Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

Take also the powder, half a seer each, of sesame seeds and the seeds of Mudga ( Phaseolus Mungo).

Also half a seer of wheat-flour, and half a seer of powdered ‘<£ali’ rice.

Take half a seer of ghee.

Boil all these together in a proper measure of milk.

Make cakes of the paste that will result from the boiling.

‘N5’, in the last line, is the

1. sing, of ‘nri’ meaning

1.— T.

io86

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

These cakes, owing to their aphrodisiac virtues, should be taken by a person who has many wives.* 14-16

Take (new) ghee (of cow’s milk), measuring 4 seers, mixing the decoction, measuring x seer, of ^atavari (Asparagus racemosus ) with it.

It should be boiled with milk of ten times that measure (i. e., 40 seers).

The product should be strained and then mixed with sugar, the pulv of the fruit of Piper longum , and honey.

This is regarded as one of the best aphrodisiacs.f *7

Take the pulv of liquorice, of the measure of a ‘Karsha’ ( i. e., 2 tolas).

Add ghee and honey, each of the same measure.

One who takes this, and drinks milk afterwards, becomes pos¬ sessed of great energy. 18

A young man who eats and drinks ghee and milk everyday, who is fearless and free from ailments of every kind, who indulges in sexual pleasure every day, and who cherishes voluptuous thoughts, succeeds in approaching his wives like a bovine bull. l9

They that are of the same occupation, they that are crowned with success in respect of their purposes, they that follow one another (t. e., cherish the same opinions), they that are skilled in music and pastimes of diverse kinds, they that are of equal minds and age, they that are possessed of respectability of birth, liberality, good behaviour, and purity of conduct (external), they that are endued with desire for women, they that are always cheerful, they that are free from sorrow of every kind, they that are free from anxiety of every kind, they that are of equal conduct, they that are attached to one another, they that are beloved, they that are sweet-speeched, with such companions if

* The drags called ‘Jivaniya’ are ten in number. They are I. Jivaka, 2. Rishabhaka, 3. Meda, 4. Mahameda, 5. Kakoli, 6. Kshirakakoli, Mudgaparni, 8. Mashaparni, 9. Jivanti, and 10. Madhuka,

The drugs called ‘Snigdha’ or emollients are ten. They are I. Mridvilca, 2. Madhuka,

3. Maduparni, 4. Meda, 5. Vidari, 6. Kakoli, 7. Kshirakakoli, 8. Jivaka, 9. Jivanti, and ■10. (Jalaparni.

The drugs called ‘RuchikSri’ are ten. They are I. Amra, 2. Amrataka, 3. Nichula,

4. Karamarddaka, 3. Vrikshamla, 6. Amlavetasa, 7. Kuvala, 8. Vadara, 9. Dadima, and so. Matulanga. — T.

t When no measure is stated, I ‘prastha’ or two seers is the measure to be taken. — T.

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

p. 1087

<©ne associates freely, one becomes endued with energy for sexual •congress.* * * § 2°-22

Through these, viz., rubbing the body with oils, cleansing the body (with turmeric paste, &c.), washing the body, use of fragrant unguents, wearing of floral garlands and ornaments, comfortable chambers and beds and seats, untorn and agreeable garments, melo¬ dious warble of winged songsters, the sounds of ornaments worn by women, and champooing of the body by beloved women, one obtains •energy for sexual congress. 23-24

Receptacles of water adorned with lotuses and haunted by excited bees, chambers perfumed with flowers of Jasminum grandiflorum and those of Nilumbium speciosum, and rendered cool by means of sandalpaste, and springs of fragrant water, rivers with foaming water, hills and mountains having blue valleys and tabl e-lands, f the rise of blue' ■clouds, nights rendered delightful -by moon-rise, soft breezes charged with the perfumes of a hundred lotuses, nights especially adapted to indulgence in sexual pleasure, spots reft of preceptors and seniors, •diverse aids to cheerfulness, blossoming woods and groves resounding with the notes of the Kokila% abounding with choice edibles and drinks, mellifluous with strains of music (both instrumental and vocal), and fragrant with floral wreaths, a heart elated (with joy) and utterly free from anxiety of every kind, accomplishment of all purposes ■cherished, ungratified desire, and beautiful women, — all these are the weapons of the deity of Desire. §

All these, as also youth, and that season of the year which is •exciting (viz., spring), are the highest sources of pleasure open to men. 25-29

* The fact is, such companions are regarded as a sort of aphrodisiac.— T.

t ‘Sanu’ implies level land either at the foot of mountains or on their tops, or between 4 wo heights.— T.