An English Translation of the Sushruta Samhita, Vol. II — trans. Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna (1911)

t Charaka also reads this under the name of Abhayarishta.

J Experienced physicians recommend two and a half Pala weight of Indra-Vdruni in lieu of five Palas for its astringent taste. Charaka, however, recommepds only "half a Pala."

p. 325

water until reduced to one quarter of its quantity. This decoction should be filtered (through a piece of linen) and cooled down, after which two Tula weight of treacle should be added to it. The whole preparation should be then kept in a receptacle which formerly contained clarified butter, and be kept buried half a month in a heap of unthrashed barley. After the lapse of the said period, the patient should be made to drink (an adequate quantity of) this preparation every morning according to his strength. This Arishta proves curative in cases of an enlarged spleen, impaired digestion, chronic diarrhcea (Grahani), Ars'as, heart-disease, jaundice, cutaneous affection, ascites, Gulma, oedema (Sopha), and worms in the intestines, and improves the strength and complexion of the body. 14

Anointing (Sneha-karma^, fomentation, use of emetics and purgatives and the application of Anuvasana and Asthapana measures should be employed in cases of haemorrhoids due to the action of the deranged Vayu*. The use of purgatives is recommended in the Pittaja type ; soothing or pacifying (Samsamana) measures in the Raktaja type ; and S'ringavera and Knlattha in the type caused by the action of the deranged Kapha. All the preceding remedies should be combinedly employed when the concerted action of all the Doshas would be detected. As an alternative, milk boiled with the proper drugs may be administered in every case. 15.

Bhallataka-yogaf :— Now we shall describe the mode of using Bhallaitaka in cases of haemorrhoids.

t A physician should apply this medicine after a due consideration and accordipg to the physical pondition of the patient,

* Some are of opinion that the Rishis do not read this line. But as Gayadasa explains it, so Dallana, he tells us, also does the same.

p. 326

A ripe and fresh Bhallataka should be cut into two, three or four pieces and a decoction should be made of them in the usual way. The patient should be made to drink four Tola weight of this cold every morning after lubricating or anointing his tongue, palate and lips with clarified butter, and should take his chief meal with milk and clarified butter in the afternoon.

The number of BhallAtakas in preparing the decoction should be increased by one every day till the fifth day, (and the quantity of the decoction to be drunk by the patient should be similarly increased). After that, the number of Bhallatakas (and consequently the quantity of the decoction to be taken) should be increased by five every day. This method should be followed till the number of the Bhallatakas reaches seventy, after which it should be decreased every day by five until it is reduced to jâVB Bhallatakas only (and five Sukti measures of the decoction).

Subsequently the number of Bhallataka (and the dose)

should be diminished by one (and one Sukti measure respectively) every day,until it is reduced to the original one (and one Sukti measure). By taking a thousand

Bhallatakas in this manner, one may get rid of an attack of any kind of Kushtha and Ars'as, and, having become strong and healthy, may live for one hundred years. i6.

Other forms of Bhallataka-yoga : —

The oil extracted from or pressed out of Bhallatakas, in the manner laid down in the chapter on Dvi-vrana, should be taken in a dose of one Sukti (four Tolas) every morning. The patient, as in the preceding case, should take his meal [ of boiled rice, milk and clarified butter) after the digestion of the oil with a similar good effect. As an alternative, oil should be extracted frornp. 327 the marrow of Bhallatakas and the patient, after cleansing his system with emetics and purgatives, etc., and regulating his diet in the order of Peya, etc. should enter into a spacious chamber, protected from the blasts of the winds and take two Palas, or one Pala weight of the oil according to his strength A meal of boiled rice, milk and clarified butter, etc.. should be taken after the oil had been fully digested. The oil should be continued, in this way, for a month, the regimen of diet should be strictly observed for a period of three months and the patient should abstain from anger, etc, during this period. The use of this oil, in the above mentioned way, not only ensures a radical cure of the disease with all its complications, but would increase the duration of life to a hundred years with the glow of youth and health and %vith an increment in the powers of memory, retention and wisdom. The application of this oil for every one month will extend one's life for a period of one hundred years. In the same way a continuous use for ten months would enable him to live for a thousand years, ly .

IVIemorabie Verses :— Vrikshaka (Kutaja)