Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

* Gangadhara explains that Gundra may stand for Guduchi, i. e„ Tinospora cordifolia, or what he calls Gudarochan5. If this is the same plant as ‘Gondpater’ in Hindi, it is identifiable with Panicum uliginosum. — T.

+ Some texts, such as Gangadhara’s, omit it, — T.

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

*i3S

(commonly called Nili, Indigofera tbtctoria :), Bala (stands for Pitabala, Si da rhombifolia or rhomboidea ), Payasya (otherwise called Kshirakakoli, a bulbous root of the onion tribe brought from the Himalayas), Vidari (Batatus paniculata ), Jivaka (not identifiable, Gu^uchi or Ttnospora cordifolia is used as a substitute), Rishabhaka (not identifi¬ able, Vangalochana or bambu manna is used as a substitute), Kshudrasaha (otherwise called Mudgaparni, i. e., Phaseolus trilobus) ; 25l

Meda (not identifiable, Agwagandha or Withania somniferum, syn. Physalis ftexuosa is used as a substitute), Mahameda (not identifiable, Sfiriva or Echites frutescens is used as a substitute), Madhurasi (otherwise called Murva, Sanseviera Zeylanica ), Rishyaprokta (imply¬ ing either Pitabala, otherwise called MahabalS or Atibala, or £ukagimbi, i. e., Mucuna pruriens), Trinagunya (otherwise called MallikS, Jasminum Sambac), Mocharasa (gum of Bombax Malabaricum), Atarushaka (otherwise called Vasaka, Justicia Adkatoda), Vakula ( Mimusops Elengi ), Kutaja ( Holarrhena antidysenterica ), Patola (Trichosanthes dioica ), Nimva (Melia Azadirachta), ^almali ( Bambax Malabaricum), Narikela ( Cocos nucifera), Kharjjura {Phcenix sylvestris, wild date), Mridvika (Vitus vinif era, raisins), Piyala (Buchanania latifolia ), Priyangu ( Aglaia Roxburghiana), Dhanwana ( Grewia elastica ), Atmagupta ( Mucuna pruriens ), and Madhuka ( Bassia latifolia') ;

Of these and other vegetable drugs that may be obtained, possess¬ ing cooling virtues, the physician should cause a decoction to be made. 25*

With that decoction, and twice its measure of (cow’s) milk, and the paste of these very drugs, should be cooked, on a slow fire, the oil of Tila (sesame) seeds, measuring half the quantity of the decoction.

This oil, being only rubbed (on the patient’s body) promptly alle¬ viates fever accompanied by a burning sensation of the skin.* 253

With these very drugs which are cooling, reduced to fine powder, the physician should cause plasters to be made (for application on the patient’s body).

With these very drugs, again, ‘£rita’ should be made. When cooled, it should be used for sprinkling it over the patient’s body, as

* The measure of the ‘Kalka’ or paste should be a fourth of the oil. Simply stated, the measures are these : i part decoction, 2 parts cow’s niilk,: paste measuring an eighth of the decoction (and, therefore, a fourth part of the oil), and oil of sesame seeds measuring half of the decoction. These are boiled together. — T.

p. 144

p. 1136

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

also for causing the patient to bathe in it, (‘£rita’ is made by only boiling drugs in water).

Thus is prepared the oil of the group of drugs beginning with Chandana (Pterocarpus santalinus). 254

By sprinkling the patient’s body with, and causing him to bathe in, water mixed with wine, Aranala (kanji prepared from raw wheat properly husked), cow’s milk, Sauvira (a variety of wine prepared from paddy), ghee , and curds, fever accompanied by a burning sensa¬ tion of the skin is promptly relieved in consequence of the cooling effects of the preparation. 2ss

( Here are some verses ).

One that is afflicted by a burning sensation (in fever) should be made to lie down at his ease on the cool leaves of Pushkara,* or the petals of Padma (Nelumbium speciosum),or those of Utpala ( Nymphcea stellata), or the leaves of Kadali {Musa sapientum), textures of silk drenched in the cool water of sandal paste, or in houses in which fountains of cool water are made to play, or cooling showers of water are made to fallf 256-257

A person (that is afflicted by a burning sensation of the skin) should enjoy the touch of gold, conch-shells, corals, gems, and pearls, as also things rendered coql by being drenched in, or sprinkled over with, water in which has been dissolved the paste of white sandal. 258

A person (afflicted by a burning sensation in fever) should be fanned with wreaths of (the flowers of) Nilotpala ( Nymphcea stellata) and Padma (Nelumbium speciosum ), or with diverse kinds of fanning appliances that produce cool air and that scatter particles of sandalwater.! 259

Rivers, large tanks, pools (with lotuses growing in them), and lakes, with clear water, are beneficial for baths, — and such baths alleviate burning, thirst, cheerlessness, and fever. 2&>

Beloved women, smeared with sandal-paste, decked with gems

* ‘Pushkara’ generally means ‘Padma’ or some variety of lotus. GangSdhara speaks of -it as some kind of ‘Vriksha’ or tree. It is said to come from the country called ‘Pushkara’ which is probably the region about the lake known by that name in Rajputana.— T. t ‘Dhara-griha’ is a room in which showers of water fall, or fountains play.— T. t Fans are made of flowers wreathed together. These always produce cool air. Palmleaf fans are dipped in cool water in which sandal paste has been dissolved. — T.

CHARAKA-SAMHITA. 1x37