Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

After this the ghee should be cooked with the ‘swarasa’ (64 seers) of ‘Vidari’ {Convolvulus paniculatus ) and the ‘Kalkya’ (4 seers) of •Jivanti’ {Cwlqgyne avails) ;

After this, it should be cooked with four times as much milk (i. e., 64 seers), and the ‘Kashaya’ (64 seers) of ‘Vala’ and ‘Ativala’ (Si da cordifolia) and Si da rhombifolia). and the ‘Kalkya’ (4 seers) of ‘£atavari ( Asparagus racemosus).

According to this method it should be cooked a hundred times or a thousand times.

With it should be mixed 2 seers of sugar, and two seers of honey.

It should then be kept in a vessel of gold or silver, or of earth. If it is an earthen vessel that is used, it should be clean and strong, and one that has been made to absorb as much ghee as possible* 10-12

* ‘Swarasa’ is a technical word in Hindu Medicine. It means the expressed juice which is prepared by pounding fresh vegetables in a mortar. After the juice is pressed out, it should be strained through a piece of cloth. — T.

‘Kalkya’, is paste. It is prepared by grinding dry or fresh vegetable substances on a stone with a muller. The grinded materials are then made into a paste by the addition of water when necessary. — T.

‘Kashaya’, or ‘^ita-kashaya’ is a cold infusion. It is prepared by steeping one part of a drug in six parts of water for one night. The fluid is then strained in the morning. Sometimes the drugs are allowed to be steeped for days together. — T.

‘Adhaka’ is a measure of 8 seers. Here, although the word ‘Adhaka’ is used, 16 seers, and not 8 seers, of ghee should be taken. When precise measures are not laid down of ‘Swarasa’, ‘Kalkya’, &c., agreeably to certain general instructions laid down in Hindu medical treatises on Pharmacopoea, if the drug consists of one part, the oily substance should be 4 parts, and the water should be 4 times the measure of the oily substance.

‘Qatapaka’ (cooked a hundred times), and ‘Sahasrapaka’ cooked a thousand times), are thus explained :

The ghee should be first cooked with the juice of ‘Amalaka’ and the paste of ‘PunarnavfL’ This is one stop.

p. 1032

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

The ghee thus prepared should be eaten every morning according to the ordinances already laid down and agreeably to the measure of one’s appetite.

After the ghee taken has been digested, one should eat rice of the £ali and the Shasthika varieties, along with milk and (ordinary) ghee. ,3

In consequence of taking this medicated ghee one succeeds in living for a hundred years without being subject to any disease. One’s powers of mind also remain in full vigour for the entire period of life*

All diseases of such a person disappear.

Such a person retains the power of sexual congress throughout his life, and is blessed with many children. H

( Here occur two verses.)

This Rasayana makes a man possessed of a body of ample propor¬ tions, having the strength of adamant, endued with senses unimpaired and invested with great vigour, invincible by others, and blessed with an appearance that is exceedingly handsome and lovely.

The person who takes this Rasayana obtains great honours, great happiness, and breadth of mind. T5

It should then be cooked with the juice of ‘Vidari’ and the paste of ‘Jivanti.’ This is the second stop.

It should then be cooked with milk, the infusion of the two drugs named, and the paste of the drug named. This is the third stop.

With the ghee thus cooked thrice, sugar and honey of the measure mentioned should be added.

The preparation that results is called a ‘yoga’

, This ‘yoga’ should again be cooked thrice with the juices and pastes and infusions mentioned.

Sugar and honey should again be added.

The process should in this way be repeated a hundred times, or a thousand times.

These processes of cooking are known by the names of ‘gatapaka’ and ‘sahasrapaka’ in Hindu Medicine.— T.

* ‘Qrutam’ is here used in the sense of knowledge. Hence, the literal meaning is ‘All his knowledge lasts.’ Of course the implication is that the powers of mind of such a person retain their vigour to the last. Some of the Bengali translators render it by saying that such a person becomes a ‘grutidhara’, i. e., capable of reproducing whatever he hears even once. This is not the meaning. — T.

CHARAKA-SAMHltA.

p. 1033

His strength becomes great. He becomes possessed of superior purity of complexion.

His voice resembles the roar of the clouds or of the surging ocean (dashing agaiast an embankment).

Such a man gets many children who all become long-lived, 16

AMLAKA-AVALEHA EXTRACT OF AMLAKA.*

A thousand Amlakas (fruits of Phyllanthus Emblica), combined with a thousand Pippalis (fruits of Viper longum ), should be drenched in water in which has been dissolved the ashes of Palana wood ( Butea frandosa).

The water (in which the Amlakas and Pippalis are to be drenched should be dried in the shade.