Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

t It is difficult to understand what is meant by this. The Commentators avoid it altogether. Gangadhara explains only the word • ucchavacha, ’ as if there were any difficulty in understannding its meaning. I think what the Rishi means is an indifference to all things high and low, t. e., good and bad. For example, a good bed and a bad bed, a good dinner and a bad dinner, a good dress and a bad dress, are equal in the estimation of the mother at such a time. — T.

J ‘ Stanayohstanyam ’ is certainly the correct reading. Gangadhara drops u*e first word, thinking it unnecessary. — T.

. CHARAKA SAMtflfA.

r>V

' ' Flatness of the genital organ ;*

These symptoms manifest themselves upon the conception being developed.24

Whatever things she may desire should be given to her, with the exception of those that are injurious to the foetus in the-wonSb.

These are the things that are injurious to the foetus, in the ' womb. ' ' ’ . .

All things that are very heavy (in respect of digestion) • All things that are very hot ;

All things that are very keen (in respect of energy) ;

All movements and exertions that involve, the exercise of great strength or that involve danger to life and limb ;

' The ancients lay down these other, instructions : fpr. protecting herself from the dieties and Rakshasas and the followers 'of both, she should not wear crimson robes ; she should not take any food : or drink, that is intoxicating ; she should not mount -any vehicle , (for going from one place to another) ; she should not eat meat lastly, she should, from a distance, avoid all such things cas- are hostile to every one of her senses, as also everything which matrons . regard-as destructive of or injurious'to the child in the womb.*Ef *

* 1 Yonyaijchatalatwam ’ and ‘ Yatiyacchajalatwam ’ are the two read¬ ings. If the first be preferred, the sense would be ‘flatness of thegenifal organ and. if the . second, the meaning would be ‘ slight- opening of the mouth of the" genital organ. ’ — T.

* The prohibition in respect of the wearing of-re'd -apparel has been ex¬ plained by Gangadhara incorrectly. Indeed, his explanation is:a libel tiptin the dieties. He thinks that by wearing red apparel a woman becomes very

. attractive. The very gods may be tempted to woo her to her ruin, br pursue ..her like Apollo chasing Daphne, The truth is, red is a colour which -the ; deities like. A woman who in consequence of her condition most-needs the ■ protection .of the gods should avoid red robes as the wearing of such robes is capable of being construed into an act of contempt for the gods. As regards the Rakshasas, as they also Jove that colour ; a woman should -have respect for them by not wearing vestihents red rh hue.— T, • ;--3

CHARAKA SAMHITA.

p. 748

If the mother ardently longs for anything that is injurious, it should be given her, along with something that is beneficial, for fulfilling that longing ; since if an ardent longing be restrained, the wind becomes vitiated. Such vitiated wind, travelling through the inner parts of the body, may cause the destruction of the ■ fcetus in the womb, or lead to diverse deformities of limb.16 *

In the fourth month, the fcetus becomes consistent or compact. Hence, the mother, at this stage of her pregnancy, feels a sensation ofheaviness all over the body.1'

In the fifth month, the growth becomes greater than in the previous months, of both flesh and blood of the fcetus. Hence the mother at that stage becomes lean herself.18

In the sixth month, the growth becomes greater than in the previous months of both strength and complexion of the foetus. Hence, the mother sustains a diminution of both strength and complexion at this stage of her pregnancy.18

In the seventh month the fcetus is all at once equipt with all characteristics (of a human being). Hence, the mother, at that stage of her pregnancy, becomes exceedingly pale and languid.,ct

* If she ardently longs for anything that is injurious, even an injurious thing may be given to her by neutralising its virtue or virtues, such neutrali¬ sation to be effected by uniting some beneficial object with the injurious object. For example, if the mother longs for ghee, it may be given to her. - although ghee is heavy to digest, mixing with it salt and lemon juice. — T.

tGangSdhara reads ‘ kSntatama ’ instead of ‘ klantatama. ’ If his reading be adopted, the meaning would be that the mother becomes very handsome in the seventh month. From what has been said, however, in the previous aphorisms it would appear that the growth of the fcetus in a , particnlar direction leads to the attenuation of the mother in that direction. , Hence, if the foetus receives in the seventh month an accession of all the . characteristics, the mother cannot but lose at that period in all directions. ■On the other hand, there is a period during pregnancy when the mother becomes exceedingly handsome. The seventh is the month which is gener¬ ally regarded as most favourable to the growth of the mother’s beauty.— T.

CHARAKA. SAMHITA.