An English Translation of the Sushruta Samhita, Vol. II — trans. Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna (1911)
The text is shown on its own: no facing layer is held for this issue.
The translator’s English as printed (Kunja Lal Bhishagratna). The original-language text is not held; names are romanised as the translator printed them.
Chap. XXXV. J CHIKITSA STHANAM. 595
i (Pdndu), giddiness, delirium, epilepsy, vomiting, Kushtha, Meha, ascites, obe?ity, asthma, cough, dryness of the throat and oedema as well as in respect of a KshataKshina patient and a pregnant woman in (and before) the third or the fourth month of her gestation, in the case of a person suffering from dulness of appetite, impatient and incapable of bearing the least pain as well as in respect of infants, old men and persons emaciated by a bodily distemper other than one due to Vayu 13.
IVIetrical Text:— The Asthdpana-vasti should be exclusively applied in cases of ascites, urinary complaints (Meha), Kushtha and obesity. The application of an Anuvasna-vasti is entirely forbidden in those cases inasmuch as it might make the disease run into an incurable type, and a great amount of lassitude of the organism would be the consequence. 14.
Medicine duly injected (through the rectum) with the help of a Vasti remains in the intestines (Pakvds'aya\ in the region of the pelvis and below the umbilical region. The potency of the Vasti (medicine) spreads over the whole organism from the intestines (Pakvds'aya), just as the potency of the water poured at the root of a tree tends to permeate the whole tree (through its minutest cells and fibres). The liquid part of the Vasti is emitted out through the rectum either by* itself or with the foecal matter, etc.*, but its potency acts over the whole organism through the intervention of the Ap^na and the other V^yus. The potency of the Vasti in the Pakvds'aya acts on the whole organism from top to toe, like the sun in the heavens acting on the humidity (Rasa)
p. 596
of the earth below. The Vasti, if duly applied, tends to eliminate completely from the system all the Doshas (morbific diatheses) accumulated in the regions of the back, waist and the abdomen (Koshtha). 15-A.
* Srikantha Dutta in his commentary quotes this sloka, but he reads there "^^T^" (with Kapha) in the place of "^r^^" (with the fcecal matter, etc.). The reading in the text, however, is preferable inasmuch 9s Kapha is included in Mala.
As the aggravation of all the Doshas (morbific principles) of the body is principally dependent on the derangement of the bodily Vayu ; an aggravated condition of the latter may hence lead to the dissolution of the body, and consequently the application of a Vasti, and nothing else, is the only means of coping with the aggravation of the Vayu (by subduing and restoring it to its normal condition\ just as the sea-coast is the only barrier to the swollen and wind-agitated surf of the sea, A well-applied Vasti contributes to the growth, health, strength and longevity of the body and to the improvement in its complexion. 15.
The different defects of a Vasti :— Now we shall deal with the defects and the evil effects which are consequent upon the wrong and injudicious application of a Vasti. The defects of wrongly handling a Vasti (Pranidhatna-dosha) are six in number, viz., the pipe may shake or revolve ; it may also be pressed sidewise or thrown upwards ; and it may sink down or may be pressed slantingly. Excessive thickness, coarseness, bending down, narrowness, cleavage, nearness or distance of the tying bands (KarnikA\ narrowness or excessive width of its internal aperture, excessive length or extreme shortness are the eleven defects which the pipe of a Vasti (Netra-dosha) may have. The five objectionable features in the bladder (Vasti-dosha) are an excessive flabbinesSj narrowness, width of its internal aperture, leakiness and an imperfect bending at its mouth (neck). Variation in pressures put upon a Vasti (Enema syringe) during i(s application may be attended with any of the
Chap, XXXV.] CHIKITSA STHANAM. 59/
No commentary for this page under the selected tracks.
There is commentary on page 1.