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.
All those diseases that are curable but that cannot be cured by the application of cool, hot, oily, and dry methods of treatment, should be ascribed to diseased blood as their cause.16
In diseases caused by vitiated blood, such treatment should be adopted as is destructive of the faults of blood and the bile. Hence, the administration of purgatives, fasts, and blood-letting, should be resorted to.1T
In letting out blood, the operation should be resorted to after examination of the measure of the patient’s strength, faults, and the pure blood he has in his body, as also of the particular part whence the blood is to be let out.18
When the blood is vitiated by the action of the wind, it be¬ comes very red, frothy, not unctious, and thin. If vitiated by bile, it becomes darkish-yellow in color, and warm, so that in con¬ sequence of its warmth it does not congeal soon.19
* Charmadala has been described as eruptions that are red, painful, itching, with little abscesses that burst of themselves. The inflammation is so great that the sTghest touch cannot be borne. — T.
p. 260
CHARAKA SAMIIITA.
If vitiated by the action of phlegm, it becomes a little pale unctious, fibrous, and thick. If the indications of any two are presented in a combined state, the vitiation should be ascribed to the action of two faults. If all the indications are present, the vitiation is to be ascribed to the action of all the three faults.20
The blood that happens to be of the color of molten gold, or like that of the insects called Indragopa, or like that of the gem called Padmaraga, or like that of the lac-dye, or like that of Gunja seeds, should be known as healthy.+21t
When blood has been let out, such food and such drink as are neither very hot nor very cold, and as are light and capable of provoking the digestive fire, are beneficial, for at such a time the blood that remains in the body becomes very mobile. The diges¬ tive fire also should be carefully kept up.22{
The blood of that man is said to be pure whose complexion and senses are healthy and cheerful, who experiences a desire for the gratification of every sense, the strength of whose digestive fire is unimpaired, and who is endued with cheerfulness, growth, and strength.23
When the faults (viz., wind, bile, and phlegm), becoming ex¬ cited, either separately or together, continue to exist, affecting the blood-bearing ducts and those other ducts that bear the different juices and are the channels of mental activity, of the person who takes foul food and whose mind is overwhelmed by Passion and Darkness, diseases become generated, such as insanity, fainting or swoon, and apoplexy. The intelligent physician should know that the strength of these diseases, in respect of their predisposing causes.
j- ‘Indragopa’ is an insect of the Coccinella species. The Gunja is otherwise called ICuncha. It is the fruit or seed of the Abrns precatorius , Linn.
£ ‘Tada’ implies after the letting of blood. ‘Anavastliitasrik’ . is an adjective of foariram,’ implying that the blood that is in the bpdy is mobile. Hence, if food on drink that is very hot be taken, the mobile blood will become more mobile to the injury, of the’body. If food or drink that is very cold be taken, the mobile blood may become congealed or at least lose all motion. The digestive fire also, at such a time, becomes weak, Hence, food that is light and that helps the fire should be taken. — T.
GMaRaKA-SA HIM it a.
5s61 symptoms, and cure, increases in accordance with the order in which they are stated.*24-25
When the wind (becoming excited) afflicts the weakened heart, it agitates the mind of the living creature and darkens (or stupifies) his perception.2 7t
The (excited) bile, and the (excited) phlegm also, agitating the minds of men in the same way, darken the perception. There is some difference, however, in respect of their action which shall be presently explained.28 J
That person, whose speech becomes indistinct, copious in measure, and quick (in respect of utterance, )*an cl whose efforts or exertions become inconstant and unsteady, and whose appearance becomes dry and brown-red, should be taken as afflicted by Insani¬ ty due to the action of the (excited) wind.29
That person, who becomes wrathful, who indulges in harsh speech, who becomes disposed to strike others, and fond of quarrel,
* ‘Rasa-samjnavahani’ is explained, as bearing Rasa or the liquid juice to which food is reduced before conversion into blood. ‘Samjna’ is Mind as understood in Hindu philosophy, viz., as the sixth sense, which, with the other five, is the servant of the Understanding. Certain ducts are believed to be the channels of mental activity, the optic nerve, for example, that carries the image (of an object seen) to the mind.
‘Malah’ or the faults are, of course, wind, bile, and phlegm.
All diseases are due to the action of Passion and Darkness. Unless these over¬ whelm the understanding, there can be no error, and consequently, no breach of the rules of health.
‘Murchcchaya’ is, of course, fainting or swoon, including the swoons brought about by epilepsy.
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