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

Clarified butter made with the milk of a woman is possessed of e3'e-invigorating virtues, and should be regarded as the protot5'pe of divine ambrosia on earth. It is light (in digestion), anti-toxic, stomachic, and constructive. Clarified butter prepared with the milk of a she-elephant is astringent in taste, and brings about a suppression of stool and urine. It is bitter, light, and stomachic (Agnikara), and proves curative in cutaneous affections (Kushtha), poisoning, worms in the intestines, and derangements of the Kapham.

Butter churned out of thickened milk and clarified (Kshira Ghritam) is astringent, and proves beneficial in eye-diseases, hcemoptysis, epileptic fits, and vertigo.

The condensed upper stratum of clarified butter ( Jhrita-manda) acts as a laxative, cures aching pain in the vagina, ears, eyes, or in the head,

Chap. XLV.] SUTRASTHA'NAM. ^^^

and is recommended to be used as an errhine, an enema or as eye-drops.

Old clarified butter is laxative and pungent in digestion. It subdues the three deranged bodily humours, and proves curative in epileptic fits, obesity, insanity, abdominal dropsy, fever, chemical poisoning, oedema, hysteria, and in aching pain in the vagina, ears, eyes or head. It is appetising and is recommended to be used as eye-drops and enema, and for sternutatory purposes.

Authoritative verses on the subject:—Old or matured clarified butter proves curative ni Timira (Gutta Serena), dyspnoea, catarrh, fever, cough, epileptic fits, and Kushtam, in cases of poisoning, mental aberration, and hysteria ascribed to the influence of malignant planets. Clarified butter matured from eleven to a hundred years is called the Kumbha Gritam (Pitcher clarified butter), while that, which is older than the one of the preceding kind, is called the Maha GLritam (the great clarified butter). Kumbha Ghritam is said to be possessed of the mystic potency of warding off' the invasions of monsters, while the Maha Ghritam is highly efficacious, sacred, and specifically curative in the disease known as Timira. It acts as a prophylactic against the malignant influences of all evil spirits and baneful planets, and should be taken

^^^ THE SUSHRUTA SAAIHITA. L Chap. XLV.

by men in whom V^yu predominates. It subdues the deranged Kapham, and improves the strength and intellect.

The Oil Group :— Oils, which belong to the category of fiery (Agneya) substances, are hot or heatmaking in their potencies, irritating, and sweet in taste and digestion, and are constructive (Vrinhanam), and pleasant. They expand through the entire system immediately after being drunk or rubbed (Vyavayi), and are subtile, clear, heavy, and laxative (Sara). They tend to expand the bone-joints and contribute to their free and easy movements (Vik^si). They act as spermatopoietics (Vrishyam), and purify the skin, improve the memory, and impart softness to the skin and complexion. They are flesh-making and strength-imparting, and increase the firmness of the body. They are possessed of eyeinvigorating virtues, and are anuretic, liquefacient (Lekhana), bitter and stomachic (P^chana). They cure V^yu and Kapham. They are vermifuge and produce a slight Pittam, leaving an astringent after-taste. They relieve aching pain in the head, ears, and the female organs of generation (Yoni), act as purifying agents in respect of the uterus, and prove curative in urticaria.

The use of sesamum oil is recommended in cases of cut, cleft, punctured, severed, lacerated, blistered, thrashed or contused wounds and ulcers, and in burnsp. 445 and scalds whether due to the application of heat or any vesicant alkaline solution, as well as in bites of wild beasts and* birds, etc., and act beneficially in baths, unguents and lubrications.

Metrical Texts :— Oil should be used in snuffing, and as enematas (Vasti), eye-drops, ear-drops, as well as in seasoning soups, curries and cordials, etc. It pacifies the bodily Vayu.