Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

* Kalasa is a measure representing 16 seers. Wilson gives it as the equi¬ valent of an Adhaka or Drona. In Medicine, wherever, kalasa occurs as a word significant of measure, it is taken as equivalent to 16 seers. Ordinarily, the word means an earthen jar of a well-known size. That size is such as to contain about 16 seers.

The earthen jars recommended for use should be strongly made, that is, well-baked. They should, besides, be such as have sucked a goodly quantity of oil. Such jars prove more durable. — T.

a. Otherwise called Devadaru ; Cedrus deodara ; syn. Pinus deodara, Roxb.

b. Pinus longifolia, Roxb.

f The oil of the fruits of Cedrus deodara and Pinus longifolia,. should first be obtained according to the process described in the previous aphorism. It should then be mixed with Vidanga grains, and a sufficient dose thereof should be given to the patient. After this, if the physician likes, enemata may be administered with the same oil only, not using Vidanga grains in it— .T 69

p. 542

CHAR A KA-SA MHITA.

Then the physician should address the patient ( or his friends ), saying, — Collect these articles, viz.y new autumnal sesame seeds of a rich kind.*

Having brought such seeds, they should be husked till every grain becomes huskless.

They should next be washed till they become very clean.

Casting them next into the decoction of Vidanga . ( Embelia Ribes ) while tolerably hot, they should be allowed to cool till they become very cool.

This process should be repeated till the sesame seeds become perfectly faultless.f

Ascertaining that they have become faultless, those amongst them that are broken or that have burst, should then be thrown away.

They should once again be husked till every grain has become huskless, and washed till every grain has been thoroughly washed and become purified.

The purified grains should next be macerated for thrice seven times and exposed to the sun ( as often ) till the process of maceration has been thorough.

They should then be pounded on a mortar, and next reduced to finer powder on a flat stone ( with the aid of a muller).

They should next be thrown into a flat-mouthed earthen vessel and repeatedly sprinkled over with the decoction of Vidanga ( Embelia Ribes ).

Taking them up they should then be pressed with the hands ( for squeezing out their oil ).

* I. e., well developed. — T.

4 What the indications are of the seeds becoming perfectly faultless, are not given here. Perhaps, what is intended is that the seeds should all be thoroughly soaked in the decoction and assume a certain softness and clear appearance. Chakrapani thinks that nothing particular is meant beyond a thorough cleansing, & c. — T.

CHA RAKA-SAMHITA.

p. 543

The oil that would come out in course of such squeezing with, the hands, should be taken up and kept in a clean and strong earthen jar unexposed to the wind.

Then, again, the physician should ask the patient (and his friends) to collect the following articles, viz., two balls, each of the measure of a Vilwa ,* of Tilwaka (a), and Uddalaka (b) pounded into a fine paste with the aid of the decoction of Vidanga ( Embelia Ribes), and two balls, each of half the measure (of a Vilwa), of £yama (c) and Trivit (d), and two balls, each of half the measure (of half a Vilwa ) of Danti ( e ) and Dravanti (f), and two balls, each of half the measure of the previous ones, of Chavya ( g ) and Chitraka ( h ).

These articles should be mixed with the decoction of Vidanga, of the measure of half an Adhaka.

Then a prastha\ of the oil should be taken and throwing it in a large pan, the paste (spoken of ) should be stirred in it with the aid of a fire, the physician sitting at his ease on a goodly seat. He should cast his eyes on every part of the surface, and continue to boil the oil on a gentle fire, and stir it with a wooden ladle.

When the physician ascertains that all sound has ceased, that the froth has disappeared, that the oil has become perfectly still, that the proper scent, colour, and taste have appeared, and that the medicine, when taken up with two fingers, seems to have be-

* Vilwa is of the measure of a Pala as explained by Chakrapani. A pal a is equivalent to 3 tolahs, 2 mashas, and 8 ratis.

Gangadhara says that each ball should be of the measure of a Pala ; hence, the two balls should together be of the weight of 2 palas.

a. Otherwise called Lodhra. Symplocos racemosa ; Roxb.

b. Called also Selu and Bahubara. Cordia Myxa, Linn , c. This is Trivrit having dark roots. (See d below), d. Ipomcea Turpethum. That variety which has red roots is implied by it.

e. Baliospermum montanum ; syn. Cretan polyandrum, Roxb.

/. Anthericum tuberosum.

g. Piper chaba ; syn. Chavica officinarum.

h. Plumbago zeylanica, Linn.

t A prastha is 4 kudavas or 48 double handfuls.

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charaka-samhitA.

come neither very soft nor very hard, and, further, that it does not adhere to the fingers, he should then understand that the time has come for taking down the pan.