Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

The impurities that are born of the metals, gold, &c., are prefer¬ red respectively in (curing diseases bom of) excited wind, excited bile, excited phlegm, and the three faults excited together.^ 63

While using Cilajatu, one should avoid food that causes an acrid or a burning sensation, and is heavy. The seeds of ‘Kulattha’, {Dolichos biflorus ) should, as a rule, be avoided. 66

* The different sorts of medication are the administration of ‘Rasayana’, that of ‘Bajikarana’ or aphrodisiacs, and that of ‘Rogaharana’ or curatives. See. — T.

t Plainly speaking, the meaning is that the (Jilajatu born of gold is specially suited to the cure of diseases caused by both wind and bile excited together ; that the variety born of silver is fitted for diseases that arise from phlegm and bile excited together ; that the variety horn of copper is the curative of diseases caused by phlegm alone, and that the Qlajatu of iron is beneficial for diseases born of all the three faults excited together. — T.

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

.1055.

Since these, i. e., the seeds of ‘Kulattha’, are exceedingly hostile (to it), they are pre-eminently piercers of stone, as seen by men. Hence their use is interdicted.* 67

Different kinds of milk, sour gruels (or vinegar), meat-juices, the soup of different kinds of pulses, water, cow’s urine, and different sorts of astringent liquids, are used for dissolving this product of the •mountains. One or other of these agents should be selected, consi¬ dering the effect to be produced (that is, the disease to be treated.) 6* There Is no such curable disease on earth which £ilaj‘atu cannot conquer.

Administered to a healthy person, according to the ordinances in respect of its combinations, it imparts excessive vigour to him. 69 Thus ends the discourse on ‘£ilajatu-Rasayana.’

( Here is a "verse).

In this section, called ‘Karaprachitika’, the great sage has declared ten and six well-tested combinations of Rasayanas.

Thus ends the third Section on ‘Karaprachltiya Rasayana.’

§ IV,

We shall now expound the section on ‘Rasayana’ called ‘Ayurveda-samutthaniya Rasayanapada.’h

Thus said the illustrious son uaf ,Atri. !l

Once, In days of yore, the Rishis, in general, became worldly and boorish. They betook themselves to wrong ways. They used rustic

* The construction^ rather difficult. The fact is, ‘Atyantaviruddhatwat’ has reference to •‘Afman.’ The sense, therefore, is, — being hostile to ‘A^man’, the seedsof ‘Itulattha’ are ‘Agmanah bhedanah.’ The statement, therefore, amounts to this : the seeds of ■‘Kulattha’ are piercers of stone. ‘Qilajatu’ is the product of stone. Hence, the seeds mentioned are hostile to ‘Qilajatu’ as well. Their use, therefore, is interdicted after the •administration of Qilajatu. — T.

t The compound ‘Ayurveda-samutthana’, implies ‘origin or rise of Ayurveda or the Science of Life.’ This lesson, it will be seen, treats of the origin of Medical Science, after the manner of what has been said in lesson I. of Sutrasthana. It will be further seen that the account given here differs in many respects from that given in lesson I of •Sutrasthana.— T.

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CHAR A KA-SAMHITA.

1056.

drugs and food, and became men of wealth. As such, they grew idle, and did not attend to the auspicious observances (prescribed for them.)* 2

Being unable to perform their duties (such as worship and meditation, the study of the Vedas and performance of sacrifices), and attributing their faults to their rustic residence, and regarding their former abodes (on the breast of the Himavat) as free from the faults of their rustic habitat, they repaired to the Himavat mountains which were auspicious, sacred, specious, inaccessible (to the sinful), the source of Ganga, frequented by deities, Gandharvas, Yakshas, and Kinnaras, abounding with jewels and gems of diverse kinds, of in¬ conceivable and wonderful grandeur, the resort of regenerate Rishis and Siddhas and Charanas, the source of many waters of high sanctity and medicinal herbs, an asylum worthy of being sought, and protected by the chief himself of the celestials.! 3-5

The great Rishrs that thus repaired to the Himavat mountains were Bhrigu, Angiras, Atri, Vagishtha, Ivacyapa, Agastya, Pulastya, Vamadeva, Asita, Gautama, and others.!6

U nto them Indra endued with a thousand eyes, said, —

Welcome to you, ye regenerate Rishis, ye that are conversant^ with Brahma (the Vedas), ye that have Knowledge and Penances for

* The word ‘(Jalina’ generally means bashful. Here, it is used in a peculiar sense, viz., one Who is devoted to worldly affairs and who is deficient in delicacy. ( Vide Wilson’s Dictionary). It may also mean an opulent householder. The sense, probably, is that the Rishis, instead of remaining denizens of forests, became householders and showed a decided leaning towards the acquisition of wealth.

‘Yayavara’ implies one who betakes oneself to wrong paths, deviating from the high road ; literally, it means also a wanderer or vagrant. Hence, figuratively, one who deviates from the path of duty and is engaged in evil or improper acts. — T.