Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

The stalks, flowers, and fruits of both Kumuda and Utpala are cooling, agreeable in taste and astringent, and capable of exciting phlegm and wind.*117

Paushkara seeds are astringent in taste, partially obstructive of urine and faeces, and alleviative of bilious hemorrhages. They are, again, sweet in taste and assimilation. t118

Yunjataka(7) is highly strength-giving and cooling and heavy and oily. It is, besides, an excellent Tarpana, and has every

а. The seeds of the lotus.

б. Both ChakrapSni and Gangadhara observe that what is meant by'this is the sprout of the palmyra seed.

c. The fruits of the wild date palm are meant.

d. This does not mean the kernel of the palmyra fruits or even seeds, but the pith towards the head of the palmyra tree. It is commonly called Tala-m5thi or Talahe id.

e. What is implied is the Kalhara-kanda, or the bulbous root of the KalhSra or Nymphcea lotus.

f. The stalk of the lotus.

g. The bulbous root of the lotus and other plants of the same species.

h. The esculent root commonly called Ghenchu.

i. Scirpus Kysoor, Roxb.

j. Trapa bispinosa, Roxb.

k. The bulbous root of a small variety of lotus.

* Kumuda is the Nymphcea lotus. Linn., and Utpala is the Nymphcea stellata, L inn.

t This Verse occurs in many texts. GangSihara, however, adds 'Paushkarantubhavedvijam RaktapittakshatSpaham1 to the line about Utpalas, numbered 114 above. It will be seen that here in 118, some more attributes are added to what are said of those seeds in the line adopted in Gang3ihara’s text. — T.

l. The word is YunjStaka and not Munjataka or Munja-grass. The latter is

p. 352

CH A RA KA -SA M HIT A.

capacity to be used as a Vring-hana. It is, again, alleviative of wind and bile, is agreeable to the taste, and increases the vital seed.*119

The bulbous root of the Vidari(tz) prolongs life ; promotes nutri¬ tion and corpulency ; increases the vital seed ; improves the voice, and is applauded as a tonic for removing the effects of age, increas¬ ing the vigor of healthy persons, and curing the ailments of the sick. It also promotes the strength in special, increases the urine, is agreeable to the taste, and cooling.190

The bulbous root of Amvlika(i5) is regarded as beneficial in ailments of the Grahani and in piles. It is light and not very hot. It alleviates phlegm and wind, and operates as an inspissant. It is applauded as a remedy in cases of delirium tremens.121

The potherbs supplied by the mustard plant excite the three faults and obtruct both faeces and urine.

Pindalu(c) should be known as endued with the same properties. In consequence, however, of its possessing a bulbous root, it is agreeable to the mouth.122

Excluding Sarpacchatra(t£), all plants of the ^chatra(^) species are cooling, provocative of inflammation of the Schneiderian membrane, sweet in taste, and heavy.128

The fourth group (division) is thus ended of Potherbs including both leaves and bulbous roots.

never eaten by human beings and does not yield any bulbous root. Chakrapani says, it is an ‘Auttarapathika root,’ i.e., some bulbous root brought from the north, probably Nepal or Morung. As regards Tarpana and Vring-hana, vide pp. 244 45 arid 250 ante. — T.

* Convolvulus paniculatus, Linn. ; syn. Bdtatus paniculata.

a. Convolvulous paniculatus , Linn.

b. Chakrapani says that Amvlika is a little shrubby tree growing in Kamrupa and its neighbourhood. Ganga ihara believes that the plant implied by AmvliUS is otherwise called Amiairaka, a sour variety of Ginger. The plant is difficult to identify. — T.

c. Called in Bengali Chubri-Slu. Dioscorea globosa, Rojcb.

d. A particular variety of mushroom.

e. Fennels and mushrooms.

p. 353

The Group about Fruits.

Mridvika(7z) alleviates thirst, burning sensation -of the skin, fever, asthma, hemorrhages caused by excitement of the bile, sores and wounds, phthisis, excitement of the wind and the bile, Epistasis or suppression of urine, harshness of voice, delirium tremens, bitterness of the mouth, dryness of the mouth, and. con¬ sumption. It promotes nutrition and increases corpulency ; it enhances the vital seed ; it is sweet in taste, oily, and cooling. m-12S

Kharj j ura(i§) is sweet in taste. It promotes nutrition and increases corpulency. It enhances the .vital seed. It is heavy and cooling. It is beneficial in phthisis, in .wounds caused by violence, in burning pains, and in excitements of wind and bile.'26

Phalgu(e) operates as a Tarpana. It promotes nutrition and .increases corpulency. It is heavy. It obstructs the faeces .and urine. It is, again, cooling.

Parushaka and Madhuka(a?) are applauded in cases of wind and bile.127

A-mrata(d?) is sweet in taste. It promotes nutrition and increases corpulency. It operates as a tonic by increasing strength, it is a Tarpana. It is heavy. It is endued with oily matter. It provokes the phlegm, is cooling, increases the vital seed, and becomes digested after causing a sensation of heaviness in the stomach and obstructing faeces and urine.123

The kernel of the ripe Tala(/“) and the fruits of the Narikela(^)

a. XJvcb passed, syn. Vitis vinifera.

5. Phoenix sylvestris , Roxb. Wild date plam.

c. Otherwise called Kaka-dumvura. Ficus hispida, Linn.fil ; syn. Ficus oppositifolict, Roxb.

d. Grewia Asiatica, Linn, and Bassia iatifolia, Roxb.