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

Chuchchu, Juthika, Taruiii, Jivanti, Vimvitika, Xandi, Bhallataka, Chagalantri, Vriksliadani, Phanji, Shalmali, Shelu, Vanashpcfti-prasava, Shana, Karvudara and Kovidara etc., have an astringent, sweet and bitter taste, and prove curative in haemoptysis. They slibdue the Kapham, generate the Vayu and are astringent in their action and light of digestion (easily digestible). Of these, the Chuchchu is light of digestion, and acts as a vermifuge. It is slimy, proves beneficial to ulcers, is sweet and astringent in taste and action. Jt tends to subdue the action of the three deranged humours (Tridosha). The Jivanti herb is beneficial to the eyes and subdues all kinds of deranged humours. The leaves of the Vrikshadani plant subdue the Vayu. Phanji leaves are slightly tonic. The leaves of trees or plants belonging to the Kshira-Vriksha or to the Utpala group are cooling in their potency, astringent \i} their taste and action, and prove beneficial in dj^sentery, (intestinal haemorrhage) and haemoptysis.

The leaves of the Punarnava, Varuna, Tarkari, Uruvuka (white castor), Vatsadani, and Vilva etc., are heat-making in their, potency, and have a sweet and bitter taste and pacify the deranged Vayu. Of these, the Punarnava are specially possessed of the virtue of removing oedema (ShophaV

The potherbs, such as the Tanduliyaka, Upodika,

-l6 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap, xr.vi.

Ashvavala, Chilli, Palankya, and Vastuka etc., are laxative and diuretic, and have a sweet and alkaline taste. They slightly generate the Vayu and Kaphani. and cure hsemoptysis.

Metrical Text : — Of these, the species known as the Tanduliya is sweet in taste and digestion, and proves curative in cases of haemoptysis and somnolence (due to the effects of poison, wine or vitiated blood). It is antitoxic and extremely cooling in its potency, and produces a state of parchedness in the system. The Upodika species is sweet in taste and digestion. It is spermatopoietic, anti-narcotic, cooling, laxative, demulcent and tonic. It generates the Kapham, and subdues the Vayu and Pittam in the system. The species called the Vastuka is a pungent (in digestion), vermifuge, and is tonic. It improves the intellect and digestion and is alkaline, laxative and relishing, and tends to subdue all kinds of deranged humours of the bod>'. The species Chilli resembles the Vastuka in its properties, while those of the Palankya is identical with those, of the Tanduliya. It generates the V^vu, produces a state of parchedness in the system, and tends to suppress the discharge of stool and urine. It proves remedial to the deranged Kapham and Pittam. The potherbs Ashvavala produces a condition of dryness in the organism and tends to suppress the discharge of stool and urine and Vayu (emission of flatus).

Chap. XLVI. • SUTRASTHANAM.

p. 517

The potherbs (leaves of edible plants) such as the Mandukaparni, Saptala, Siinishannaka, Suvarchala, Brahma- siivarch?lla, Pippali, Gudiichi, Gojihva, Kakamachi; Prapunnada, Avalguja, Satina, Vrihati-phala, Kantak^rika-phala, Patola, Vartaku, Kararellaka, Katukika, Kevuka, Uruvuka, Parpataka, Kiratatikta, Karkotaka, Arishta, Koshataki, A'etra, Karira, Atarushaka, Arkapushpi, etc., are light and palatable, and prove curative in haemoptysis, Kushtha, Meha, fever, dyspnoea, cough and create a relish for food.

Metrical Texts : — The Mandukaparni and the Gojihvika species are alike in their properties, the former being astringent and beneficial to the Pittam, sweet in taste and digestion, cooling in its potency and of easy digestion. The Sunishannaka species is easily digested and is unattended witli anv acid reaction. It* is astringent in its action and tends to subdue the three deranged bodily humours, and it also arrests the evacuations of the bowels. The Abulguja has a bitter taste, is pungent in digestion and subdues the deranged Pittam and K^pham. The potherb Satina is slightly bitter and astringent in taste and tends to subdue the three deranged humours of the body. The Kakamachi herb is neither too coohng nor too heat-making in its potency and removes cutaneous affections. It subdues the deranged humours as the preceding

5i8 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. XLVI,