An English Translation of the Sushruta Samhita, Vol. I: Sutrasthanam — trans. Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna (1907)

Certain authorities however, (who reject the two aforesaid theories), hold the potency (Viryam) of a drug to be the most important factor in medicine inasmuch as its therapeutic action, whether purgative, emetic, or both, or cathartic, or pacifying, or astringent, appetising, pressing (drawing to a definite head) or liquefacient, or constructive, tonic (vitalising) or aphrodisiac, or inflammatory, absorbing, caustic, or bursting, or intoxicating, soporific, killing or antitoxic, depends upon its potency. The potency of a drug is either cooling or heat-making owing to the twofold (hot and cool) nature of the temperament of the world. According to several authorities the potency of a medicinal drug may be classed as either hot or cool, emollient or dr}-, expansive or slimy, mild or keen, so as to embrace the eight different attributes in all. These potencies of medicinal drugs serve their respective functions by overpowering their (drugs') tastes with their specific strength (intensity) and virtues. As for example the decoction of the roots belonging to the group of the MahaPanchamulam, though possessed of an astringent taste which is subsequently transformed into a bitter

368 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHiTA. [Chap. XL.

one, acquires the virtue of pacifying the deranged Vayu out of its heat-making potenc3^ Similarly, the pulse known as Kulattha though possessed of an astringent taste, and onion though endued with a , pungent one, respectively soothe the same deranged humour of the body through the oleaginous character of their potencies. On the other hand, the expressed juice of sugar-cane, though possessed of a sweet taste, tends to augment or aggravate the deranged Vayu owing to its cooling potency. The drug Pippali, though a pungent substance in itself, proves soothing to the deranged Pittam, owing to its mild and cooling potenc}'. Similarly, an Amalakam fruit, though acid in taste, and Saindhava, though saline, respectively tend to pacify the deranged Pittam. The drug Kakamachi, though of a bitter taste, and fish, though sweet, respectively aggravate the Pittam, owing to their thermogenetic potency. Similarly, Mulakam (Radish), though pungent, increases the Kapham of the body, on account of its emollient potency ; and Kapittham, though acid, soothes ; and honey, though sweet, tends to pacify the deranged Kapham owing to the dry character of its potency. The aforesaid instances have been cited by way of illustration.

Authoritative verses on the subject : — Tastes, which are possessed of dry, light or

Chap. XL. ] SUTRASTHANAM.

p. 369

expansive potencies, fail to pacify the deranged Vayii, though otherwise they may prove soothing to that deranged humour. Similarly, tastes, which are ordinarily reckoned as pacifiers of the deranged Pittam, fail to produce that effect in the event of their being endued with a keen, light or heat- making potency. Likewise, tastes, which are commonl}' found to soothe the deranged Kapham, tend to aggravate it in the event of their being possessed of potencies which are respectively heavy, cool and emollient in their character.* Hence the potency of a drug is the most important factor in the science of medicine.

But certain authorities dissent from the above-said view, and attach the highest importance to the process of digestive (chemical) reaction (Vipaka) for the reason, that all ingested food, properly or improperly digested in the stomach, proves wholesome or otherwise to the body. Certain authorities on the subject hold that digestion develops all the several tastes. t

According to others, tastes such as, sweet, pungent and acid, follow upon the completion of the process of digestion (b}^ way of reactionary result or transformation).

* Flavours such as, sweet, acid and saline, subdue the deranged \"5yu. Tastes such as, sweet, bitter and astringent are antiljilious in their efficacy, while those, which are pungent, bitter and astringent, are antiphlegmagogic in their virtues.

t The process of digestion is followed by a reactionary taste, which may be either sweet, pungent, acid, astringent, bitter or saline.

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THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [ Chap. XL.