Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

The patient should be rubbed with oil and then made to lie down on .the bed thus prepared within the chamber. He may, by this process, be easily subjected to the process of Swedana known by the name of Kuti-swedana.47

The procedure that has been laid down in the case of Agmaghana-sweda {vide 45) is the same for what is called Bhu-sweda. A spacious ground, perfectly level and unexposed to the wind, should be selected for the purpose.48

Take a jar. Fill it with the decoction of such drugs as are des¬ tructive of the wind. The jar should then be implanted into the earth ‘to half or three-fourths of its height. Upon its mouth should a bedstead or seat be placed. The bed or the bedstead or the povering of such seat should not be thick. Into the jar containing the decoction should then be thrown heated balls, of iron or heated pieces of stone. The patient, after having been properly rubbed with such oils as are destructive of the wind and covered with warm cloth, should be made to lie down or sit upon the bed or seat placed above the rpouth of the jar. In this way may he easily be subjected to the process of Swedana called Kumbhi-swedana.40

A pit or hole should be dug. Its length should be of the measure of an ordinary bed ( about 5 feet). Its depth should be twice jts length. The spot selected for the pit should not be exposed to the air and should be sufficiently wide. The sides and bottom of fhe pit should be smooth and level. The pit should then be filled up with the dried dung of the dlephant, the horse, the cow, the ass, mule, and the camel. . The' contents should then be set on fire. After the contents have burnt off and become a smokeless fire, a bed¬ stead should be placed upon the pit. A good bed should be placed upon the stead. The patient should, as usual, be rubbetl with oil and then properly covered. He should then be made to lie upon the bed thus made. By this he may be easily subjected to the process of Swedana called Kupa-swedana.*50

*' 1 Cayana-vistaram ’ means of the length of an usual bed. * Vedhatah ’ is by depth. * Avachcchahnah ! ( or, as some texts read, ‘ Swavachcchannah ’ ) means well’ povered. This has reference to the body of the patient. ‘ Susamstirna ’ means ‘ proper¬ ty laid oyer with a becl ’ — T.

CHA RAKA -SA M HIT A.

p. 165

Make' a circular or round heap of the dried dung of the animals spoken of above ( z<zfe., fElephftnt, Horse, Cow, Ass or Mule, ’and Camel). Set fire to the heap. When the heap has been burnt off and reduced to a smokeless fire, a bed of proper dimensions should be spread upon a bed-stead placed upon the heated heap of burnt off dung. The patient should be first rubbed well with such oijs as are destructive of the wind, and should be carefully covered with vyarm cloth. He should then be made to lie down on the bed so made. He may then be subjected to the pleasant process, of Swedana called Holaka. These are the three and ten kinds of Sweda spoken of by the Hishi, all depending upon the virtue of fire.^t

Physical exercise, the shelter of a warm chamber, the wearing of thick and worm clothing, hunger, copious drinking, Tear, anger, plasters Or ungufents, bottle and sunshine, — dhese ten, without the action of fire, serye the purposes of Swedana.83

Thus have been expounded the two kinds of Swedana, viz.y that which depends upon the action of fire and that which does not" depend upon it. Sweda that is to be applied to a particular part of the body and that which is applied to the whole body have also been indicated. , Oily and dry Sweda have also been described. On the subject of Sweda, therefore, these three couples, or pairs have been spoken of, Abstaining from Sweda after the benefit expected from it has arisen, one should ruh oneself with oil and then seek to eat the proper food. One who has been subjected to Sweda should abstain for that day from every kind of work requiring physical exertion.^53

* ‘ Dhitika ’ is explained by Chakrapanidatta as ‘ Gushka-gomayadi-kritah Agnyayfayah, ' i.e., a platform of dried dung. — T.