Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

t The subjugation of the Senses is a very high object in itself. It is, of course,: looked upon as a means to an end, the end being not Yoga-puissance or heaven or the status of the deities, but something higher still, viz., Emancipation, which is the highest object of attainment. Emancipation or Moksha is not annihilation but complete identi¬ fication with Brahma and tfye perfect cessation of individual consciousness. — T.

+ /. e., perform the daily homa by pouring libations of ghee on it in honor of the deities. — T.

§ These are generally placed within little hollow drum-shaped capsules of gold or silver which are then hermetically sealed and worn, with the aid of threads or small thin chains, on the upper arm or round the neck. — T.

1| ‘ Upaspri?et ’ may alao mean, as pointed out by the Commentator, ‘say his prayers,’ it being the custom in this country to utter certain prayers at morn and eve. This, in the language of the country, is * to adore the two twilights.’ Of course, prayers cannot be said by one without one having first undergone a purificatory bath. — T.

IF *• Trih pakshasya 1 is thus explained by the Commentator. I have used the word ‘shave’ but literally rendered, the sentence would read,— ‘one should cut one’s hair and beard and nails,’ — 7.

CHA RAKA-SAMHITl.

p. 91

garments, and dress one’s hair (by combing and parting it.) One should every day apply oil to one’s head, ears, nose, and feet. One should inhale smoke (under the restrictions and in the way indicated before). One should welcome a person one meets (with¬ out waiting to be spoken to). One should speak agreeable words with smiles. One should protect another fallen into distress. One should perform Sacrifices (in honor of the deities) and make gifts. One should bend one’s head in reverence at seeing the spot where four roads meet. One should make offerings to the deities.* * * § One should reverence one’s guests, and offer cakes (in fraddkas) unto one’s deceased ancestors-t At the proper time one should be sparing of speech and say what is beneficial and of sweet importf One should keep one's senses under subjugation. § One should be righteous-souled. One should cherish emulation in respect of the causes of other people’s prosperity, but should never be jealous of that prosperity. || One should not hesitate in indecision. One should be fearless. One should be modest. One should sharpen one’s faculty of judgment. One should be stre¬ nuous in exertions, possessed of cleverness and ability, virtuous, and endued with faith. One should reverence modesty and inteh ligence and learning and-good birth and aged men and persons crowned with ascetic success, and perceptors. One should use umbrellas, sticks, turbans, and shoes. One should be observant of

* ‘Vali’ is any offering made to the deities. It includes, of course, the animals that are slaughtered in Sacrifices. — T,

+ ‘ Atithi ’ is a person who comes of his own accord to a house in expectation of food and shelter. The Hindu scriptures declare that that house from which such a guest turns away without receiving anything is not the abode of a householder but the den of a picaclia (evil spirit.) Craddhas are religious rites performed in honor of the dead. Whatever is offered to the manes of the dead may not reach them but the offerings have the effect of cleansing the hearts of the offerers. — Tr t ‘ At the proper time,’ because everything has its proper time. Even beneficial and sweet words may be untimely.— T.

§ The ' atman ’ here, as explained by the Commentator, signifies the Senses. — T,

|| ‘ Irsha ’ is envy or jealousy. The speaker says that one may cherish jealousy as directed to the causes or means of another man’s prosperity, for such jealousy would only be a virtuous rivalry or emulation that would lead its cherisher to acquire those means, One should not, however, be jealous of the consequences of those means. — T, chararasamhitA.

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all auspicious acts. One should avoid such' spots as are strewn with filthy rags and bones and horns, as are unholy (such as ceme¬ teries and crematoriums), and such as are also strewn with hair, chaff, sweepings and rubbish, and ashes, and skulls, and flowers that have been used in worship. One should not indulge in physical exer¬ cises when one is tired. One should constitute oneself the friend of all creatures* * * § One should seek to pacify the angry, assure the frightened, and redress the woes of the distressed.13