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

no potency without a taste, and taste without a drug or substance is an absurdity.- Hence a substance (vegetable or otherwise) is the greatest of them all. A taste and a substance are correlative categories from the time of their origin, like a body and an embodied self in the plane of organic existence. Since an attribute per se can not be possessed of another attribute, the eight kinds of potency (properties) can only appertain to a substance and not to a taste, which is an attribute in itself. Substances are digested in an organic body and not the six tastes simply for the reason of their being invisible and intangible in themselves. Hence a substance is the greatest of all tlie aforesaid five factors (of substance, taste, virtues, etc.) and the attributes lie inherent in the substance.

Unscrutable and unthinkable are the virtues of drugs (medicines), which are above all rules of syllogism ; and hence drugs (medicines), which have been observed to be efficacious from time immemorial, as well as those laid down in the scriptures on medicines, should alone be used in the course of a medical treatment. A learned physician should think it a sacrilege to logically dispute the efficacy of a medicine of tested virtue, and which has been adopted after generations of careful observation and is instinctively pronounced b}-^ men as a beneficial remedy.

;74

THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [ Chap. XL.

No amount of logic will alter the nature of things, nor persuade the drugs of the Amboshtha group to exercise a purgative virtue. Hence an intelligerrt physician should adhere to the officinal recipes given in the books on medicine, and not introduce innovations, however logical or probable, into the realms of applied or practical Therapeutics.

Thus ends the fortieth Chapter of the Sutrasthinam in the Sushruta SamhitS, which deals with drugs and their flavours, virtues, and digestive (chemical) transformation.

CHAPTER XLI.

Now we shall discourse on the Chapter, which treats of the specific properties of drugs (DravyaVishcsha-Vijna'niya-madhya'yam).

The five fundamental principles* such as the earth (Kshithi), water (Apa), fire (Teja), air (Marut) and Sky (Vyoraa) enter into the composition of all substances in the world, and the predominance of any of them in a particular substance determines its character. Accordingly a thing is denominated as a substance of dominant earth principle, or one marked by a predominance of fire, air or ether.

Parrthiva Drugs : — A thing or substance, which is thick, pithy, compact, dull, immobile, rough, heavy (hard to digest^ strong smelling and largely has a sweet taste marked by a shade of astringent, is called a substance of dominant earth (Parthivam) matter. • Such a thing increases the firmness, strength, hardness and rotundity of the human body, and is possessed of gravity (the virtue of moving the bowels).

A'pyam Drugs :— Similarly, a thing or substance, which is cold, moist, glossy, devoid of keenness, takes time to be digested, is mobile, compact, soft,

* These may be translated as Solid, Liquid, Gas, Ether, and Etherioil in the parlance of modern science.

376 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [ Chap. XLI.

slimy, sappy, and is largely endued with an acid, saline or sweet taste marked by a shade of astringent, is called a substance of dominant water (Apyam'i principle. Such a thing soothes and imparts a glossy character to th2 body, keeps it moist, favours the adhesion of its parts, and increases its liquid contents.

Taijasam Drugs :— A thing or substance, which is heat-making, pungent and keen, subtle in its essence, permeates the minutest capillaries, and is dry, rough, light, and non-slimy in its character and has strong properties and a taste which is largely pungent marked by a shade of saline, is called a substance of the dominant principle of fire (Taijasam). Such a thing naturally evinces an up-coursing tendency in the body, produces a burning sensation in its inside, helps the process of digestion and spontaneous bursting (of abscesses), increases the temperature of the body, strengthens the eyesight, improves the complexion and imparts a healthful glow to it.

Varyaviyam Drugs :— A thing or substance, which is subtle in its essence, and is dry, rough, light, cold and non- slimy, increases tactual sensation and is endued with a largely astringent taste marked by a shade of bitter, is called a substance of the dominant principle of air ( Vayaviyam). Such a thing removes the slimy character of the internal organism, produces lightChap.-XLI.p. 377

ness, diyness and emaciation of the body, and increases the speculative or contemplative faculty of the mind.

Aka'shiyam Drugs :— A thing or sub stance, which is smooth, unctuous, and is subtle in its nature, soft or pliant in its consistency, expansive 'in the internal organism), porous, soundy and non- slimy in its character without any definite taste, is called a substance of the dominant principle of sky (Akashiyam). Such a substance produces softness, lightness and porosity of the body.