Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

* These summaries are of great use from the manner of their compilation. Here, for example, some of the words used in the summary throw light upon the corresponding portions of the text to which they refer. First comes Samgraha or the brief classification of diseases into 4 kinds. ( Vide aphorism 2). As regards Prakriti or nature of- diseases, it occurs in aphorism 4. That which has been called Deca here is the Adhisthana of aphorism 5 which has been rendered Substratum. Vikarah are the modifications referred to in aphorism 6. The Mukhani or proximate causes are referred to in aphorisms 7 and 8. The Iranam, called Preranam in the text, is, of course, the original cause. This, and also Anuvandha or co-existence of diseases, and Asandeha or absence of doubt or certitude respecting the characters of diseases though existing together, are referred to in aphorism 9. The seats' of the faults occur in aphorisms numbered 1 1 to 13. Each item in the Summary should be carefully studied by a reference to the text. The arrangement of paragraphs in the text may often be corrected in this way.— T.

+ This Lesson is exceedingly important. It is really regarded as the very basis of the Hindu system of Medicine. Wind, Bile, and Phlegm are the three things that should be carefully understood before Charaka’s system can be understood. Each Science must have its technical terms. In the selection of technical terms, however, care should be taken to avoid words which in common use have other meanings. Unfortunately, the framers of the Hindu system of Medicine did not take this care. The three words they chose had and have other acceptations. Hence, the terms they employed have been very much misunderstood. Wind is not the atmosphere, Bile is not the secretion of the liver hat helps digestion ; and Phlegm is not the secretions that persons afflicted with cold throw out. They are, on the other hand, technical terms that imply certain states of the physical constitution. Certain operations in healthy and unhealthy bodies are attributed to the agency of certain forces in their normal and abnormal states. The belief in the existence of these forces is no more unscientific than the belief in Gravitation as a force residing in solid bodies. Gravitation, apart from the fact of the falling down of solid bodies, is no longer believed. Yet there is a convenience in speaking of Gravitation as a force. After the same manner, certain groups of physical phenomena are ascribed to the existence of certain forces called Wind, Bile, and Phlegm. As forces, one may not know anything more of them than the phenomena they display. Yet in conceiving their existence there can be no error or inconvenience. To say that the Hindu system of Medicine is unscientific in consequence of . its reliance on this trinity of causes with respect to both health and disease, can proceed only from a misapprehension of the true import of the terms employed.— T.

CHa RA KA-SA MHITA. 233

LESSON XXI.

We shall next expound the Lesson called Ashta-ninditiya or that on the eight persons worthy of condemnation.

Thus said the illustrious son of Atri.1

Referring to the body, there are eight persons that are regard¬ ed as worthy of condemnation.

They areas follow: — i. one that is very tall in stature ; 2. one that is very short in stature ; 3. one that is very hairy ; 4. one that is not at all hairy ; 5. one that is very dark (or black) of com¬ plexion ; 6. one that is very white of complexion ; 7. one that is Very corpulent or obese ; and 8. one that is very emaciated Or lean.2

Amongst these, of him that is very corpulent and him that is very lean, there are certain incidents, wanting in the others, that are especially worthy of condemnation.

Of him that is very corpulent are these eight faults, viz., 1. dimi¬ nution of the period of life, 2. (untimely) attack of decrepitude, 3. excessive difficulty of sexual congress, 4. weakness, 5. foetid smell in every part of the body, 6. excessive perspiration, 7. abnormal appetite for food, and 8. abnormal thirst.3

Excessive corpulence arises from taking excessive food, from habitual use of food that is heavy or sweet or cooling or oily, from want of physical exercise, from complete avoidance of sexual congress, from indulgence in sleep during the day, from constant joy, from the complete absence of mental exertion and anxiety, and from the nature of the seed from which one has taken one’s birth.*4

Of the man that is excessively corpulent, the fat' predominates over the other constituent ingredients. Possessed already of much fat, that fat goes on increasing, without the other elements increas¬ ing with it. Hence a diminution takes place in his period of life.