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.
* In aphorism 54, the origin of the Tastes is explained. That origin, the Rishi ex¬ pounds, is due to the specialities of insufficiency and preponderance in respect of the five primal elements* even as specialities or diversity of color and form arise in material objects from the same reason, for all material objects, though composed of the five primal elements, contain those elements in diverse proportions. In 55, the Rishi explains that Time, though apparently uniform, has yet six seasons which are different from one an¬ other. In consequence of this diversity of seasons, in the case of Time also, diversities arise in material objects, for in Hemanta the attributes of Soma preponderate ; in Winter, the attributes of Wind and Ether preponderate ; &c. — T.
t The Pungent taste, for example, has Fire and Wind for its soul or cause. Wind is light and mobile. It has a tendency to rise upwards. Fire also has an upward course. Hence, all articles with the pungent taste are calculated to act on the upper parts of the
CHA RA KA-SA MU I TA .
p. 309
We shall, after this, expound the attributes and actions, accord¬ ing to the substances, of the six Tastes one by one.
Among them, the Taste that is Sweet, in consequence of its being well-adapted to the body, increases the juices, blood, flesh, fat, bones, marrow, Ojas, and vital seed.
It contributes to the health and cheerfulness of the six senses {viz., the five organs and the mind).
It improves strength and complexion.
It destroys (excited) bile, poisons, and (excited) wind.
It is beneficial to the skin, the hair, and the voice.
It contributes to cheerfulness in general.
It prolongs life, is sedative and nutrive, oilifies the system (by destroying its dryness), makes the system consistent, promotes the strength of weakened parts, and unites fractured limbs.
It contributes to the strength and cheerfulness of the organ of scent, mouth, throat, lips, and palate.
It alleviates burning sensation (of the skin) and swoons.
It is exceedingly liked by bees and ants.
It is oily, cool, and heavy.57
This Taste {viz., Sweet), though possessed of these attributes, yet if used exclusively (and largely), generates corpulency, softness of the body, idleness or aversion to labour, excessive sleep, heavi¬ ness (of the limbs and the whole body), disgust for food, weakness of the digestive fire, increase of the flesh of the mouth and throat asthma, consumption, catarrh or cold in nose and mouth, Tympanites, Fevers in which the cold stage predominates, Epistasis or suppresbody, and hence are used as remedies in affections of phlegm. So the Saline-astringent, having Water and Earth for its soul, acts on the lower parts of the body and is used as a remedy in affections of the abdomen. — T ,p. 310 charakasamhitA.
sion of urine, constant sensation of sweetness in the mouth, cons¬ tant vomiting, loss of consciousness and of the voice, Bronchocele, enlargement of the lymphatic glands, elephantaisis, swellings in the throat, phlegmonous plasters in the rectum, nerves, and anus, diseases of the eye, catarrhal discharges from'the nose, and such other diseases as are born of (the excitement of) the Phlegm.58
The Sour Taste adds relish to food ; excites the digestive fire ; gives nutrition to the body ; weakens objects by entering into them, enlivens the mind ; invigorates the senses ; increases the strength ; makes the wind flow in its natural course ; cools and gratifies the heart ; causes the mouth to be filled with saliva; assists at deglutition ; generates impurities in the body ; and contributes to general cheerfulness.
It is light, warm, and oily.59
Though possessed of such attributes, yet if used exclusively and largely, it produces tenderness of the teeth and a sensation of fulness even when nothinghas been eaten; causes the eyes to be closed and the hair on the body to stand erect ; melts thick phlegm (and gradually liquifies it) ; enhances the bile ; corrupts the blood, burns the skin : relaxes the body ; causes swellings and inflammations to arise in persons that are weak or wounded or emaciated or weaken¬ ed ; restores the soundness of such parts as have sores, or as have been struck or bitten or burnt or fractured, or as have been torn in consequence of one having been rescued from impalement, or as have been cauterised by the urine of some poisonous animal, or as have been touched (as by a leech or with the nails or teeth of some poisoned creature), or as have been bruised or cut or pierced or crushed ; and in consequence of its nature being fiery, it burns the throat, the thoracic region, and the heart.60
The Saline Taste digests (the bad humours), generates im¬ purities, promotes the appetite, expels stools, cuts away and re¬ moves by force (adherent phlegm and other humours), and purges the intestines after making the stools watery.
CH A RAKA-SAM H ITA.
p. 311
It is keen, and operates as a purgative. It cuts away and removes.
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