Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

‘Vartmaka’ is a circular line. What is said here is that if such lines and circles are seen in one’s eyebrows or on one’s head, and if these be not the result of brushing and combing, one’s death should be regarded as near. — V.

t Gangadhara adopts a different reading. There can be no doubt that it is wrong. Chakrapani supports the reading I have adopted.— T.

t It is difficult to understand what is meant by the adjective ‘pushpitah’ as applied to the teeth. Chakrapani does not explain it. Gangadhara takes it as implying that whiteness of hue which the skin assumes when one is afflicted by vitiligo. Probably, variegated in hue is the sense. — T.

§ ‘Visarpini’ implies ‘hanging out,’ as explained by Gangadhara.— T.

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

p. 903

That man who having breathed long for some time is forced to take short breath and swoons away (or sees darkness around him) should be avoided by the wise physician as one the period of whose life has run out. M

When the period of one’s life runs out, one’s hands, and feet, and cheek-bones, and palate become exceedingly cold, or very hard, or very soft. JS

That patient who frequently presses his knees together, or drawing up his legs stretches them again, and who frequently turns his face, does not live.* 16

That man never recovers from disease who cuts off his nails with his teeth, or who tears off his hair with his nails, or who scratches on the earth with a piece of wood. z7

That man who grinds his teeth in his waking hours, and weeps or laughs without adequate reason, and who does not feel any pain (or exertion) at all this, does not succeed in shaking off his disease. 18

That man who, while ill, laughs and weeps frequently, who strikes his bed with his feet, and who frequently touches the holes in the upper part of his body (such as the holes of the ears and the nose), does not live. 1 9

The physician should predict the death of that person who derives nothing but pain from those things which formerly used to give him pleasure. 20

Of a patient who is about to die, the neck fails to support the head, and the backbone the weight of the upper part of the body, and the jaws the food inserted into the mouth.f 21

In a man who is about to die the following symptoms appear r sudden accession of the heat and pain of fever ; thirst ; swoons loss of strength ; and slackness (dislocation) of joints. 22

That man who is afflicted with fever brought about by vitiated phlegm and characterised by a sensation of slight cold, and upon

* Gangadhara reads ‘vaktram’ in the second line as ‘vakram.’ This is incorrect. Chakrapani reads ‘vaktram. — T.

t Gangadhara reads ‘sahanu’ for ‘na hanu.’ In the first line also, he reads girogribam’’ and ‘prishtham va bharamatmanah.’ These are curious readings. The interpretation also which he gives is curiously wrong. Many of the vernacular translators follow him more or less. The only correction which the verse requires is ‘griba’ for ‘gribam.’ It is a simple verse, and the sense is very plain, — T.

p. 904

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

whose face there is copious perspiration in the early morning succeeds very seldom in shaking off his disease.* * * § 23

When one’s period of life has run out, the following symp¬ toms are observable : food (placed in the mouth) does not reach the throat ; the tongue is withdrawn into the throat ; and the person’s strength disappears, j-24

That man is on the point of death who frequently tosses his head and who frequently contracts his arms and stretches them, upon whose forehead copious perspiration appears, and the joints of whose body become slack. £ 25

Here occurs a verse.

The physician of intelligence should frequently examine the patient with attention for these indications. Some of them, mani¬ festing themselves for a short while, disappear. Not one of these, however, which have been mentioned here, is unproductive of consequences. 26

Thus ends the Eighth Lesson, named Avakgirasiya, in the Division called Indriya, of the treatise of Agniveca as revised by Charaka.

LESSON IX.

We shall now expound the Lesson called ‘ Yasya £yava-nimittiyam’ of the Division called Indriya.

Thus said the illustrious son of Atri.§ 1

* ‘Gosarga’ is early dawn ; the hour when kine are let off from the pen or fold to graze in the fields. Evening is called ‘Godhuli,’ i. e., the hour when the air becomes saturated with the dust raised by the hoofs of kine returning to the fold from the pasture.

‘Lepa’ fever is that which is brought about by vitiated phlegm and in which the patient feels cold as long as the fever lasts. It is characterised by the heaviness of the limbs and copious perspiration also. — T.

t The patient becomes unable to move his tongue and jaws for bearing the food placed in his mouth to the entrance of the throat preparatory to the deglutition. The tongue becomes contracted and almost enters the throat. These are signs of the near approach of death. — T.