Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

The?e four Lessons, forming one group, deal with medicines, called Rasa¬ yana, their constituents and virtue, 1. with especial reference to Chebulic myrobalans and Phyllanthus Emblica, 2. with especial reference to those Rasayanas whichevery one desirous of longevity should use ; 3. with especial reference to the seeds of Phyllanthus Emblica bared by the hand of the kernel surrounding them ; and 4. with reference to the communication (or revival) of the Ayurveda by Indra to certain Rishis who had lost their health through long residence in a town and through their having taken baneful drugs.

Si This Lesson deals with what is called Samyogafaramuliyam ; that is, certain approdisiacs that enhance one’s power of enjoyment. Of all things, the wife is held to be the dearest of possessions. She is the root of one’s religious merit, wealth and pleasure.

6. This Lesson treats of another aphrodisiac called Asaktakhirakam, com¬ prising eight different combinations ; also of another aphrodisiac under the head Mashaparniya, comprising fifteen combinations, and numbered 7 in the above list ; and another aphrodisiac, called Pumanjatavaladika, numbered 8 in the list. This comprises those medicines which add to the strength of men and make them competent for obtaining good offspring.

9. This Lesson treats of Jwara or Fever. What is fever, how it is to be distinguished from the healthy or normal state of man, the two kinds of fever, viz., fever of the body and fever of mind, and many other particulars are mentioned. The symptoms of different species of fever have been described almost exhaustively.

The treatment of fever has also been dealt with in this chapter.

10. This Lesson treats of Raktapitta. Through diverse causes mentioned in the division called Nidana, the Pitta of Bile becomes excited and particularly affects the: blood instead of the other component ingredients of the physical system. The disease is so called because the Bile vitiates the blood, and assumes the scent and colour of blood. The Spleen and the Liver, among

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Then come n. Gulma, 12. Meha, 13. Kushtha, 14. Cosha, 15. Arfas, 16. Atisara, 17. Visarpa, 18. Madatyaya ;64 other organs, are directly connected with the blood. They are, again, regarded as the foremost of those ducts which convey the blood into different parts of the body. The varieties of this disease and the treatment are laid down here.

11. This Lesson deals with the diverse species of Gulma or all sorts of deepseated pains, including deep-seated tumours. The cause assigned for the disease is suppressed wind.

12. This Lesson treats of Prameha which may loosely be translated as dia¬ betes. Among the causes of this disease are mentioned the following : always sitting idly on soft seats and beds, always lying on soft beds for sleep, generally eating curds and the meat of domestic animals as goat and sheep, &c., eating also the meat or soup of aquatic animals or those living in marshes, and eating such sweets also as are modifications of raw sugar. The diverse kinds of Prameha are mentioned, together with their treatment.

13. This Lesson treats of Kushtha or Leprosy. The numerous varieties of Kushtha, including Leucoderma, have been clearly explained, with their causes, and symptoms, and treatment.

14. This Lesson treats of Raja-Yakshma or Phthisis. The Pauranic story is given of Chandramas, the deity of the Moon, having caught this disease through the curse of his father-in-law, the Rishi Daksha. The lunar deity is regarded as the king of Brahmanas. Hence the disease is called “ RajaYakshma ” or “ Royal Phthisis." Another etymology of the name is that it implies the most fatal of all diseases.

Excessive joy, anxiety, terror, wrath, grief, generally dry up the humours of the body as also its other- constituent parts. Excessive indulgence in sexual intercourse as also abstinence from nutritive food, diminish the vital seed and the Ojas. The oily ingredients of the body being dried up, the wind in¬ creases, and agitates the bile greatly, inducing the dreadful disease. Its prin¬ cipal suggestion is inflammation or cavities in the lungs.

15. This Lesson treats of Piles. The causes, symptoms, and treatment of this malady have been clearly set forth.

16 & 17. These two treat respectively of Atisara ( Diarrhoea) and Visarpa (Erysipelas).

18. This Lesson is about Madatyaya or those maladies which are brought about by excessive indulgence in drinking, particularly delirium tremens.

The diverse qualities of wines and spiritous liquors, their beneficial effects on the human system when taken temperately and baneful effects when indulged to excess, have been set forth clearly and eloquently. The diverse diseases to which excessive indulgence in wine leads, have also been described and the treatment to be followed for curing them. This Lesson may be read by every one with advantage to himself. It is a pity that none of the Temperance Societies has ever thought it proper to translate this portion of Charaka for circulation in India.

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