Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

* In practice 2 ‘prasthas’, that is, 4 seers, of ghee are taken. The measure of water, therefore, should be 66 seers j and that urine, 8 seers. As regards Chitraka, the roots are directed to be taken. — T.

CHAR A K AS AM HIT A.

'355

Ghee boiled with the decoction of Yava (barley), Kola (Jujubes ), and Kulattha (Dolichos bijlora), as also the decoction of the five roots, and also with SurS. and Sauvira (varieties of wine), should b^ drunk by one afflicted with abdominal dropsy. ll7

Even this is the composition of “Yavâdya-ghrita.”

Unto one whose system has been sufficiently oiled by the abovementioned ghees , whose strength has been increased thereby, whose wind has been allayed, and the seats of the above faults have been rectified, the physician should administer such purgatives as have been laid down in the Division called ‘Kalpa.’* 118

Take the following drugs, viz., the roots of Patola ( Tiichosanthcs dioica), Rajani {Curcuma longa), Vidanga [Embelia Ribes), the three myrobalans without their seeds, Kampillaka ( Mallotus Philippensis ), Nilini ( Indigofera tinctoria ), and Trivrit [Convolvulus Turpethum ], and reduce them to pulv.

The measure of the' six’ first should be a ‘karshika’ (2 tolas) each ; that of the following three should be twice, thrice, and four times.f

The last three should be reduced to pulv. Mixing the pulvs together, and dissolving the compound in cow’s urine, one should drink a ‘mushti’ thereof (a ‘mushti’ being equal to 1 ‘pala’).

Thus purged, the patient should take light food (in small measure) mixed with the meat-juice of wild animals ; or he should drink ‘manda’ and ‘peya,’ and also milk boiled with the pulv of ‘Vyosha’ (the three acrids, viz., Piper longum , dry ginger, and black pepper).

This should be the regimen of the patient for six days.

The pulv (mentioned above) should again be drunk mixed with cow’s urine.

This should be done separately.

This pulv cures all varieties of abdominal dropsy, even those in which water has accumulated.

f The first word of the second line of the verse is, in the Calcutta edition, ‘Srasta.’ This is evidently wrong. Gangadhara reads ‘saste’, meaning ‘checked’, that is, rectified or restored to the normal condition. — T.

£ The measure of Tatolamula’ and the five following should be a ‘karshika’ or 2 tolSs ; that of ‘Kampillaka’, 4 tolSs ; that of ‘Nilini’, 6 tolSs ; and that of ‘Trivrit’, 8 tolas. — T.

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CHA RAKA-SA MHITA .

It also cures jaundice, chlorosis, and dropsical swellings, 119-123

Reducing the following to powder, viz., Gavakshi ( Cucumis Colocynthis), £ankhini (Pladera decussata ), Danti ( Baliospermum montanum ), the bark of Tilwaka ( Symplocos racentosa ), and Vacha ( Acorus calamus), one should drink it, dissolving it in the decoction of grapes, or the urine of the cow, or the decoction of Kola ("jujubes of the large variety, or the decoction of Karkandhu (jujubes of the small variety), or with ‘Sidhu’ (wine). 124

Taking equal measures of Yamani (Ptyckotis Ajowan), Habusha (black stalks like those of black pepper), coriander seeds, the three myrobalans, Upakunjika (otherwise called Krishna-jiraka of the large variety, i. e., the seeds of Nigella sativa), Karavi (Krishna-jiraka of the small variety), Pippalimula (the roots of Piper longum), Ajagandha (Pkysalis jlexuosa ), £athi ( Curcuma Zerumbet), Vacha ( Acorus cala¬ mus), £atahva (otherwise called Salupha, i. e., dill seeds), Chitraka (Plumbago zeylanica), Vyosha (three acrids), Svarnakshiri (Cleome felinct), Sachitraka (otherwise called Eranda, i. e., Ricinus communis ), the two varieties of Kshara (or alkaline ashes, viz., those of green barley shoots, and those called Sarjjikshfira, i. e., carbonate of soda), Pushkaramula (not being available, the root of Aplotaxis auriculata is substituted1*, Kushtha (Aplotaxis auriculata ), the five varieties of salt), and Vidanga ( Embelia Ribes).

Add Danti (Baliospermum montanum) of measure three times that of each of the above.

Also add Trivrit (Convolvulus Turpethum) reduced to powder and of measure equal to twice that of each of the group mentioned first.

Also add Vifala (Cucnmis colocynthis) of measure equal to that of Trivrit.

Of the pulv of ££tala (otherwise called Charmakasha, a shrub) add a measure that is four times that of Yamani or the others of the first group.

The pulvs of all these should be mixed together. The compound is called ‘Narayana-churna.’ It is capable of curing a variety of ailments.

p. 1357

Encountering this medicine, diseases disappear like Asuras at the sight of Vishnu. 125-128

Those suffering under abdominal dropsy should take the above powder with whey.

Those ailing under abdominal tumours should take it with the decoction of jujubes.