An English Translation of the Sushruta Samhita, Vol. III: Uttara-tantra — trans. Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna (1916)

* The eight qualities referred to are ; — (1) Amman or the superhuman power of becoming as small as an atom at will. (2) Laghiman — power of becoming excessively light at will. (3) Vy^pti— expansiveness. (4) Pr£- kiunya—irrisestible will. (5) Mahiman— power of increasing the size at will. (6) Is'itva— greatness. (7) Vas'itva— ^elf-control and (8) IWm$va« skyitk— suppression of passion,

Chap. LX.]

UTTARA-TANTRA.

p. 377

their respective masters. They are the issues of Nairiti’s daughters and their living has been fixed as such by the various Ganas (or groups of gods and demi-gods) as they are always adverse to truthfulness, t\ e . the true performance of the dictates of the £&stra. Those that roam about in quest of evil and mischief in spite of the celestial nature of their own divine essence and temperament have been termed Bhutas (spirits). Hence that branch of medical science which treats of the therapeutics of diseases which originate from the influences of Bhutas (or Grahas) is called the BhutaVidyi 18-20.

General Religious Treatment s— Japas

(mental repetition of a Mantra sacred to any deity), Homas (offering of oblations to the gods) and other religious rites in accordance with the proper rules should be undertaken by a careful physician for their propitiation. Offerings of garlands of red flowers with red scents (such as red Sandal paste, Kumkuma, etc.), seeds (such as mustard, barley, etc.\ honey, clarified butter and all sorts of victuals are the articles required generally for (propitiation of) all classes (of Grahas). 2r.

Specific Religious Treatment smoothes, wine, blood, flesh or milk should be offered to them according to their respective likings*. Offerings to the respective Grahas should be made on the day corresponding to that in which they generally strike their victims. Homas in the fire with the offerings of Kus'a, Svastika, cakes (Pupa), clarified butter, umbrella and Pâyasa (porridge) should be made to the Deva (celestial) Grahas in divine temples. To the Asura Grahas the offering should the made in the yard according to Pallana* Be doe? not seem to read this S'loka.

* This S # loka corresponding to “cloth likings” is only a variant

p. 48

378 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITX. [Chap. LX.

(Chatwara), etc. of a house at the proper time {viz. at evening) ; offerings to the Gandharva Grahas should be made with wine and the soup of J dngala animals in the midst of a gathering ; while those to the Taksha Grahas should be made inside a house with the cakes of boiled Mdsha pulse (Kulmâsha), blood, wine, etc. The Pitri Grahas should be propitiated with the offerings made on Kus'a grass together with Mddhavi and and Kunda flowers on the banks of a river ; offerings to the Rrfkshasa? should be dedicated in dreadful lonely forests or at the crossing of two roads, while to the Piâchas cooked or uncooked flesh should be offered in a lonely chamber. 22.

Medical Treatment In case the prevalent Mantras enjoined to be recited on such occasions (in works on Demonology) are found to be ineffective the following medical measures, should be employed. Skin and hairs of a goat, a bear, a Salyaka (porcupine), or of an owl pasted togotherwith Hingu and goat’s urine and made.into incense sticks, should be burnt before the patient, who would be fumigated with the fumes emitted therefrom. The attack even of a violent Graha would readily yield to it. The drugs known as Gajapippali, Pippali- roots, Tti-katu, Amalaka and Sarshapa , duly soaked in the biles of a lizard, mungoose, cat and bear should be employed as unguents, snuffs and wash by an experienced physician. Dungs of an a s s, horse, mule, owl, camel*, dog, jackal, vulture, crow and boar pasted together with the urine of a she-goat should be duly cooked with an adequate quantity of oil. The oil thus prepared would be beneficial if used (as snuff, etc.) in the preceding manner. 23-25.

* The woid in the text is ‘Karabha’ which man; mean a camel ot an elephant. Dallana explicitly explains the word as a camel.

Chap. IX]

UTTARA-TAâTRA.

3^9