Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

* Both these are explained below. ‘ICuti’ is a chamber. ‘Pravega’ is entrance. Hence, ‘Kutipravegika’ has reference to the administration of ‘Rasayana’ after causing a man to enter a hut or closed chamber. V5tatapika’ i the reverse of this. ‘Vata’ is wind, and ‘atapa’ is the heat of the sun. — T.

t A ‘muhurta’ is a division of time comprising 48 minutes.

A ‘karana’ also is a division of time, two ‘karanas’ being comprised in a lunar day. There are altogether 11 ‘karanas’, some of which are auspicious, and .some inauspicious. — T.

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CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

picious day, one .should, after a shave, enter the chamber, with ' strength of understanding and memory, with faith and concentrated attention, having dispelled all mental faults, with mind dwelling upon love of all creatures, and having at the outset worshipped the deities and Brahmans, and circumambulated (images of) gods, and regenerate persons, and kine. 21 -23

Then (in that chamber), cleansed by correctives, becoming cheerful, and having gained strength, one should again have ‘Rasayana’ admi¬ nistered unto oneself. The correctives one will use I shall now lay down. 24

The pulv of chebulic myrobalans, of ‘Saindhava’ salt, of the fruits Phyllanthus Emblica, mixed with raw sugar, the pulv of (vacha) Acorus calamus , of (Vidanga) Embellia Ribes, (Rasani) Curcuma longa the fruits of Piper lougum, and (Vigwabhashaja) ginger, mixed with hot water should be drunk, after one has been treated with ‘sneha’ and ‘sweda.’* 25

Unto him whose body has been thus cleansed, and to whom ‘samsarjjana’ also has been administered, ‘yavaka’ of old grains of barley should be given, mixed with ghee, for three, or five, or seven nights, till (that is) his bowels become clear and stools become regular.f 26

When the physicians conversant with considerations of age, nature of constitutions, and power of assimilation, having ascertained that the bowels of the person have been properly cleansed, should admi¬ nister to him ‘Rasayana’ consisting of (proper) combinations. That should be administered to the individual which is suitable to him .27

Chebulic myrobalans have five (of the six) tastes, for they have not the saline taste. They have healing virtues and are auspicious; They restore the faults to their normal course. They are light (as food). They enkindle the digestive fire, and are good ‘pachanas.’J 28

* ‘Sneha’ is oil, and ‘sweda’ is fomentation for inducing perspiration. What is said here is this : the person should, in the first instance, be rubbed with oils and made to perspire copiously by the application of fomentation. After this, he should drink hot water mixed with the pulvs mentioned. — T.

t ‘Samsarjjana’ means the administration of light diet such as ‘pey§.’, &c.

‘Yavaka’ means gruel of barley.

‘Varchasah Quddhi’ implies the cleansing of the bowels and regularity of stools. — T.

+ The six tastes are 1. sweet, 2. sour, 3. astringent, 4. pungent, 5. bitter, 6. saline. Chebulic myrobalans have five of these six tastes.

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

p. 1019

They promote longevity and induce nourishment. They deserve every praise (for the virtues they possess). They prevent the effects of age more than any other drug. They alleviate all varieties of ail¬ ments, and impart strength to the intellect and the senses. 29

They quickly conquer leucoderma, abdominal tumours, flatulence dropsical swellings, chlorosis, alcoholism, piles, the ailments of the ‘Grahani’, chronic intermittent fever, diseases of the chest, diseases of the head, diarrhoea, disgust for food, cough, gonorrhoea, epistasis, enlargement of the spleen, abdominal dropsy when new, discharge of phlegmonous matter, hoarseness of voice, discolouration (or loss of complexion), anaemia, intestinal worms, waste of ‘dhatus’, that variety of asthma which is called ‘Tamaka’, vomiting, loss of virile power, langour of the limbs, constipation of the ducts of various kinds, the sensation of a wet blanket covering the chest, a similar sensation in the heart, and stupefaction (dullness) of the memory and the understanding. 30-33

Those who are suffering from indigestion, those who habitually take dry food and drink, those who have been weakened by sexual indulgence and wine and poisons, and those who are afflicted by hunger and thirst and heat, should eat chebulic myrobalans. 34

Those virtues and those effects, that have been spoken of as belonging to chebulic myrobalans, to emblic myrobalans as well. There is, however, difference in energy (or potence).* 35

The kernel of both chebulic and emblic myrobalan, in conse¬ quence of their effects being such, should be regarded by the physi¬ cian to be equal to nectar (or ambrosia) itself, f 36

The foremost of mountains, viz., Himavat, is the best of places whence vegetable drugs are to be obtained. Hence, fruits that grow on trees standing on those mountains, and that appear in the proper season, should be brought (for medical administration or purposes). 37 The fruits which I direct to be used, for their action is superior, should be of the following description :