Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

He who takes ‘Rasayana’ according to the method laid down, not only enjoys a long life in this world, but attains also hereafter that auspicious end which is attainable by the deities and the Rishis, eternal Brahma is also attained by him. 79

( It ere is a verse.)

In this Lesson, called ‘Abhayamalakiya’, six combinations have

CHAR AKA -SA MHITA.

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been laid down of ‘Rasayanas’ well tested by experience. Every one of them lengthens life. 80

Thus ends the first group of ‘Rasayana in the Lesson called ‘Abhayamlakiya’

SECTION II.

PR AN AK AM I YAR AS AYAN A.

We shall now expound the section known as ‘Pranakamiyarasayana.’

Thus said the illustrious son of Atri.*

Ye that are desirous of attaining to longevity, listen to the ordi¬ nances in respect of ‘Rasayana’ (or the nourishment of the body by administering proper medicines) that are now being laid down !

These are like a match of nectar ; beneficial unto the very sons of Adity ; of wonderful and inconceivable virtues ; capable of prolonging life ; conducive to health ; endued with capacity for preventing theeffects of age ; efficient in dispelling sleep, drowsiness, fatigue, langour, idleness, and debility ; potent to preserve the harmony of wind, bile, and phlegm ; efficacious in compassing the compactness of the body ; preventive of flabbiness of flesh ; provocative of the digest¬ ive fire ; and contributive of the excellence, lustre, complexion, and voice.f 2-3

By (help of) these, great Rishis like Chyavana and others were restored to youth, became dear unto women, with bodies compact,

* Rasayana is a compound made of two words ‘rasa’ and ‘ayana.’ Thus its derivative sense is a ‘means of nourishing rasa’ or the seven ingredients of the body, viz. , blood, flesh, bone, marrow, Hence, it means a nourishing medicine.

Prankamiya means relating to Pranakama or the desire of life.

The whole compound, therefore, implies ‘nourishing medicines for persons desirous of longevity. — T.

t KaQyapa, son of Marichi who was one of the many sons begotten by Brahman by only a fiat of his will, married many wives. Two of them were Diti and Aditi. Of Diti were born the Daityas or Asuras. Of Aditi were born the Adityas or the deities. Hence, the deities are frequently referred to as the son of Aditi.— T.

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CHAR AKA - SAM HIT A.

symetrical, and well-developed in respect of flesh, possessed of wellknit and undecaying frames, endued with vigour of strength, com¬ plexion, and the senses ; with energy unobstructed everywhere ; and capable of enduring every toil. 4

All the faults of the body are generated (excited) by the bad food [of persons who take things that are sour, saline, pungent, alkaline, and dry, or potherbs, such pulses as Phaseolus radiatus , sesame, flesh and cakes ;

Of also those that take rice obtained such paddy as has put forth sprouts, or as is new, or as belongs to the variety called £uka or that called £ami, or such things as consist of hostile or inharmonious ingredients or such as are unassimilable, or as are dry and alkaline, or such as suppress the healthy secretions of the body ;

Of also those that take things that are filthy, heavy, putrid, or stale ;

Of also those that indulge irregular meals or eat before digestion has taken place of what has been taken before.

They are again, excited in the bodies of persons that are addicted to sleep at daytime, women, and wine ; S

Of also those whose constitutions have received shocks from excessive physical exercises or indulgence in untoward attitudes ; '

Of those also who cherish in excess fear and wrath, and cupidity, and heedlessness, and grief, and who undergo severe toil. 6

From the excitement of the faults, verily, the flesh becomes lax, the joints become slackened, the blood burns (i. e., becomes heated), copious measures of adeps escape (with the secretions), the marrow does not adhere to the bones, semen is not generated, arid the ‘ojos’ undergoes waste. 7

A person in whom these conditions manifest themselves becomes cheerless and fatigued, and overwhelmed by sleep, drowsiness, and inactivity, always becomes very soon exhausted by toil.

Further, he becomes unfit for both bodily and mental exertions.

His memory, understanding, and lustre of complexion fade.

Such a person does not attain to the full limit of the period of life assigned to human beings. 8

Hence, observing these deficiencies, one should, avoiding these kinds of food and practices which have been declared to be baneful, use ‘Rasayana.’ 9

CHA RAKA - SA MB IT A,

103 i

Having declared this, the illustrious son of Atri said :

With the ‘swarasa’ (64 seers) of ‘Amalaka’ (the fruits of Phyllanthus Emblicd) born upon proper soil and in proper time, unimpaired in respect of smell, colour, and taste, and endued with the full mea¬ sure of juice, of fullness of size, and wealth of energy, and with the ‘Kalkya’ (4 seers) of ‘Punarnava’ ( Boerhavia diffusa) of the white variety, an ‘Adaka’ (16 seers) of ghee should be cooked.