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

Etymology of the term Ka'Ia (t^me): — The Kala or the Eternal time is so called from the fact of its not suffering even one of its own minutest particles or subdivisions (Kala) to perish, though perpetually moving, and in constant motion in itself ; or it derives its epithet from the. fundamental quality of its destroying all beings and laying their dead remains in heaps in succession. Some assert that the name is due to the fact that time blends ( kalanam ) all beings with misery or happiness according to their respective acts, or to its leading all beings to destruction ( kala).

The Sun-god, by his peculiar motions, divides eternal time which is measured by years ( Samvatsaras)

46 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [ Chap. VI.

into 'increasingly progressive but smaller subdivisions) such as, Nimeshas (lit : — time taken in closing the eyelids^, Kashthas^ Kalas, Muhurtas, days and nights, fortnights, months, seasons, solstices, years and Yugas.

Time taken in articulating any of the short vowels (such as A. etc.), is called an Akshi-Nimesha. Fifteen Akshi-Nimeshas make one Kashtha. Thirty Kashthas make one Muhurta. Thirty Muhurtas make one day and night. Fifteen days and nights make one fortnight. A fortnight is either dark or bright. Two fortnights make one month. The twelve months such as, Magha, etc. are divided into six seasons such as. Winter, Spring, Summer, Rains, Autumn and Hemanta, each consisting of two months.

The two months known as Tapas and Tapasva (Magha and Phalgunai constitute the season of winter. Spring consists of two months called Madhu and Madhava (Chaitra and Vaishaka . Summer is marked by two months known as Shuchi and Shukra Jaistha and Ashadha '. The rains or the rainy season is marked by two months called Nabhas and Xabhasya (Shravana and Bh^dra\ The two months known as Isha and Urja (Ashvina and Kartika) constitute what is called the season of Autumn. Hemanta is marked by two months called Sahas and Sahasya ' Agraha5^ana and Pousha). These six seasons are respectiveh^ characterised by cold, heat, rains, etc.

Chap. VI. 1 SUTRASTHA'NAM.

p. 47

The two Ayanams are ushered in by the sun afid the moon changing their respective courses in the heavens (passing over the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn) as the measurers of time. The rains, autumn and Hemanta follow one another in succession when the sun is over the Tropic of Capricorn or is in the Winter Solstice (Dakshinayanami and the moon gains in strength in this part of the year. Rasas (Serum or sap) possessed of acid, saline and sweet tastes, grow strong and become dominant when the sun is over the Tropic of Capricorn ^Dakshinayanam) and all beings gain in strength and energy more and more. Winter, spring and summer mark the passing of the sun over the Summer Solstice ' Uttarayanam . The sun grows stronger in heat and light, and saps rasas i of bitter, pungent and sour tastes increase in intensity, and all animals gradually begin to lose strength and energy.

Authoritative verses on the subject :— The moon imparts the moisture and humidity to the earth which is soaked up by the sun in his daily course, while the wind in conjunction with the sun and the moon, contributes towards the preservation of animal life. The successive change of the two solstices marks a year.

Five such complete years count as a Yuga. The subdivisions of eternal time from the- minutest Ximesha to a complete Yuga, are constantly revolving like a wheel_,

48 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. VI.

and this constant or perpetual revolution is called the wheel or C5Tle of time ^,Kala-Chakra 1 by certain authorities.

The six seasons such as, the Rains, etc., have been again adverted to in this chapter for the purpose of fully describing the accumulation, excitation aggravation) and pacification of the bodily humours, such as wind, etc. According to some, the rainy season consists of two months known as Bhadra and Ashvina ; Autumn consists of the two months of Kartika and Margashirshya ; Hemanta consists of the two months of Poushaand Magha ; spring consists of the two months of Phalguna and Chaitra ; summer, of Vaishakha and Jaistha ; and Pr^^Tit, of Ashadha and Shravana.