Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

(involving penances), or, if’ she indulges in bad food and drink, or, if she abstains, through aversion* from oil or oily substances* or, if she indulges in such articles of food and drink as are said to excite the wind, the foetus in her womb does not grow in consequence of its being dried up (through want of proper nourishment).

* What is said here is this : the menstrual blood and indigestion are hostile to each other. ' The treatment in respect of food and drink laid down above*

for stoppage of blood, if followed in such a case* is sure to increase the indigestion. On the other hand, if the indigestion be sought to be treated, the fcetus is sure to be expelled by the time the indigestion is cured.— T.

t ‘ Mahati,’ locative of ‘ mahat,’ implies large. The sense is ‘when the womb has become large.’

‘ Sanjatasara,’ as applied to ‘ Garbha*’ implies ‘ when the foetus has become Compact or consistent"’ At first, the substance is liquid. It gradually thickens and becomes compact or solid.

When the gestation is protracted, it is called 1 upavishtaka.’— T;

p. 106

p. 836

CHARAKA SAMH1IA.

The foetus, In such circumstances also, remains in the womb for more than the usual period, It becomes also motionless. Such a conception is called ‘ Nagodara.’6 6*

We shall now lay down instructions for the treatment of both these classes of women.6®

The first should be treated with Ghees boiled with' such drugs as keep off evil spirits, or such as are Jivaniya (*.*., as prolong life), or such as are Viinghaniya [i.e., as promote nutrition), or such as are Madhura (sweet), or such as are Vatahara (destructive of wind).

In the case of ‘Nagodara’ that treatment should be followed which has been laid down in Yonivyapanna (or diseases of the genital organs of females). The woman may also be given milk, or raw foetus, or all things that help the growth of the foetus.

She may also be given Ghees boiled with these, when her appetite has been strongly excited.

She may also have proper vehicles inanimate and animate (for locomotion), baths and wash, and agreeable and encouraging conversation and everything that conduces to the comfort of body and mind.6 7 +

* The correct text is ‘ aspandanam ’ and not, as in some Bengal editions ‘ spandanam.’ Being dried up, the foetus does not move as under conditions of ‘health and growth. .

‘ Nagodaram ’ is, probably, ‘ after the manner of a snake’s conception.’ The commentators do not explain this expression. — T.

t In the first sentence, ‘ sarpisham ’ is used in the plural. Gangadhara correctly explains that different kinds of Ghee are intended, viz.. Ghees boiled with each separate kind of drug mentioned.

‘ Bhautika ’ are drugs that keep off evil spirits ; such as the scent called Guggulu or Balsamodendron Mukul, &c. The word may also imply a group of drugs beginning with Bhutika (otherwise called Yamani or Ptychotis Ajowan ).

‘ Madhura ’ is applied to a ‘ Gana 1 or group of particular sweets beginning with milk. ( Vide Vimana-sthana).

‘ Vatahara ’ includes a particular group of drugs which alleviate the excited wind. ( Vide Vima.ia-sthana).

For ‘yor.i ^Epat’ or diseases o.‘ the generative organs of females, vide Chikitsa sthana.

CHARAKA SA M HIT A .

p. 837

If the foetus in the womb of a woman seems to sleep and does not move, that woman should have for food boiled rice of red paddy, mixed with the juice, boiled with ghee, of (the meat of) the hawk, fish, gayal, francoline partridge, hen (or cock), and peacock, or with the juice, mixed with ghee, of the seeds of Phaseolus radiatus, or with the juice, largely mixed with Ghee, of the garden radish.

Such rice should be soft (well-boiled), sweetened, and cooled.

Her abdomen, pubic regions, thighs, waist, flanks, and back, should also be rubbed with oil slightly heated.58'

If a woman during the eighth month of gestation gets suppres¬ sion of urine and stools, and if the disease cannot be cured by oily enemata, the physician should administer to her dry enemata for the alleviation of her disease.

If such suppression of urine and stools, be neglected, it will cause the destruction of the fcetus in the womb, or of the woman herself with the foetus.59

The dry enemata that should be administered to her under such circumstances should consist of the following:

The decoction of the roots of Virana (a), Cali ( b ), Shastika (c),

‘ Ama-garbha ’ is raw fcetus, implying eggs of birds, fish-roe, and the fcetus of goats, sheep, &c. It is believed! that these help the growth of the human foetus.

‘ Ghees boiled with these,’ z',«., with milk, raw fcetus, and all things which help the growth of the foetus.

‘ Y5na ’ means vehicles such as cars, carriages, &c. ; and ‘ vahana ’ such vehicles as horses and mules and oxen, &c. The former are inanimate ; the latter animate. Vehicles proper for women during gestation are boats which glide softly, &c. As regards ‘ vahanas ’ that are proper, probably palkees borne on the shoulders of men are implied.