Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

* ‘ Sadharanah vidhih ’ is explained as those practices which lead to the strengthen¬ ing of the digestive fire, the improvement of the appetite, the promotion of harmony between wind, bile, and phlegm, and the proper motion of the bowels. It also includes abstention from sleep during the day, from exposing oneself to the rays of the Sun and to cold, from violent exercises, and from sexual congress. ‘ Kshaudra ’ is honey ; here it means some kind of light wine manufactured from honey. — T.

+ ‘Yusha’ is water prepared by boiling pulses in it. It is regarded as nutritive, and is frequently used in making curries, which then become very palatable. Newlygathered barley or wheat or Cali rice is not so easily digestible as when they become a little old. — T.

p. 72

CHA RA I<A -SA M HIT A.

A little dose of honeyed wine, or of Madhwika wine or butter¬ milk largely diluted with water, should (in this season) be taken. Rain water, or water from wells, or that from tanks, neither hot nor cold, should be drunk.30

In this season one should cause his body and limbs to be rubbed and chafed, and cleansed. One should bathe every day and use perfumes and garlands of flowers, and light and clean attire, and pass his time in places that are dry. 31

The bile of men whose bodies are exposed to the cold of the rainy season, and who suffer themselves to be suddenly exposed to the rays of the Sun, becomes stored. This bile, in the season of £arat, becomes injurious.32 Those that desire their own benefit should, therefore, in the season of £arat, take food and drink, agreeably to the proper measure, and that are sweet, light, cool, with (at times) things that are bitter and that check bile.33 After the season of rains has passed away, the food that should be taken should consist of Lavas, Kapinjalas, Enas, Urabhras, £arabhas, £a9as, and £ali rice with barley and wheat.*34 In this season, when the clouds have disappeared, the use of bitter drinks and ghee, and of purgatives, as also the letting of blood and exposure to the Sun’s rays, should be abstained from.36 In this season, these also should be avoided, viz., fat, oil, frost, the flesh of aquatic animals as also of those that live in marshy regions, articles that are saline, and curds, and sleep during the day, and exposure to the east winds.

Warmed by the rays of the Sun during the day, cooled by the rays of the Moon during the night, and by the virtues of the season, exceedingly clear, and its injuriousness dispelled by , the Rishi Agastya (in days of old), the limpid and pure water of £arat is called Hansodaka. For purposes of bathing and drinking and immersing the body, that water is highly applauded, even as heaven’s nectar.37-38

In this season, the use of garlands of such flowers as bloom at that time, and of clean clothes, and exposure to the cool rays of the Moon in the evening, are recommended. 39

‘ Urabhra ’ is sheep. For the rest, in page So.— T.

charaka-samhitA

p. 73

Thus is expounded the opportuneness of practices with the several seasons, and the beneficial kinds of food and drink that form the basis of that opportuneness.

That which produces happiness or yields not torture, in con¬ sequence of the system being inured to it, is known by the name of okasatmya.*i0 They that are conversant with this topic of assimilation (pr suitability of practices to the system), regard that conduct and that food to be suitable which have virtues contrary to those of the place of habitation and of the disorders (to which the system is subject).!41

Here is a Verse containing a summary.

In this Lesson called Tasyapitiya has been shown what should be practised and endured, and what should not, in every successive season, as also what is agreeable with the character of each season, along with the reasons thereof.1

Thus ends the Lesson called Tasyapitiya in the treatise of Agnivepa as revised by Charaka.

LESSON VII.

We shall now expound the lesson on the inadvisability of suppressing the urgings of nature. Thus said the illustrious son of Atri.

One endued with intelligence should not suppress urgings, that have become pronounced, in respect of urine and faeces ; as also of the semen and the wind, and of vomitting and sneezing.1

* Suitable to the system or body. Thus opium and arsenic cease to become injurious with continued use. — T.

+ Certain texts read ‘Doshanam.’ The correct reading, of course, is ‘ Decanam.’ If a country be moist or cold, watery or cooling food would be injurious there. Instead, warm food would be recommended by every physician. Similarly, in a disorder like cough, brought about by exposure to cold, the practice of keeping oneself warm by using warm clothing and warm chambers would be beneficial. — T.

p. 10

p. 74