Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

As examples may be cited the union of honey and ghee,, or of honey, fish, and milk.t^

Ragi is the measure ( of food, drink, and medicine ) in the aggregate and severally. Its object is the ascertainment of the

* By 'sanskara' is meant improvement of a natural product, i. e., the super-inducing of some attribute that does not belong to it in a natural state. As an example of “the refinement brought about by contact with water and fire’'’ is cited the case of boiled rice. Paddy or raw rice is naturally heavy. By proper washing and boiling and keeping it warm, it becomes endued with, the property of lightness. By churning, curds, which are naturally heavy become light. What is implied by the virtue of place is, as explained by the commentator, the placing of an article covered with hot or cold ashes. As an example of the virtue of time may be cited the case of articles used after being kept for sometime. Tamarind that is fresh has certain properties ; while tamarind that is old possesses other properties. By ‘vasana’ is meant the act of rendering an article fragrant by admixture with some agreeable and harmless, perfume or with some perfumed' object.

Chakrapani reads ‘vasana’. Gangadhara's text is incorrect.

By ‘Bhavana’ is meant the continued steeping of an article successively for several days. By this means new properties are superinduced. With reference to Amlaka ( Phyllanthus Emblica, Linn.), the fruits are continually steeped in the juice of others of their kind and exposed to the sun for drying. They are again similarly steeped, and the process goes on from day to day. As an instance of the excellence brought about through length of time, that of. diverse kinds of sauces may be given. The more the number of days they are kept, the better they become as aids to digestion.

The difference of vessels used for cooking or keep of articles causes difference of properties. Certain things keep well in earthen pots and jars. They would be spoiled if kept in metallic, particularly copper or brass vessels. — T.

f What is stated here is this : certain articles, existing separately, produce certain consequences. These, if united together, produce consequences of another kind. Thus honey and ghee are each wholesome. If united together, the combination acts as poison. Similarly, honey, fish, and milk, are each nutritive. Combined together, the mixture becomes highly deleterious, capable of producing even leprosy. — T.

p. 456

CHAR AKA SAM HIT A.

consequences of due measure, as also of undue measure (/. e measure that is insufficient or excessive ).

That is measure in the aggregate which concerns itself with the ascertainment in a lump of the entire quality of food and drink ( one is to take ).

That is, again, measure ( taken ) severally which consists in the ascertainment, distributively, of each article qf food and drinkMeasure in the aggregate ( Sarvagrahah ) is the taking of the whole ( Sarvasya grahah ).

While measure (taken) severally ( Parigrahah ) is taking each ingredient distributively from the whole ( Sarvatah grahah).*10

By Dega, again, is meant the place or region where articles are produced. The place or region also where animals move about for feed, is called by the same name.t?*

Verily, Kala (Time ) is ( i ) that which is ever-running and ( 2 ) that which is conditional and depends upon changes ( in the physical organism ).

Time that is ever-running concerns itself with the suitabi¬ lity of ( or otherwise) of seasons ( with the physical organism ).2at

* Rafi, as explained above by the Rishi, is measure. The measure, how¬ ever, of food and drink (the corpmenfators add, of medicine also), may be qf the entire lump that one may take of different kinds, such as rice or wheat, water, ghee, milk, curds, meat, fish, honey, &c, Such measure, however, is not the only consideration, for unless and until the measure of each ingredient composing the lump is laid down, one may injure one’s health. Hence, measure jn the aggregate, as also distributively, should be laid down by the physician, jf he is to be of real service to men. — T.

•j- Articles of food are heavy or light according to their place of origin, As regards animals also, their flesh is heavy or light according to the nature of the ground on which they move about for feed. Such as the buffalo or the boar, living in marshy regions, yields meat that is heavy. The deer, feeding on dry pasture lands, yields meat that is light. Altogether, the Dega of food is a consideration that is as important as the others. — T,

J In the place of Aphorisms a similar distinction has been made with respect to Time. Nitayaga or that which is ever-running, consists of days and Weeks and months and seasons and years.