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

Ojah-Dh^tU : — From what has been stated before it will appear that during the process of tissu'e-formation, the Ivmph or chyle, under the influence of Pittam, or metabolic heat, is transformed in^o the same, the refuse or un-utilisable portion of it being passed off through the liv . IN*rRODUCTION.

apertures of ihe body, is excretions. The Ojah-Dhatu is present in the reproductive energy that lies latent in every organic principle, viz. lymph, blood, muscles, bone (synovia), ma"Vro\v, and in the *male & female reproductive elements. Hence it is not a matter of si.irprise when we find in Ayurvedic works this Sbma, or Ojah-Dhatu mentioned as lying diffused in the human organism aiVd described as the essence of the lymph chyle, blood, &c. (i). The terms Rasagata Ojah, Raktagata Ojah are therefore used perhaps in the sense of modern serum-albumen, blood-albumen, &c. The male & female reproductive elements, according to this view, form the essence of 'the body as a whole, and the Ojah, which is abundantly found in these protoplasmic cells, is the quintessence of a quintessence. The muscle of the heart alone, according to Charaka, is chiefly associated with this energetic substance, which is of a bloody yellowish colour &. possesses both cooling & heat-making virtues. (2)

In diseases caused by defective assimilation it is said to be ejected through the kidne\'s and to pass off with the urine (as in certain types of Prameha) (3), whereby the patient gradually loses strength, flesh, and healthy glow of complexion inasmuch as these are but the accompaniments of its

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Vagbhal .

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Charaka (Sutra StMnam) Ch. XVII. (3) A. ^?:mfJ?ll7T^ft^ ^I^T?I JI^ff?f I

^] -^fm' tT^ §f^ ^^^%: ffWn II •^ Charaka (Sutra Sthinam) Ch, XVII.

Charaka (ShSrira SthSnam) Ch. IV.

INTRODUCTieN. , Iv

healthy continuance in the humi^n organism. "Health and strength," observes our Rishi," reside latent in the Ojahdhatu, as butter (Ghritam)4ies latent in milk, (i)

Dallana Mishra, the celebrated commentator of the Sushruta Samhita, has defined Ojah as a fatty su6stance completely combustible in its character. Thus in the course of tissue combustion its excess quantity is deposited especially in the female body as f.it which produces that peculiar softness and elegance. (2) The presence of Ojah in urine is said to induce Madhumeha (3). Taking this fact alone into consideration one is inclined to the belief that Ojah must be something "of the nature of sugar. As a consequence of these diflFerent interpretations of Ojah the question arises whether there is present in the human organism any such common element that produces either of these two important oxidising materials, viz. fat and sugar.

It is a demonstrated fact in modern Physiology that glycogen is found in other tissues and organs besides in the liver. Tissues of embryos and of young animals as well as newly formed pathological growths may be said to contain glycogen. The activity of the heart, as well as the development of the fetal body (4) is largely dependent

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Bh^VaprakSsha. Part I. BhSvaprakSsha.

Dallana Mishra. (3) See Note 3 (B) Page iiv. »

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^TFr^TT-ffT'T' ^?^' ?1HlTr^^rrf m ^X\ II

Charaka SutrasthSnam, Chap. XXX.

Ivi , IN-TRODUCTION.

upon this Ojah-dhatu which may be best translated as glycogen in- the parlance of Western physiology. In fact, our Acharyayas have used tke term ''ojah" to denote that xitzl principle in the organism which is essential to the maintenance of a healthy combustion in its tissues and to the due performance of their normal functions and activities, no matter whether that principle is patent in the form of protoplasm, protoplasmic albumen, glycogen or mucosin (Prakrita shleshma)* in accordance with the difference of their functions, geneses, and conditions of protoplasmic metabolism. In short, the}- were cognisant of the fact that fat and sugar are evolved out of a common basic principle in the organism as has been very eruditely demonstrated by Dr. S. N. Goswami, B. A., L. M. S. in his treatise on Pumsavanam t It is far from our intention to thrust this opinion on an^' one ; we have simply stated our conclusion in the matter and will welcome the result of fresh enquiries on this subject.

Charaka SamhitS Sutrasth^nain, Chap. XVII.

Chakiadattas Commentary S. Samhit^, Sutrasthanam Chap. XV.