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.
I! Chakrapani observes that Makshika honey is that which is gathered by the ordinary bee of a pale color. BhrSmara is that gathered by those bees which are called Bhramara. Kshaudra is gathered by bees of a very small variety. Pauttika is gathered by_that variety of pale bees which are large in size. — T.
CHAU AKA -SA MHITA.
p. 373
The honey that is of a white color is called Bhramara.
That which is called Kshaudra should be known to be of a tawny hue.
That called Pauttika is of the color of Ghee.247
The general properties of honey are these — it is provocative of the wind ; heavy and cooling ; alleviates phlegm and hemorr¬ hages caused by excitement of the bile ; it unites fractures ; it operates as a Cchedana ; it is dry, and astringent-sweet in taste.248
Honey, if taken in a heated state, kills the person taking it. If taken also by one who has been afflicted by heat or who is of a hot constitution by nature, it brings about death. This is due to the presence of poison in it.
In consequence of its being heavy and dry and astringent and cooling, honey, if taken in a very small measure, becomes beneficial.249
There is nothing more painful and difficult of treatment than mucus generated in the stomach through (excessive use of) honey. That disease soon kills the patient, like poison, in consequence the conflicting nature of the treatment to be followed.
When mqcus is generated, heating operations should be followed. Such operations, however, in the case of mucus generated by (excessive use of) honey, become hostile. Mucus, therefore, due to honey, is a very serious disease, and soon brings about death like poison.*250-51
In consequence of the presence of diverse essences in honey, it is exceedingly assimilable (with other objects).t t Some texts incorrectly, read ‘himam madhu.’ The correct reading is ‘param’. — T.
* The sense is this : Honey is heavy. If taken in copious measure, it generates mucus in the stomach. The treatment is very difficult, for all medicines that are destructive of mucus must be of heading virtues. Honey, however, is heating. The ordinary medicines, therefore, aggravate the disease brought about by honey. If cooling medicines are administered, they become hostile to the mucus generated by the copious use of honey. Hence, the treatment of such a disease is exceedingly difficult ; while its progress is so rapid that it brings about death before it can be stayed. — T.
p. 374
CHA RAKA -SA MH I TA.
Thus is declared the tenth Group which consists of the diverse modifications of the Sugar-cane or substances that resemble it in nature.*52
The Group about Prepared (cooked) Food.
Liquid food, vie., that which is drunk, alleviates hunger, thirst, fatigue, weakness, and diseases of the stomach.
It generates sweat and excites the digestive fire.
It makes the wind and the faeces move downwards in their natural direction.*55*
Vilepika operates as a Tarpana, and Grahi. It is, besides, light and promotes cheerfulness.f
The barm (of barley or rice) excites the digestive fire, and induces the wind to move (downwards) in its natural course.*51
It softens all the ducts, and generates sweat.
In the case of persons who have fasted or who have been purged, or of those who are thirsty after the oils drunk by them have been digested, barm, in consequence of its power of exciting the digestive fire and of its being light, becomes the support of life.
It alleviates thirst and diarrhoea, and restores the diverse ele¬ ments of the physical organism to harmony.*55-56
The Manda of fried paddy excites the digestive fire, and alle¬ viates burning of the skin, and swoons.
The Manda of fried paddy, properly prepared and purified, should be given to persons whose digestive fire is mild, or whose digestive fire is excited unequally, or to children, and aged, persons, and women, and persons that are of delicate constitutions.
It alleviates hunger and thirst quickly. It is a good regimen.
for ‘himam.’ ‘Yogavahi’ is explained by GangSdhara as assimilable. The fact is, honey takes the properties of those substances with which it is mixed. — T.
* Gangadhara observes that ‘ptya’ indicates thin gruel of barley. — T. t ‘Vilepika’ is understood in the sense of rice-gruel. Tarpana is that which soothes and promotes nourishment. Grahi is something that dries up the fluids of the body. — T.
CHARAKA-SAMHITA.
p. 375
It expels the impurities of such persons as have undergone a course of corrective treatment.**57-53
Rice, well boiled, properly divested of the water in which it has been boiled, and then adequately washed, and while still warm, is regarded as food that is light.
In constitutions injured by poison or characterised by excess of phlegm, fried rice is much desired.*53
Rice, boiled, not divested of the water in which it has been boiled, unwashed, and cold, is regarded as food that is heavy.*60
Rice boiled with meat, potherbs, fat, oil, Ghee, marrow, and fruits, forms food that operates as a tonic, acts as Santarpana, promotes cheerfulness and relish, is heavy, and increases the vital seed.*61
Rice cooked with Masha ( Phaseolus radiatus, Roxb.J, sesame, milk, Mudga (Phaseolus Mungo, Linn.), is endued with the same attributes.
Kulmashas(a) are heavy, and dry, excite the wind, and purge the intestines without producing watery motions.*6*
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