Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

That man unto whom are administered purgatives by a physi¬ cian that is skilled in treatment, that is possessed of learning, conversant with the scriptures, and ready for action, enjoys the happiness of a restoration to health in consequence of the ad¬ ministration being always judicious.2 That man, however, unto whom purgatives are administered by a person that pretends to be a physician and is destitute of learning, suffers much misery through either injudicious or excessive administration.3

Weakness, lightness of the limbs, abatement of pain and the disease, liking for food, proper action of the heart, improvement of the complexion, the appearance of hunger and thirst and of the

* ‘ Prabhritiyam ’ comes from ‘ Prabhriti ’ which means ‘ prabharanam. ’ Hence, by ‘ Chikitsa ’-prabhitih ’ is implied a skilful physician. This Lesson gives certain mis¬ cellaneous matters connected with the skilful physician.— 7’.

p. 180

CHRAKA-SA MHITA,

urgings in respect of both faeces and urine in proper time, the unobstructed action of the understanding, the senses, and the mind, natural or normal action of the wind (within the body), and enhancement of the digestive fire, — these are the symptoms of one that has been properly purged.*4'5

The indications of those that have not been sufficiently purged are constant secretions from the salivary glands, heaviness of the heart or the breast, throwing up of phlegm and bile, flatulence, disgust for food, nausea and vomiting, the absence of weakness, heaviness or the limbs of the whole body, lassitude of the calf and the thighf sleepiness, and sensation of chill pervading the entire body, accession of catarrh, J and abnormal course of the wind."

The indications of an excessive or over administration of purgatives are evacuation, in the first instance, of stools, bile, phlegm, and wind in due order, and then the discharge of blood that looks like liquified fat or broth of meat, and after this, the dis-- charge of pure water without any phlegm or bile being mixed with it, and then blood of a dark blue. The other symptoms are thirst and pain in consequence of the obstruction of wind.7

The symptoms of an over-administration of emetics also are the same. The additional indications are afflictions of the wind and suspension or loss of voice.8

Hence,, in the matter of the administration of purgatives and emetics for purifying or correcting the constitution of its faults, an intelligent man should seek a learned and skilful physician for his help, one, that is, who will bestow upon him both long life and happiness.®

* The weakness here indicated is not the weakness of disease but that which naturally follows copious purging. By ‘ anulomanam ’ of the wind is meant the downward motion of the wind. This is its natural or normal course. It is only when it rises up that it becomes the source of diverse kinds of disease, ‘ Kayagni ’ is the fire that resides in the. body, or the digestive fire. — T.

t ‘ Jangha ’ is literally that part of the leg which is between the knee and the ■sole. ‘ Uru ’ is the upper part, i.e. , from the knee to the hip-joint. — T.

J ‘ Pinasa ’ is inflammation of the Schneiderian membrane. Generally, it stands for all kinds of catarrh. — T,

CHA RAKA- SA MH I TA .

p. 181

Indigestion, disgust for food, obesity, paleness, heaviness of the limbs, langour or sense of weariness, black eruptions on the skin, urticaria evanida, eruptions of diverse kinds on the skin, discontedness, lassitude, fatigue after slight exertion, a foetid smell of the body, cheerlessness, constant throwing up of phlegm and bile, sleepless¬ ness, excessive sleep, loss of virility, drowsiness, loss of understand¬ ing, wild dreams, loss of strength and complexion, are the symp¬ toms of a man in whom faults have accumulated. These are also the symptoms of one that has been regaled with medicines that promote nutrition and obesity. For one labouring under such symptoms are the processes of purification or correction beneficial. Correction, which is of two kinds, viz, Urddhya and Anulomya, to be beneficial, should be administered according to the nature or strength of the faults enumerated above and according to the strength or weakness of the patient.*10'13

The symptoms of one whose stomach has been corrected or purified are the increase of the digestive fire ; alleviation of all diseases, the normal action of all organs ; a happy state of the senses, the mind, and the understanding; a healthy complexion, strength, growth, children and virility. Decrepitude comes over such a man after a long time. Longevity becomes his, and that Jong life is passed in freedom from disease. Hence it is clear that one should, at the proper time, drink the purifying or corrective medicines suited to him and agreeably to sound or judicious advice.14'10

The faults of the system, if subjugated by fasts and Pachanas, may reappear. If subjugated by correctives, they cannot reappear.f 1 7

* ‘ Sancodhanam,’ i.e , the processes of purification or correction described in the