Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

All six taken together, would give one as the number. Thus objects, grouped according to the number of Tastes, come up to three and sixty.*37

These three and sixty kinds would become infinite if the tastes (as they exist in their predominating forms) and those that exist with them in unmanifest forms, be taken into consideration.

Indeed, the Tastes, as they are perceived, again, in degrees, exceed all calculation in respect of number.-)*38

There are seven and fifty kinds of combinations. (With the six original or independent ones), the Tastes are held to be of three and sixty kinds.

In consequence of the fitness of the Tastes in this matter (viz., in that of preventing the hale from contracting diseases and curing disease when it has set in), physicians conversant with the Tastes have thus classified them. J3 8

The physician, desirous of success, after reflecting upon the faults and Jhe drugs required (and place, time, &c.) should some2t As regards sweet alone, there are infinite degrees of sweetness. The second line of Verse 38 may be taken independently, or taking the particle ‘hi’ as equivalent to ‘ since,’ it may be taken as furnishing the reasons of the infinity of Tastes in respect of number, as dependent upon considerations of Tastes existing in their predominating forms with those that exist in their unmanifest forms, those predominating and unmani-' fest forms themselves being dependent on the consideration of degrees. — T.

} The sense is this : medical science would have had nothing to do with the question of Tastes or their classification as dependent on combination, but for the fitness of the tastes in the matter of treatment, of treatment, that is, for strengthing health and curing disease. — T.

times prescribe only one Taste and sometimes Tastes that are combined.*40

Indeed, physicians possessed of wisdom, in respect of the medicines they prescribe, use such objects as consist of two Tastes, &c, as also combined Tastes, or the (six) original Tastes taken separately .f 41

That physician, who is conversant with the varieties of Tastes and their use also with the varieties of manner in which the faults may be excited, is never stupified in ascertaining the causes and symptoms and the means of mitigation or cure of the diverse diseases that afflict mankind.42

That taste which becomes manifest, of a dry or wet object, at the outset or at the end, is called its (true) taste. That taste which becomes perceptible otherwise or in succession is called the subordinate or unmanifest taste. There is, however nothing in such subordinate or unmanifest taste that can exclude it from the six original or independent Tastes, for there is no seventh taste as already explained.^43 3t ‘ Combined tastes ’ here means objects, each having one taste, combined together. The fact is what is, stated in 41 is different from what is stated in 40. What is stated in 40 is that objects each having one taste, or single objects each having more than one taste are prescribed. In 41 it is • said that single objects having two, three, four, &e., tastes, or such admixtures (of objects) as have many tastes, are to be prescribed ; or, it may be, that 40 represents the Rishi’s own opinion, while in 41 he cites the authority fo« his opinion by referring to other physicians. — T.

t This is a difficult Verse. I have rendered it, following Chakrapani. The first ‘cha> implies wet or soaked or dreched ; the second ‘cha’ implies ‘ at the end.’ Literally rendered, the verse, therefore, is this : “of a dry object or (the same when wet), at the outset or (at the end), that taste which is manifest, is (truly) the taste : the taste that isperceptible otherwise is the subordinate taste.” Chakrapani goes on to explain : take Piper longum ; when drenched or soaked in water, its taste is sweet ; when dry, it is Pungent. The latter is its taste ; take dried grapes ; when dry, they are sweet ; when drenched, they are sweet. There being no difference, Sweet is its taste. Take any of the liquids, say, kanjika or sour gruel of vice. That taste which becomes perceptible at the outset is its true taste. That which is perceived afterwards is its subordinate taste. The