Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

Thus should be known the seven varieties of mind called Pure. Amongst these that which has been called the 1 Brahmya ’ mind is regarded as the Purest in consequence of its perfect (or complete) union with what is good and auspicious.!56

One who. is. brave, and fierce, and incapable of bearing the ;pfbspefity of others, who is endutd with affluence, who is glutton¬ ous in respect of food and drink, who is terrible, who- is bereft of compassion, and who is mindful of only his own self, should be regarded as possessed of a mind like that of an Asura.j5'

One who is incapable of bearing any humiliation, , who. nurses his anger for a long time, who strikes at his foe, taking advantage of his weakness, who is cruel, who is gluttonous, who is excessively fond of animal food, who can sleep and labour for long hours,

*‘Ullapaka’, as explained by Chakiapani, means ‘ hymn^. ’ Hymns in honour of the deities are sung in accompaniment with, or without the aid of instrumental music. To this day, Bhajans (hymns in honour of the deities) constitute the most delightful mus c.

Akhyayika m-ans narratives or stories f aught with moral instruction. The facts may or may not be true

‘ Itihasa ’ means histories or fables. The Puranas are ‘ Itih5sas. ’ The separate mention of ‘Puranas’ seems to imply that ‘ Itihasa’ is used here in the sense of fables.

‘ Puranas, ’ as defined by Rhetoricians, are accounts of fivedistinct sub¬ jects, >i2., i the .reation of the universe or cosmogony ; 2. secondary crea¬ tion, meaning the evolution of beings and races from the individual types first created by the Supreme Lord ; 3. genealogies of great dynasties ; 4. cycles of ages commencing from the different Manus ; and. accounts of dynasties of kings, Rishis and gr at men. There are altogether. 18 principal Puranas, with many subsidiary ones called “ Upaparanas. T.

1- Some texts read 1 Kalyfmftnctwat tat samyogâttu ’ This is > irfcorrect. Chakrapani gives the correct reading, ‘is., Kalykntmcasya samyagfit T.

| 1 Atmapujaka,’ literally implies one who worships his own self ; e., who is always mindful of his own concern0, and never, makes even the slight¬ est sacrifice for others. — T.

7<5o CHARAKA AAMHLTA.

and who is full of malice, should be regarded as possessed of a mind like that of a Ral;shasa.»58

One who has great aversion for toil or exertion, who is hen¬ pecked, Vho is fond of passing his time in places of retirement in the company of females, who is impure (in body and mind), who feels an aversion for those that are pure (in body and mind), who takes a pleasure in frightening timid people (but takes care to avoid’ the braVe), and who indulges in abnormal food and drink and sports, should be known as possessed of a mind like that of a Picacha.f59

One who is wrathful, who is malicious, who is endued with courage, who seldom yields to fear, who is fierce, who is capable of much toil, who is capable of readily understanding. the secret counsels of others, and who is excessively addicted to food and sports, should be known, as possessed of a mind like that of Snakes.}8'

* ‘ Cchidra-praharh ’ is one who strikes at his: fee, taking the latter at a disadvantage. ‘ Cchidra ’ is, literally, a hole. There are many passages in the Hindu scriptures, particularly the Mahabharata, which deprecate the striking at a foe, taking him at a disadvantage. Thus a Foe who is on foot should never be attacked by one who is on a car, a horse, or an ele¬ phant. A foe who has not his coat of mail on his body should not be attacked by one who is equipt in mail. Or, a foe on a car whose steeds have become unmanagable, should not be attacked by one who is on a car with managable steeds. A foe that is afraid, or is flying away, or tha has no longer, any offensive and defensive , weapons, or that is asleep, or that is engaged in saying his prayers or cooking his food, or that has fasted, &c„ should never be attacked. The code of chivalry that prevailed arilong the warriors of ancient India would . compare favourably with the code of chivalry in modern Europe.— T. ■ ■ t The qualities enumerated here . would best explain who and what i^a Pic5cha. Picachas are an order of evil spirits of inferior power, given up to every kind of revolting practices and bereft of everything that is noble or good. They are supposed to haunt crematoria and grave-yards an 1 other repulsive spots. — T.

% ‘Kruddham Kruram & c. ’ is the correct reading. Some editions om t ‘Kruddham.’ The fact is, the qualities mentioned here all belong to the poisonous snakes of India. They are wrathful and malicious to a degree. When they once erect their distended hoods for assailing one whom they, take for a foe, they know not what it is to fear. — T. i.

CHARAKA SAMHITA >6r