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

this kind of light sleep, or in the i)roliminary stage of sleep, the sense organs- are overpowered and remain only partially cognisant of their respective objects and all (subjective and objective) symptoms of a sleepy person such as, yawning, sense off atigue and heaviness ol the limbs, present themselves in succession ; these are the special features of Tandra. One (prolonged) inhaling of the air through a widely open mouth and subsequent exhaling with the contraction of the limbs and tearful eyes are (all together) called Jrimbha or yawning.

A sense of fatigue without any physical labour which comes upon a person unaccompanied by hurried respiration is called Klama. It obstructs the proper functions of the senses as also the workings of the active organs.* An inordinate love of pleasure and a great aversion to pain, attended with an apath}' to all sorts of

* Hand, leg, anus, and generative organ etc.

Chap, IV.] SARIRA STHANAM. 1 53

work even with the capacity of carrying them through is called Alasyam (laziness) Nausea, without vomiting of invested food, attended with salivation and formation of sputum, and cardiac distress are the symptoms of Utklesham. A sweet taste in the mouth, drowsiness, a beating pain in the heart, dizziness, and non-relish for food are the signs of Glaiii (languor). A feeling as if the whole body were wrapped in a wet sheet, accompanied by an extreme heaviness of the heart, is called Gauravam. 44- 50Loss of consciousness (Murchchaj is due to an excess of the deranged Pittam. and to the quality of the Tamas ; vertigo (Bhrama) is due to an aggravated state of the V^yu, Pittam, and to the quality of tne Rajas; drowsiness (Taudra) is due to a similar condition of the V^yu, Kapham and to the quality of the Tamas ; while sleep (Nidra; is produced by the predominance of Kapham and to the quality of the Tamas in the organism. 51.

The growth of a foetus in the womb is effected by the serum (Rasa) prepared out of the food (assimilated by its mother) incarcerated by the Vayu in the internal passage of its body. 52.

IVlemorable Verses :— Be it clearly understood that there exists fire or heat(Jyoti) in the umbilical region of the foetus which is fanned by its bodily Vayu and thus contributes to the growth of its body. The same Vayu in combination with the heat (thus generated), expands the upward, downward, and lateral channels (in the body of the embryo) and thus leads to the growth of the foetus. The eyes (Dristi— aperture of sight) and the hair-follicles of a man do not

* lo the text we find the word "Indriya" which refers to both Jnanendriya (sensory functions) and Karmendriya (motor functions) of the body.

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1.54 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. IV.

participate at all (in the general expansion of the body). This is a law of nature, and is the opinion of Dhanvantari. On the other hand the growth of hair and finger nails continue even when the body enters the stage of decay. This also is a law of nature. 53-56.

The Temperaments :— The temperaments (Prakriti) of persons may be of seyen different types, according as the deranged Doshas of the body are involved therein, either severally, or in combination of two or of all the three together. The temperament (Prakriti) of a man is determined by the preponderance of the particular Doshas at the time of his generation (actual combination of the semen and ovum) and is marked by that preponderant Dosha. The characteristics of the different Prakritis are now described. 57-58.

Vataja-Temperament :— A man of VdHkatemparamciit is wakeful, averse to bathing and cold contact, unshapely, thievish, vain, dishonest and fond of music ; the soles of his feet, and the palms of his hands are much fissured ; has often a rough and grisly beard and moustache, finger nails and hairs in him ; he is hot-tempered and is given to biting his finger nails and grinding his teeth (when asleep). Morally he is impulsive, unsteady in his friendship, ungrateful, lean, and rough ; his body is marked with a large number of prominent veins (Dhamani) ; he is incoherent in his habit and vacillating in his temper. He is a fast walker and dreams of scaling the skies in his sleep. His eyes are always moving. His mind is never steady. He makes few friends, is capable of accumulating very little money and talks incoherently. The traits of his character etc, seem to resemble those of a goat, jackal, hare, mouse, camel, dog, vulture, crow, and of an ass. 59-60.

Chap. IV.] SARIRA STHANAM. 1 55