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

The Sa'dhaka'gni :— The Pittam seated in the heart is denominated as the Sadhakagni (performing or operating heat or fire; inasmuch as its action is to bring about the fruition or realisation of one's desires.

The Alochaka'gni :— The Pittam, which is located in the pupils of the eyes, is called the Alochakagni (the Pittam or fire of sight) as its office is to igS THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. XXI.

catch the image of any external object presented to the e5'es.

The Bhrarjaka'gni :-The Pittam, which has its seat in the skin, is called the Bhrajakagni (illuminating or irradiating heat) inasmuch as it absorbs the substances used in the shape of imguents. lubrications, etc. and irradiates the glow of one's natural complexion.

IVIetrical texts :-The Pittam is a keen, sharp and warm liquid, of a blue colour (in its normal state), or yellowish (in its deranged condition). It emits a kind of fleshy smell and is possessed of a pungent taste which is transformed into an acid one when deranged or vitiated.

Seats of Shiesh ma' Kapham :— Xow we shall describe the locations of Kapham. The stomach (Amashaya), which is the seat of Kapham, occupies the same position as regards its location to that of Pittam as the sun holds in relation to that of the moon. And since the stomach (Amashaya; is situated above the pancreas (Pittashaya^-, and is endowed with a property (cooling) contrary to the primary virtue (heating) of Pittam, and, since the heat emitted by the receptacle of Pittam is naturally radiated in an upward direction, the four kinds of food, brought in to the stomach (Amashaya), are boiled and transformed into a soft placid mass (chyme;, like rice boiled in a bowl full of water placed over a

Chap. XXI. 1 SUTRASTHA'NAM. 1 99

burning oven. The food, thus brought down into the stomach, is easily moistene'd, disintegrated and digested by coming into contact with the oily secretions of the stomach (Amdshaya).

IVIetrical Texts :— The Kapham is originated through the sweet, slimy, watery, exudating character of the food brought into the stomach (Amashaya) ; and hence the Kapham becomes endued with similar attributes.

The Kledakam :— The Kapham, even though principally located in the stomach, permeates its four other distant localities with its peculiar watery or humid essence in virtue of its inherent attributes.

The Avalamvaka :— The Kapham, located in the region of the chest, protects the joints of the arms, the neck and the sternum, and enables the heart to perform its natural functions with the help of the lymph-chyle derived from the assimilated food and its own intrinsic potency.

The Vodhakam :— The Kapham, situated in the throat and at the root of the palate, lends its aid to the perception of tastes by maintaining the moist or humid character of the tongue.

The Tarpakam :— The Kapham, situated in the head, cools and bathes the different sense organsp. 200 with its own humid essence, in virtue of its natural humid attributes.

The Shimcshakam :— The Kapham, situated in the joints, keeps them firmly united, protects their articulation and opposes their separation and disunion.

Metrical Texts :— The Kapham is white, heavy, oily, slimy and cool. In its normal state, it is possessed of a sweet taste, which is followed by a saline one in its reactionary transformation (chemical reaction when deranged or vitiated.

Seats of blood :— The seats ot blood are in the liver and the spleen, as stated before, whence it helps its other receptacles to serve their proper functions.

Metrical Texts :— The blood is red, oily or glossy, a little warm, and is possessed of an attribute similar to something of a sweet taste. It is heav)', and it emits a fleshy smell and resembles the Pittam in its reactionary process, or in other words, those factors, which derange the Pittam, vitiate the blood as well.

These are the locations of the deranged humours, which are respectively accumulated in them on account of the aforesaid causes. The deranged humours exhibit such symptoms as, fullness and stuffedness of the abdomen, or of any of the viscera (due to the action of the

Chap. XXI. ] SUTRA8THANAM. 20I

deranged Vayu ; yellowness of the affected part (due to the action of the deranged Pittam , and diminution of the bodily heat, heaviness of the limbs, and a sense of languor .^due to the action of the diseased Kapham), and a natural repugnance for causes (factors) which lead to their respective aggravations or accumulations. The medical treatment should be commenced as soon as the symptoms, peculiar to their accumulation, would become manifest.

Humours and their aggravations :—