Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

When a man, who has become enfeebled, wrestles or fights with one of superior strength, or wields a large bow, or indulges in loud talk, or bears heavy weights, or swims long distances in water, or suffers his body to be severely pressed with the feet, of another, f or runs with speed for a long distance, or is violently struck (with sticks, brickbats, &c.), or does any other act, amongst the . numerous exer¬ cises of strength, of a like nature and that is excessively opposed to what is normal, one’s chest undergoes a great strain in consequence of such disproportionate exertion, with the result that the chest, suf-

* Sankhya’ means number. Hence it implies the several varieties of the disease, or the classes under which it is distributed.

‘Dravya,’ meaning articles, implies such articles as produce the disease. — T. t The correct reading, it seems, is ‘Utsadanam padaghatanena va &c.’ Gangadhara -explains it correctly, but the vernacular translators miss the sense. The fact is, there are men who cause their bodies to be pressed or trodden repeatedly with the feet of strong individuals, They wish to make their bodies hard.

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p. 980

charaka-samhita.

fering from the injuries of the strain, becomes overwhelmed by the wind.

The wind, stationed there, assails the phlegm dwelling in the chest, and vitiates the bile also. It then moves upwards, downwards, and in transverse directions. 3

The portion of the wind which enters the joints of the body, begets yawns, relaxation of the body, and fever.

That portion which enters the ‘amacaya’ liquefies the stools.

The portion which enters the heart, causes diverse diseases of the chest.

The portion which enters the tongue causes disgust for food.

The portion which gets into the throat, begets a tickling sensation accompanied by hoarseness, and enfeebles the voice.

The portion which reaches those ducts which bear the life-breath called ‘Prana’ causes asthma and catarrh or cold in the nose.

The portion which sits in the head, assails the head.* 4

Then, in consequence of the injury in the chest, the abnormal movement of the wind, and the tickling sensation accompanied by hoarseness, continued cough is generated.

The patient then, in consequence of that cough, his chest being already wounded, throws out matter mixed with blood.

In consequence of the discharge of blood, a foetid smell is gene¬ rated in the patient.

In this way the diverse morbid symptoms born of acts of rashness assail the person who does these acts. 5

Then the person, thus assailed by all these morbid Symptoms which have the effect of drying and wasting the physical organism, gradually becomes dry and wasted.

Hence a person possessed of intelligence, should, after carefully surveying his own strength, set himself to achieve all acts.

It is strength that sustains the body, and it is the body that sus¬ tains the person.f 6

( Here is a verse).

One desirous of protecting one’s life should avoid all acts of rash¬ ness. For the man that lives enjoys the desirable fruits of actions. 7 t 'That sustains the person,’— literally, 'that is the root of the person.’— T.

* /. e., causes headache.

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

p. 981

We shall now expound the statement already made that suppres¬ sion (of the urgings of stools, urine, &c.) is the cause of Phthisis.

When a man suppresses the urgings, that have become pronounced, of the downward wind, the stools, and the urine, in consequence of fear, companionship, modesty, or sense of abomination, in the presence of the king or of the master, or before the feet of the preceptor, or in the midst of any assembly of good people, or of ladies, or while jour¬ neying on splendid vehicles, the wind in his system, in consequence of such suppression, becomes provoked.* 8

The wind being provoked, excites the bile and the phlegm, and moves upwards, downwards, and transverse directions.

Then, as stated before, particular portions of it, entering particular parts of the body, begets ‘£ula’ (or deep-seated pains), or liquefies the stools, or dries them up, or produces excessive pain in the sides, or assails the shoulders, or causes a tickling sensation in the throat and excessive pain in the chest, or assails the head (/. e., produces head:aches), or generates cough, asthma, fever, hoarseness of voice, and catarrh or cold in the nose. 9

Then, the patient, thus assailed by these morbid symptoms which have the effect of drying and wasting the system, gradually becomes wasted.

Hence the man that is possessed of intelligence should particularly exert himself in the matter of the protection and well-being of the

* ‘Bhartri’ is maintainer or food-giver. Hence, master, employer, &c. — T.