Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

In consequence of their being heavy and capable of generating impurities, they excite phlegm.

In consequence of their property of heat, they excite bile.

In Consequence of their being only slightly oily and hot, they are not calculated to be useful as alleviatives of wind.

They are used as media or vehicles for other medicines (in which case they are beneficial).

For these reasons, one should not use Pippali in large mea¬ sures. >3* articles which by repeated application or use he contrives to make powerful. Medicines conquer disease by repetition. In the case of medicines, however, that are powerful, they at once conquer the disease. — T.

* Most of the printed texts of this passage are vicious, Chakrapani says

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Alkaline ashes are endued with the properties of heat, keen¬ ness, and lightness.

At first they produce certain impurities. Then they correct the system (by removing them).

They are used for purposes of Pachana, for causing burns, and for purging.*

If used frequently and in large measure, they become produc¬ tive of injurious consequences to the hair, eye, heart, and virility.

Those villagers and townsmen and denizens of cities and provinces who use alkaline ashes frequently and in large measure become affected with dimness (or loss) of vision, loss of virility, baldness of the head, and whiteness of hair. Such men become also subject to that disease in which the heart is felt as being cut away : for example, may be cited the Easterners and the Chins.

Hence, alkaline ashes should not be used frequently and in large measure.

Salt is endued with the properties of heat and keenness • it is not very heavy nor very moist (or oily).

It produces impurities, and operates as a Sransana.t

It creates a liking for food (by adding a relish to it).

It is beneficial, so far as its immediate consequences are con¬ cerned, if used in small measure.

that there is a stop after ‘ sadyah.’ In that case, the ' tah ’ preceding it would seem to be superfluous. We have not that text before us upon which Chakrapani commented ; it is difficult to settle it from the commentary alone.

' Prayoga-sama-sadgunyat ’ implies “ owing to the good effects of a use that is sparing in respect of both time and measure.’ — T.

* By 1 pachana ’ is meant, as has been explained in Sutrasthana, that which assists in digesting undigested food, without increasing the appetite.

' Bhedana ’ is that which purges the bowels without producing watery motions.

Alkaline ashes are used for producing burns, that is, as caustics. It is diffi¬ cult to understand what the disease is that is called “ Hridayopakartana”. It is explained by the Commentator to be some disease in which the heart is felt to be cut or pieced by some sharp instrument. — T.

f 'Sransana’ is that which hurries the chyle or materials for digestion, without allowing them to be properly digested. — T.

CHA RAKA-SA MHITA.

p. 452

It leads to a storage of (excited) faults as its secondary or supervening consequences.

It is used for adding relish to food, for bringing about the digestion of undigested food, and extracting impurities, and lot hurrying the chyle and other materials for digestion.

If used frequently and in large measure, it leads to pain (loss of cheerfulness), relaxation of flesh and limbs, weakness and other diseases of the body. Those villages, townsmen, denizens of cities and provinces who use it excessively, become very cheer¬ less, and their flesh and blood lose compactness. They become Unable to bear the slightest exertion. As examples of this may be cited the Valhikas, the Saurashtrakas, the Saindhavas, and the Sauvirakas. These people eat salt with even milk,

In those regions of the earth where the soil is exceedingly saline, neither herbs, nor Creepers, nor large trees grow,* Or, if they grow, they never become vigorous,

This is due to the soil being largely saturated with salt.

Hence, salt should never be taken in excessive measure.

Those men who are habituated to excessive measures of salt, suffer from absence of hair, baldness (partial or entire) of head, whiteness of hair, and relaxation of the flesh. All these occur long before maturity of years comes in.

Hence, such men should gradually withdraw from their habit for their own good. '4

A gradual withdrawal from that to which one has been habi¬ tuated becomes either not at all injurious or, if injurious, very slightly so.

One is said to be habituated to something when that something agrees with one when repeatedly taken.

That which is implied sdmya is implied also by upagaya.

* ‘ Vanaspati ’ is such a tree as produces fruit without having flowered ; While ‘ Vanaspatya ’ is that tree which flowers first and then produces fruit. The fact is, the knowledge cf Botany in the days of Charaka was very limited. Trees must flower to produce fruits. In the case of some trees, the flowers are not distinguishable. — T.

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