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

Apana; Udana and Samana. May Indra, the presiding deity of all physical energies, keep thy bodily strength immaculate. May Manu defend the two side tendons at the nape of thy neck, as well as thy facult)^ of intellect ; the Gandharvas, thy faculty of desire ; Indra, thy fortitude ; Varuna, thy faculty of cognition ; the Ocean, thy region of umbilicus ; the Sungod, thy eyes ; the Quarters of the Heaven, thy ears ; the Moon-god, thy mind ; the Stars, thy complexion ; the Night, thy shadow ; the Water, thy vigour ; the Oshadhis, thy hair ; Infinite Ether, the space which is imprisoned in thy body ; \\isundhara, thy body ; Vaishvanara, thy head ; Vishnu, thy moral courage ; Purushottama (the foremost of beings), thy energy of action (dynamical action of purposes); Brahma, thy self; and Dhruva (immutable being), thv eyebrows. May these divinities, which perpetually reside in thy body, ensure thy safe continuance in being and may thou enjoy a long life through their grace. May the gods such as, Brahma, etc., confer blessings on thy head. May the Sun, the Moon, the twin sages Narada and Parvata, the fire-god, the wind, and the other celestial helpmates of Indra, bring thee good. May the prophylaxis devised by Brahma keep thee from evil. Mav thou be spared to witness the return of many a long and happy year on earth. May such abnormal physical phenomena as, droyght, deluge, excessive downpour of rain, and excessive germination (or wholesale

Chap, v.] SUTRASTHANAM. .,

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extinction of such vermin as) rats, mosquitoes, flies which invariably portend evil and mortality in a community, as well as bloody feuds among kings, abate and cease. May thou be relieved of all pain and misery. We close the prayer with a "Svaha" (obeisance\ The present Vedic mantra exercises an occult power in relieving ailments which are due to the malignant influences of conjured up she-devils. May thou acquire a long life through the protective energy of the prophylactic prayer (lit :— incantation; now read by me.

Then having protected the body of the patient with the recitation of the above Vedic Mantra, the surgeon shall see his patient taken to his own chamber, and prescribe the proper course of medicine and diet according to the exigencies of each case. The old bandage should be loosened on the third day of the operation, when the wound or the ulcer should be washed, and a fresh bandage should be wound round as before. The bandage should not be loosened on the day following the lancing of a boil, as such a measure might give rise to a sort of excruciating pain and formation of knots in the wound and retard the process of granulation (healing). On the third day, the surgeon (Vaidya) should prescribe the proper medicated plaster, diet, etc. after fully considering the strength of the patient, the nature of the disease, and the then prevailing season of the year. A wound should not be tried to be healed up, as long as

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THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA [ Chap. V.

the least morbid matter, or pus remains in its inside, as it would lead to the formation of fresh cavities in the surrounding health}^ tissues, and ultimately to a recrudescence of the disease.

The authoritative verses on the subject : — Accordingly a wound or an ulcer should be made to heal up after the perfect purification of both of its inside and exterior has been fully brought about. Even after the healing of the wound the patient should studiously avoid all sexual connections, indigestive viands, fatiguing physical exercises and indulgence in emotions of grief or fright, or in ecstasies of joy, until the cicatrix has acquired enough toughness. The dressings and bandages should be untied and changed ever}' third day in winter, in spring and in the season of Hemanta, and on each alternate day in summer and in the rains. But a physician (surgeon) should not be guided by these rules in cases where there would be reasons to apprehend imminent danger, and in such cases the wound or the ulcer, like a house in flames, should be checked as speedily as possible.

Clarified butter boiled with Yashtimadhu, and applied tepid to a wound, incidental to a surgical operation, is sure to alleviate the excruciating pain that is usually experienced in such an affected part.

Thus ends llie fifih chapter, of the Sutiasthanani in ihc SushnUa Sanihita which treats of Preliminarv nieasiues.

CHAPTER VI.

Xow we shall discuss the Chapter which treats of the characteristic features of the differetit seasons of the year and their influence on health and drugs fRitucharya'dhya'yam).

The Eternal Time is without origin, middle, or end, self-l/egotten, and the lord of all attributes. Contrariety or non contrariety of the natural attributes of drugs or substances endued with characteristic tastes, such as sweet, etc., are brought about by time ; and time is the principal factor that controls the births or deaths of beings.