An English Translation of the Sushruta Samhita, Vol. I: Sutrasthanam — trans. Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna (1907)
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The translator’s English as printed (Kunja Lal Bhishagratna). The original-language text is not held; names are romanised as the translator printed them.
Degrees of incompatibility : -Substances that are incompatible with, or antagonistic to, the system through a difference of degree or intensity, as well as things which bring about an extreme dryness of the organism, or those which are extremely oily in their composition or are characterised by extreme cold or warmth, should be categorically rejected.
Authoritative verses on the subject :— Things or substances which are incompatible to one another in their respective tastes, potencies and reactionary transformation should be denied as absolutely unwholesome, while the rest should be considered as possessed of mixed virtues ^wholesome or
Chap. XX. ] SUTRASTHA'NAM. 191
injurious under certain circumstances' as described before.
By taking substances which are incompatible to one another as regards their tastes, potencies and digestive transformation, a greed}^ and intemperate person becomes afflicted with disease and weakness of the sense-organs, and ultimately meets with his doom.
Anything, which being taken enrages or agitates the bodily humours without causing the assimilated food ( effete matter) to be evacuated out of the bowels, or is possessed of a taste contrary to, or other than what is necessary for the purposes of vitalization, should be looked upon as the primary source of all bodily distempers.
Diseases, brought about by a food or drink composed of incompatible substances, are amenable to the use of purgatives, emetics, or pacifying (corrective of the deranged humours) medicines ; and such a diet, even when found unavoidable, should be preceded by the use of drugs or substances potent enough to neutralise its baneful effect.*
A meat, in the composition of which substances of incompatible virtues and potencies largely enter, fails to develop any distressing or harmful symptoms in subjects who are habitually addicted to it, or who takes it in
* This couplet occurs also in the Charaka Samhita.
p. 192
small quantities, as well as in persons of youthful vigor and strong iappetite, or in those who have become invigorated by the use of oily and albuminous food and healthful physical exercise.*
The effects of the winds :— Now we shall describe the effects of the winds on the body, (as they blow from the dfferent quarters of the heaven) .
The East wind :— The East wind, which is cool and sweet in its potency, is heavy and charged with salt; it aggravates blood and Pittam and gives rise to an acid digestive reaction. It specially aggravates the disease in a patient suffering from a wound or an ulcer, or from the effect of any poison, and affects persons of Shleshmdla temperament. It is highly efficacious to fatigued persons, as well as to those of a Vatala (nervous) temperament, or who are afflicted with any sort of Kaphaja disease ; though it increases the slimy secretion in their ulcers if there be any.
The South wind : — The South wind is light, sweet ('produces the same soothing effect on the organism like a thing of sweet taste) and is followed by an astringent after-taste (Anurasa) being antacid in its reaction. It is the best of winds, gives vigour to the eyes, increases the strength, and soothes the blood and the Pittam without aggravating the bodily Vayu.
' Different Reading—In a child or in a man of voracious appelitc.
Chap. XX. ] SUTRASTHA'NAM.
p. 193
The West wind :— The West wind is pure, non- slimy, dry, rough to the perception, and keen. It absorbs the albumen or oily principle of the body. It absorbs or dries up fat and Kapham, produces a parched condition in the body when exposed to it, and speedily diminishes the strength of a person.
The North wind :— The North wind is cold, crisp, mild, of a sweet taste terminating in an astringent one. It does not in any way enrage or agitate the deranged bodily humours. In healthy subjects it increases the strength and the running secretions from the different orfices of the body (such as the nostrils etc.). It proves extremely salutary to patients suffering from consumption, cachexia and the effects of poison.
Tims ends the twentieth Ch.ipter of (he .Siitiasthanrtiii in the.Sushiuia sanihila wliich iieals (if snlutarx' and nonsnlutai^- efiVrts of the reginien.
p. 25
CHAPTER XXI.
Now we shall discuss the Chapter which investigates the nature of bodily humours, as exciting causes of ulcers (Vrana-prashna-madhyayam).
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