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

It is improper to lie down with one's head downward. One should not drink water from a broken vessel nor with the help of blended palms. Food, which is wholesome and approved of by one's physician and which abounds in articles of sweet and emollient properties-f- should be taken at the proper (and regular) time (every day) in a moderate quantity. It is forbidden to take any food in the house of a trader {i.e.^ of a (hotel-keeper) or a courtesan, nor in the house of a wily, degenerate or inimical person, nor at a villageassembly. The refuse of another's dishes, as well as articles of food infested with flies, insects, etc.^ or possessed of an objectionable colour, taste, smell, touch or

* Some explain "Jyotish"' as a blaze 0.' fire and olhers explain it as stars.

t The framers of the Ayurveda were aware of the fact that the human system is incapable of directly assimilating starchy substances without converting them into sugar, This has been emphasised in the SutraSihana, where Sus'ruta insists that a food stuff, in order to be worthy of the epithet, must be Madhura (z e , of sweet flavour) and contain a large qnantity of proteid n>atter such as is found in milk, butter, meat, etc.— Ed.

495 THE SUSIIRUTA SAMIIITA [Chap. XXIV.

sound or those which producclan unpleasant impression in the mind, or food of like nature as well as those served (handled) by many persons should not be partaken of (in spite of repeated requests in .that behalf). It is not advisable to sit down to a meal without washing one's hands and feet. One should never take anything by repressing a natural urging for stool and urine, nor sit down to a meal just at the break or the close of day, nor in an unprotected situation {i.e. without any shade, or without something to sit upon). One should not take his meal after the expiry of the (daily) appointed time nor in an insufficient or inordinate quantity, nor partake of food whose Sneha (oleaginous substance) has been removed. 75.

Metrical Text : — It is forbidden to see one's image reflected in water, nor is it advisable to plunge naked into water. Curd should never be taken at night, nor should it be taken (at all) without sugar * or clarified butter, nor without saturating it with Miidgasoup or the admixture of honey, nor without (the expressed juice of) the A'nialaka, nor with any hot substance \ or article, as otherwise it may bring on Kushtha (cutaneous affections), erysipelas, etc. 76-/7 .

Exercise, addiction to wine, gambling and music are bad. One should not bear witness to any fact (before a

* Dallana adJs that curd should not be taken without an addition of water and salt as well. This is also the practice in general.

t All the existing editions of the Sus'ruta Samhita read *'?f|'^;" (»" e.| curd should not be taken with any "hot" substance). Here it should be noted that the term "hot" may also include the substances which are heatmaking in their potency. Here, however, the reading seems to be ircorrect. The lines are found verbatim in the work of Charaka, where he reads "•ft^," ^•'•^ hot curd should not be taken, since it produces, as he himself tells us later on, an aggravation of the blood and the Pitta. — Ed.

Chap. XXIV.J CHIKITSA bTHANAM, 497

law court\. nor stand surety for any body. One should not use the shoe, umbrella, garland (of flowers\ ornaments or ragged clothes previously used by another. Never defile a Brahmana, or a fire, or a cow by touching them before washing lyour hands and mouth) after eating. 78.

IVIcmorable Verses :— The general rules of (good) conduct are described above. Health, wealth and longevity never fall to the lot of those who do not follow these rules of conduct. A wise man should take food of such tastes (Rasa) in any particulir season of the year as is antidotal to the bodily Dosha which is naturally aggravated in that season. 79-80.

Rules of drinking water, etc. :— Water