Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

Having fried it, boil it with the decoction already indicated, adding to it a ‘tula’ (equal to twelve and half seers) of treacle.

When the boiling is complete, throw into the vessel a ‘kudava!’ ■of the pulv of the fruits of Pippali ( Piper longurri).

When the contents become cool, add a ‘kuclava’ (in practice ■double the measure is taken) of ihoney.

The medicine (thus prepared) should be licked. It forms a good ‘Rasayana.’ Qf the myrobalans, again, two should be eaten every 'time.

This medicine removes wrinkles and other symptoms of decre- ;,pitude.

It improves complexion and promotes longevity.

It cures the five varieties of cough as also’ consumption, asthma, (hiccup, chronic intermittent fever, piles, ‘Grahani-disease’, chest- ■disease, disgust for food, and inflammation of tljg Schneiderian mem¬ brane with loss of sense of smell.

This superior and highly praiseworthy ‘Rasayana’ lhas been laid ■down by (the Rishi) Agastya.* 58-61

‘Saindhava’ salt, Pippali ( Piper longum), Bhârgi ( Siphonanthus indica ), £ringvera (dry ginger), and DuralabhS ( Hedysarum Alhagi),

* Agastya was a famous Rishi. Many great achievements are ascribed to him. By his ‘‘Yoga’ puissance, (he drank up the Ocean. Once on a time the Vindhya increased its height so much that >it obstructed the very Sun in his course. Vindhya -had Agastya for his ■preceptor. The latter was asked by the^deities to do what was needed for the benefit of the world. He appeared before the Vindhya who immediately bent down his head in reverence. Agastya then proceeded to the south (Deccan), telling Vindhya to remain in that posture till his return.

’He, however, did not return ‘but took up his residence permanently in Southern India. Hence, Vindhya to this day remains with bent head. On one occasion, Agastya benefited the universe by hurling Nahusa from heaven and converting him into a huge snake. Some important works are ascribed to Agastya, the principal are being ‘Agastya-Samhita’ which ■treatss of diverse topics. — T.

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CHARAKA-SAMHITA .

reduced to pulv, should be taken with the sour juice of Dadima (pomegranates).

Bhfirgi ( Siphonanthus Indica ) and Nagara (dry ginger), reduced to pulv, should be taken with hot water.

The wood of Khadira (Acacia Catechu ), reduced to pulv, should be taken with either wines or the cream of curds.

Or, the paste of the fruits of Pippali (Piper longuvi ', fried in ghee and mixed with ‘Saindhava’ salt, should be taken. 62-63

In head-aches, in discharges from the nose, in pains of the chest of a person afflicted with cough and catarrh in the nose, the physician should administer smoke. 64

The person afflicted with cough, if possessed of intelligence, should make a crooked pipe of the measure of (the breadth of) ten fiingers or eight fiingers, and insert one of its ends into a hole kept in the upper one of two (concave) earthen dishes enclosing a hollow space within them.

Within the two dishes (whose joining line is luted with soft clay) are placed certain drugs that are alleviative of cough. These drugs are set on fire, and then smoke is inhaled, through the pipe, with the mouth.

The smoke possesses purgative virtues.

When smoke reaches the lungs, one should exhale it then through the mouth.

In consequence of its keenness, the smoke, rending the phlegmo¬ nous matter adhering to the lungs, extracts it out and thereby allevi¬ ates the person’s cough born of wind and phlegm. 65-67

The drugs whose smoke is to be inhaled are Manahgila (realgar), Ala (otherwise called Haritâla, i. e., yellow orpiment), Madhuka (liquorice), Mangsi (otherwise called Jatamagnsi, i. e., Nardostachys Jatamansi ), Musta (the tubers of Cyperus rotundas), and Aingudi (the fruits of Balanites Roxburghii ).

After smoking, one should drink tepid milk mixed with treacle. 6S

CHA RAKA - SA M HI 7 A.

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This smoke conquers cough born 'of each of the faults or all of them together. In fact, it cures such cough as is incapable of being cured by even hundreds of other combinations. 69

. Take Prapaundrika (the root-stock of Nymphaa lotus), Madhuka (liquorice), £arngashta (otherwise called GhantSravS, Crotalaria sericea), Manahgila (realgar), Maricha (black pepper), Pippali (the fruits of Piper longum), DrSkha (grapes), El a (cardamoms), and Surasamanjari (the blossoms of Ocimum sanctum).

Reduce them to paste, and lave the paste in a piece of silken, cloth, and dry it-in the sun.

When dry, roll up the cloth into a cylinder, and dip it in ghee. Set fire to one of its ends, and inhale its smoke (with the mouth).

After the act of smoking is over, one should drink milk, or water in which a measure of treacle has been dissolved. 7°-7i