Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

Medicines (in such cases) fail to reach the disease and do not become suitable. Those which are administered do not succeed in showing their potency (or puissance). SS

Many fierce diseases, of diverse natures, and having various medicines laid doivn for them, quickly arise (in the case of those whose death is near and certain), overcoming both strength and ojasi as also hearing, touch, taste, sight, smell, exertions, and (cheerful) thoughts. 56

In course of the treatment of such diseases (as end in death), various inauspicious signs manifest themselves. Terrible dreams are seen. Various supervening symptoms, of a disturbing and frightful character, manifest themselves. 57

Servants become disobedient and act against the wishes of their master (lying ill). The appearances of a corpse show themselves in the patient His normal character and disposition become exceed¬ ingly altered. 58

Sudder? and terrible symptoms of death become noticeable.

Even these are the signs of men whose death is near. 59 The physician, even if he marks these symptoms of death which have been laid down (in the above verses) agreeably to medical scrip¬ tures and in accordance with the purpose in view, should never, unasked, say that death is near.

Even when asked, he should not say so when his declaration Is

* What is stated in the first sentence is this : a contrariety of conditions becomes notice¬ able in a dying man. Such parts of the body as remain cool in health become hot when death approaches, and such as are hot, become cool ; such as are soft, become hard ; and such as are hard, become soft. This change of condition occurs in ‘garira-dega’, that is, particular parts of the body.

In the second sentence, it is said that the same change of conditions is noticed in ‘anyeshu sthaneshu’, i. e., ‘in other places’; what are those other places which do not fall within ‘garira-dega ?’ Chalcrapani takes ‘ garira-dega’ as implying generally those parts of the body which have the attributes of coolnes and heat, softness and hardness, &c. ; while ‘anyeshu sthaneshu’ is taken by him to mean those other parts which have attributes other than cool¬ ness and heat, softness and hardness, &c. Hence, according to him, the changes implied in the second sentence refer to those of another class of attributes, such as oiliness and dryness, &c. — T.

p. 924

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

capable of producing injury, that is, when the patient himself or any¬ body else is likely to suffer pain or torture in consequence.

Without telling him that his death is near, the intelligent physi¬ cian should simply decline to take up the treatment of that patient in whom signs of death may become noticeable. 60-63

When the physician, guided by (his observation of) messengers, inauspicious incidents occurring on his way (to the patient’s house), similar incidents connected with the patient’s family, the conduct and disposition of the patient, and . the signs connected with the possessions of the patient, sees symptoms which are the reverse of those that are called death-indicating, he should declare the certain recovery of the patient be to at hand.*' 64-6s

A messenger who is of good behaviour, who is cheerful, who is not defective of any limb, who is endued with fame, who is dressed . In white garments, whose head is not shaved, who does not bear mat¬ ted locks, whose dress and acts correspond with his caste, who is not mounted on a camel or a mule, who does not come at any of the twilights (viz., morning or evening), who does not come when some inauspicious planet is ascendant or when some fierce or inauspicious asterism is so, who does not come when the asterism called Dhruba is ascendant, who does not come on the fourth, or the ninth, or the fourteenth lunar day, who does not come at midday or midnight, or when an earthquake or an eclipse (solar or lunar) happens, who comes to the physician when the latter is not in a filthy or impure place, and who comes at a time when no inauspicious sign is noticeable, and who is not in a hurry, should not be regarded as inauspicious. 66-69 Curds, a vessel full of Atapa rice,f members of the twice-born

* ‘Autpatikairbhavaih’ is connected with both ‘pathi’ and ‘aturakulaprayaih. ’ Inauspi¬ cious incidents connected with the patient’s family include those which are noticeable in the patient’s house and among his kinsfolk.

‘Dravya-sampatti-lakshanaih’ has reference to the possessions and wealth of the patient. Unless the patient happens to have good rooms and good clothes, See., in short, the ability tp carry out the instructions of the physician, his cure cannot be brought about. According to Charaka, the treatment of those that are poor should not be taken up.