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

Chap. VI.] SARIRA STHANAM. 1 77

in the event of their being hurt, instead of bringing on death. The Rujakara Marmas of fiery and Vataja properties become extremely painful inasmuch as both of them are pain-generating in their properties. Others, on the contrary, hold the pain to be the result of the properties of the five material components of the body (Pancha-bhautikaV 23.

Different Opinions on the Marmas: —

Some assert that Marmas, which are the firm union of the five bodily factors (of veins, ligaments, muscles, bones and joints), belong to the first group (Sadya-Pranahara) ; that those, which form the junction of four such, or in which there is one in smaller quantity, will prove fatal in the long run, in the event of their being hurt or injured (Kalintara-Pranahara).* Those, which are the junction of three such factors, belong to the Vis'alya-Pranaharai* group ; those of the two belong to the Vaikalyakara ^

* The Marmas, such as Stana-mula, Apalapa, Apastambha, Simanta, Katika-Taruna, Parsva-Sandhi, Vrihati, and Nitamva belonging to the Kalantara-maraka group, are devoid of Mansa (muscles) ; and the 'Marmas' known as Stanarohita, Talahridaya, Kshipra, and Indravasti, belonging to the same class, are devoid of Asthi (bones\

^ The Ulkshepa marma, belonging to the Vis'alyapianahara group, is devoid of Mansa (muscles) and Sandhi (joint).

J The Sthapani- Marma, belonging to the Vaikalyakara class, is devoid of Mansa (muscle), S'ira and Snayu ; the Lohitaksha-marma (of the same group) is devoid of Snayu, Sandhi and Asthi (bones) ; the Janu-marma (of the same group) is devoid of Mansa, S'ira and Snayu: the Urvi-marma (of the said group) is devoid of Asthi, Mansa and Snayu ; the Vitapa-marma (of the same class) is devoid of Mansa, Sira and Asthi ; the Kurpara-marma (of the same class) is devoid of Mansa, S'ira, and Snayu ; the Kukundara-marma (of the same class) is devoid of Mansa, S'ira and Sandhi ; the Kakshadhara-marma (of the same class) is devoid of S'ira, Asthi, and Sandhi ; the Vidhura-marma (of the said group) is devoid of Mansa, Sira and Sandhi ; the Krikatika-marma is devoid of Mansa, S'ira, dnd Sandhi; the Ansa-marma (of the same group) is devoid of Mansa, Snayu and Sandhi ; the Anba-phalaka-marmap. 178 group ; and those in which only one of them exists belongs to the last or pain-generating type (Rujdkara)*

But the fore going theory is not a sound one, inasmuch as blood is found to exude from an injured joint which would be an impossibility in the absence of any vein, ligament (Snayu) and muscle being intimately connected with it. Hence every Marma should be understood as a junction or meeting place of the five organic principles of ligaments, veins, muscles, bones and joints. 24-25.

IVIetrical text:— This is further corroborated by the fact that the four classes of Sird. or vessels (which respectively carry the Vdyu, Pitta, Kapha and the blood) are found to enter into the Marmas for the purpose of keeping or maintaining the moisture of the local ligaments (Snayu), bones, muscles and joints and thus sustain the organism.f The Vayu, aggravated by an injury to a Marma, blocks up (those four classes of vessels) in their entire course throughout the organism and gives rise to great pain which extends all over the body. All the internal mechanism of a man (of which a Marma has been pierced into with a shaft or with any other piercing matter) becomes extremely painful, and seems as if it were being constantly shaken or jerked, and symptoms of syncope are found to set in. Hence a careful examination of the affected Marma should

(of the said group) is devoid of Mansa, Snayu and Sandhi ; the Nila, Manya and Phana Marmas (of the same group) are devoid of Mansa, Sandhi and Asthi ; the Avarta-marma is devoid of S'ita, Sniyu and Mansa; the Apanga-marma (of the said class) is devoid of Mansa, Snayu and Sandhi.

* The Gulpha, Manibandha, and Kurchcha-s'ira Marmas, belonging to the Rujakara group, are devoid of Mansa, S'ira, Snayu and Asthi, i.e. Sandhi alone is present in these.

t Hence the piercing of a bone is attended with bleeding.

Chap. VI.] SARIRA STHANAM, 1 79

precede all the foregoing acts of extricating a Salya from its inside. From that similar aggravated conditions and actions of the Pitta and the Kapha should be presumed in the event of a Marma being any way injured or pierced into. 26 — 29.