Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna
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The translator’s English as printed (Avinash Chandra Kaviratna). The original-language text is not held; names are romanised as the translator printed them.
* The Homo, is the rite of pouring libations of clarified butter on the sacred fire. It should be performed daily by every good man of the three higher orders, viz., Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, and Vaicyas. By ‘ Vali ’ is meant everything offered or dedicat¬ ed with mantras to the deities. It may consist of both vegetables and flowers or animals. In the case of the latter, they are, of course, slaughtered. The Hindu scriptures, how¬ ever, always discourage the offer of animals to the deities. ‘Japa’ means the silent recitation of sacred mantras, notably the Gayatri which is regarded as the holiest mantra of the Vedas. All disease is regarded as the result of sin. When a Hindu falls sick, he performs the ceremony of expiation, either during the continuance of the illness or after becoming convalescent. An Aksha represents the weight of about a Rupee. ‘Kalkya’ is prepared by grinding dry or fresh vegetable substances on a stone with a muller, and then making a thin paste, with the addition of water when necessary. — T.
t These observations apply to the patient that has been sufficiently purged accord¬ ing to the injunctions laid down in respect of purging. The treatment to be followed should be according to what has been laid down in respect of vomiting or the adminis¬ tration of emetics, and should be continued or persisted in till restoration to perfect health. In pursuing such treatment, however, the physician is required to observe the various particulars mentioned. Patients differ from one another in respect of these, and drugs also, although of the same kind, have differences depending, as said already, on freshness or staleness, ®r manner of use, or quantity, &c. — T.
p. 23
p. 178
CHA HA KA -SA MHITA.
When at last the physician sees that the patient regains his natural strength and complexion and that his mind has become cheerful and that he is living in happiness, indeed, when it is seen that he is digesting easily the food that he takes, when he washes his head, and smears his person with sandal paste and other fragrant unguents, wears garlands of flowers and clean and good vestments, and decks himself with ornaments, the physician should then show him unto his friends and relatives and allow him to con¬ duct himself in any way he likes.*21
Here are certain verses.
It is only a king, or a person that is like a king, or one that is enormously wealthy, that can afford to be treated in the above way for the correction of his faults or disorders.!22 If a poor man finds himself in similar affliction, he should take such purgatives as may be suited to the condition of his affliction, without storing previously such costly and rare articles as have been mentioned before.23 All men cannot be expected to have or com¬ mand all kinds of articles. It is, again, not true that the fiercest diseases do not come upon and afflict the poor.2*1 Whatever, there¬ fore, a person, however indigent his means, is able to accomplish, when overcome by afflictions, in the matter of medicines, he should, to the utmost extent of his power, accomplish in the matter of taking emetics and such diet as may be prescribed for him by the physician.28
By taking these corrective medicines judiciously, which are cleansers of all impurities, which check and cure disorders, and which improve the strength and complexion, one becomes possessed of longevity.28 t The treatment that has been described above is called ‘Sam^odhanam ’ or correc¬ tion. The chief end kept in view, while administering Emetics and Purgatives, is the correction of the faults of wind, bile, and phlegm. Graver disorders, or those due to specific causes, have laid down for them other kinds of treatment. — T.
* ‘Cirasnatah’ means, literally, * with head washed. ’ The sense, however, is that of washing the whole person. A sick person may wash his body only with a wet towel, but in India no one is permitted to wash the head, i.e., the whole body with the head, unless he is perfectly hale. — T.
CHAR A KA-SA MH1TA.
p. 179
Here are some verses containing a summary ..
The manner in which Emetics and Purgatives are to be adminis¬ tered unto great men possessed of vast wealth, the articles that should be stored and the object for which they should be stored, and being stored should be applied or administered, the measure in which Emetics and Purgatives (and other articles) should be applied and the manner of their administration, what the indications are of injudicious administration, of judicious administration, and of exces¬ sive administration, wdiat the faults are and what the evil con¬ sequences are that may follow, what articles should not be used ( for purging and vomiting ) by persons that are regarded as pure, and what the order is in which the corrective medicines should be administered, — all these have been expounded by Punarvasu in this Lesson called Upakalpaniyam.
Thus ends the fifteenth Lesson called Upakalpaniyam in the treatise of Agnive9a as revised by Charaka.
SECTION XVI.
We shall now expound the Lesson on the subject of the skilful Physician. Thus said the illustrious son of Atri.*1
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