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

p. 526

This preparation would give a favourable turn to one's fortune, impart a lotus-like bloom (to the cheeks) with perpetual youtli, unparalleled intellectual faculties and a life that would cover a period of three centuries of song and sunshine. This elixir or Rasayana covers within its therapeutic range such affections of the body as cutaneous diseases (Kushtha\ chronic fever, epilepsy, insanity, and the diseases due lo the effect of poisons and to the evil influences of ghosts and malignant spirits, as well as of all other dangerous diseases. 6.

Vacha Rasayana:— A paste of white Vachai to the size of an Amalaka should be taken with (an adequate quantity of) milk, after consecrating it (in the proper manner). The medicine should be taken after cleansing the system (with emetics and purgatives, etc.) and after entering the Agara (room). After the medicine had been digested, a meal of boiled rice with milk and clarified butter should be partaken of. A continuous use of this elixir for twelve days improves the power of hearing. It increases the power of memory if taken for the next twelve days. It enables the user to remember a hundred words at a time by a thrice repetition of the same (i.e., by taking it for a period of thirty-six days). A repetition of a twelve days' {i.e., forty-eight days) use of the medicine leads to the expiation of all sins ; it imparts a keenness of sight like that of Garuda and enables the user to witness a hundred summers on earth, A decoction prepared with two Pala weight of any other species of Vachai should be taken with milk.* The benefits which would result from its use and the rules of diet and conduct to be

p. 527

observed (during its course) are identical with those of the preceding one. 7.

* According to Dallana, this preparation of Vacha should be pre* pared by boiling it in the manner of Kshira-pika Vidhi.

^ata-paka Vacha-Ghrita :— Clarified butter should be cooked a hundred times in succession with an adequate quantity of Vachai. The use of a Drona measure of this medicated Ghrita (taken every day in an adequate dose) extends the earthly career of its user to five centuries, and proves beneficial in cases of scrofula, goitre, elephantiasis and hoarseness. 8.

Measures for prolonging life— lYI. T. :

— Now we shall discourse on life-prolonging measures and remedies. The powders of Vilva (roots) should be consecrated a thousand times with I'^ilva flowers by reciting the SreeSukta (as mentioned in the RigVeda), They should then be mixed with (powdered) gold, honey and clarified butter (in the form of an electuary), and licked every morning. It is thus a combination of medicine and Mantra, and, if used continuously for a year, would remove all inauspicious features (boih of the body and of the mind). 9-10.

Every morning after a bath, a man should offer ten thousand oblations in fire and take the powders and decoction of the roots and bark of the Vilva with milk in a spirit of self-control, whereby he would be able to acquire longevity. This remedy should be considered as a good Rasdyana. Similarly a decoction of Mrinaila mixed with hone\' and fried paddy and duly consecrated a hundred thousand times with oblations in fire would be considered an infallible Rasdyana. 11-12.

The use (of a compound consisting of gold, Padmareed, PriyangU and fried paddy mixed with honey and taken in 'an adequate quantity of) cow's milk gives a favourable turn to one's fortune. A potion of milk cooked with the decoction of the petals (Dala)

528 THE SUSHRUTA SAMIIITA. [<"hap, XXVIII.

of Nilotpala (in the manner of Kshira-p^ka Vidhi) and mixed with gold and sesamum seeds, is attended with similar results. 13-14.

Cow's milk with gold, wax and Makshika (honey), if (regularly) taken after having performed a Homa ceremony a hundred thousand times, should be considered the best RasAyana. The use of the pulverised compound of the three things viz., Vachd, gold and Vilva, if taken with clarified butter, tends to improve the health, memory, intellectual powers and physical growth. It increases the duration of one's life and brings good luck in its train. 15-16.

A (medicated) oil prepared by duly cooking it with the decoction of a Tula weight of Vdsd-xooii^ should be taken by a man after having performed a Homa ceremony with a thousand libations for the expansion of his intellectual faculty and the increase of the duration of his life on earth A TulA weight of barley grains should be powdered. The preparations of this barley powder (gradually; taken with honey and powdered PippaliincvQduSts one's capacity for study. 17-18.

The use of pulverised Amalaka and gold with honey imparts vitality to a dying man. A regular use of the Sataivari-ghrita mixed with honey and pulverised gold enables a man to subjugate even his king. A compound consisting of Go-chandand, Mohanikd, honey and gold should be taken by a man wishing a good turn to his destiny 19-21.