ‘ Chiada, ’ observes Gangadhara. It is probably a provincial name.

n. Commonly called ‘ Sejada ’ observes Gangadhara. Difficult to identify.

o. Otherwise called ‘ Swarna-Godha \ A variety of iguana, of golden color.

f. A small variety of deer, called ‘ Kadali-patta q. Mungoose.

Literally, ‘one that knows the dog.’ It is used to imply the porcupine.

p. 336

CHARAKA-SAMHITA .

Srimara («), Chamara, (b), Rhinoceros, Buffalo, Gavaya, (c), Elephant, Nanku ( d ), Boar, and Ruru ( e ), are regarded as amphi¬ bious animals.

Tortoise, crab, fish, porpoise, whale, oysters, conchs, otter, crocodile, Chaluki (large variety of porpoise), Makara (/) and others, have been said to be aquatic animals.

Those that live and move on the surface of the waters are now being said. They are swans and geese, Krauncha ( g ), Valaka ( h ), cranes, Karandava(t), Plava(/), £arari (£), Pushkarari (l), Ke?ari (m), Manatundika («), Mrinalakantha, (o),Madgu (/), Kadamva^.Kakatundika ( r ), Utkro$a(.y), Pundarikaksha ( t ), Megharava ( u ), Amvua. The Commentator explains that Srimara is a large species of boar. The lexi¬ cons also give ‘ Srimaro-mahacukarah ’.

b. An animal of the deer species, having a fine tail. The Yak or Bos Gruniens.

c. A species of ox ; the Gayal ; erroneously classed by Hindu writers among deer.

d. Any ordinary deer of two horns.

e. A large species of deer, having many horns.

f. Sharks and other animals of the kind are implied by it. The word ‘ Makara ’ as used in Sanskrit literature is a fictitious animal like the griffin and others of the g. The Commentator observes that it is a kind of large crane.

Wilson thinks it is a variety of the heron, viz., Ardea jaculator.

h. Otherwise called, as observed by the Commentator, ‘ Kanavaki ’. A small variety of crane.

i. A variety of duck.

j. Literally, anything that goes by leaps and bounds. A small species of waterfowl is implied. The word, however, sometimes means a frog.

k. Spelt variously. Written sometimes as 1 Carali. ’ A species of water fowl that is supposed to drive away all other fowl from the tank in which it lives and to eat up all the fish in it.

l. The Commentator says that it is otherwise called ‘ Naralipaksha ’ ; evidently a provincial name.

m. Otherwise called * Dirghali ’ as observed by the Commentator.

«. Otherwise called * Matundi ’ as observed by the Commentator.

o. Difficult to identify.

p. The shag.

r. A gallinule of the white variety.

s. A variety of osprey.

t. An aquatic fowl with large red eyes.

u. Otherwise called ‘Meghanada ’.

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

p. 337

Kukkuti (a), Ara (6), Nandimukhi ( c ), Vati (d), Sumukha ( e ), Sahacharin (_/), Rohini ( g ), Kamakali (k), Sarasa (z), Raktafirshaka ( j ), Chakravaka ( k), and other fowl.

Prishata (/), Sarabha ( m ), Rama (n), Cwadangshtra (o), Mrigamatrika (p), Catja (y), Urana (r), Kuranga (s), Gokarna (t ), Kottakaraka (u), Charushka (v), Harina ( w ), Ena ( n ), Camvara (jy), Kalapuchcchaka (z), Rishya (a), and Tarapota (b), should be known as animals of the wilderness.47-48

а. Difficult to identify.

б. Ditto.

c. Ditto.

d. Ditto.

e. Ditto.

/. Ditto.

g. Ditto.

h. Ditto.

i. The Indian crane. Ardea Sibirica.

j. A variety of the above with a red head.

k. The ruddy goose, commonly called in India the Brahmani duck or goose. Anas casarca.

l. The porcine deer.

m. Not the- fabulous animal that is stronger than the lion, but a species of deer. The Commentator describes it to be as large as the camel and having large horns also.

n. A variety of deer. Probably, the large wild goat of the Himalayas.

o. A variety of deer having four horns. The Commentator describes it as occurring at Kartikapore p. The Commentator describes it as a big-bellied deer of the vaccine shape.

q. The hare. .The name, however, is sometimes applied to a species of deer.

r. A species of hare.

s. The antelope.