Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

Diversity of opinion prevails among all those Rishis who have written on the subject, about the limbs of the foetus and; the priority or otherwise of their, appearance. Do thou,, attend as I explain them !

It is the head that is first formed in the womb, observes Kumaragiras-Bharadwaja, as the head is the seat of all the organs of sense..

* Certain diseases affect the foetus while it is in the womb, in consequence of the anger of the gods and other powerful beings such as Rakshasas and Gandharvas and evil spirits.

‘ Bhava > and ‘ Abhava ’ mean existent and non-existent things. The fatter means and includes such things as the absence or want of particular objects. Thus, the absence of blood, or of ‘ ojas,’ may be spoken of an ‘ Abhava ’ thing.

CHAR AKA SAMIJITA.

p. 798

The well-known physician, Kankayana-Valhika, said that it ts the Heart \y^ich is first formed, since it is the seat of C/i eland (Consciousness).

The navel ft is that is first formed, said Bhadrakapya, since it js the place where food is received *

It is the Pakkagudam (or Pakkasaya, that is, that portion of the Stomach where the food is digested) tha,t is first formed, since it is the place where the vfipd jn th? body has its seat. This was sa,id fiy Bhadra-gamiaka.f

Tfhe ha,nds and thp feet are first formed, said Vaditja, since they are the karanas. of a person, (vis., instruments by which on,e does all c^cts).

The senses (or organs of knowledge) are formed first, said Janaka of the country of the Videhas, sinpe they are the scats of tfie Understanding.

In consequence of the subject being out of the ken of the senses, it cannot be ascertained (which limb grows first anfi which afterwards, &c). Thus said Kapyapa of Marichi’s race.

All the limbs appear simultaneously. Thus said Dhan,wantari.

This s,eems to be consistent with reason, since a,ll the limbs including the Heart appear simultaneously. Of ah the limbs pf man, the Heart is tfie prime (or original) refuge. Hence, no particular limb appears prior to the others. Hence, the appearance of all the limbs haying the ffeart for their foremost refuge* takes place simultaneously. All the limbs aye closely connected with one another. Hence, it is well to view the subject in this way.28 §■ t ‘ Pakkagudam ’ is otherwise called ‘ Pakkasaya.’ The stomach, according to Hindu physicians, is divided into two compartments : one of these is called 1 amajaya,’ and the. other, ‘ Pakka$aya.’ In the former, the food taken goes first. Becoming drenched in the juices, it then passes into, the ‘Pakkasaya’ before digestion takes place.

* ‘.The navel is the place, where food is received,’ means that it is the. navel at which (through the umbilical chord) the child draws sustenance from, the mother. — T.

t ‘ Hridaya-purvanam ’ doss no.t mean ‘ the limbs of which the heart appears first in point of time, but ‘the limbs of which the heart is the chief or foremost in point of importance.’ The heart is regarded as the foremost because it supplies all the other pprts, of the body with blood which is their chief support. — T.

§ There are many incorrect readings in this passage as it is printed in.

CftARAKA SAMH1TA.

T'he foetus, verily, remains in the mothers womb, with its face turned towards the back (of the mother), with its head upwards, With all its litnbs contracted, and enclosed in a bag of (thin) skirt.

Bereft of thirst and appetite, the foetus depends for its support Upon another, Indeed, relying upon the another, it lives upon pily juices and other secretions (in tfye womb).

The foetus consists o,f limbs existing and non existing. (When all its limbs are formed) it receives the oily secretions in, the womb, through the passage afforded by pores o,f the body as also the (luct of the navel.

There is a duct attached, tp, its navel.

That dirct whjch is attached to the nayel is called ‘‘Amara.v

The ‘Angara,’ is connected with the heart o,f (he mother.

The mother’s heart drenphes that duct called ‘Amara’ of the foetus, by means of a number of ducts through all of which juices, poze out.2?

The juices hecom,e productive o,f the strength and complexion pf the foetus.

The food, consisting of all kinds of taste, which thp pregnant) another takes, is. transformed into three kinds of juices.

One of these is fo,r the development of the mother’s o.wn body..

Another is for conversion, into lacteal su,bstance,

The third is for the growth of the fcetusNourished by that food ( viz, the last kind), the foetus re-, mains within (the womb)3*

The foetus* when the time comes for its birth, revolves through the action of the expelling wind, comes, out, with head downwards, through the usual passage (of the. delivery) of offspring,

Even this is the natural (o,r normal) course.

Other than this would be regarded as unnatural (or abnormal),

After delivery, the child depends UPPU itself for its sustenance.

dost of the Bengal editions. Thus the name of- Dhanwantari does not appear i,n many of them at all, Gangadhara’s edition gives the correct readings.

< Yatha bhuta darganam ’ is explained by Gangadhara as equivalent to ‘ uktatupena dar?anam sadhu,’ that is ‘-it is well to view the subject in this way.’— ' T.

* ‘ Upastabdha ’ implies ‘ nourished.’ It is derived from the same roof as * s.tambha, ’ which meant a column that supports a weight.— T.

8oo