Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

The use, in this way, of a thousand fruits of Piper longum consti¬ tutes ‘Pippalivardhamana Rasayana.’ 41

These should be taken in the form of powder by a strong man j in that of decoction by a man of average strength ; and in that of cold infusion by one that is endued with little strength.

This ‘Rasayana’ should be administered, considering the particular fault (excited) and the particular disease. 4Z

The use of the ‘Rasayana’ which begins with ten fruits of Piper longum is regarded very beneficial in point of efficacy. That of the •Rasayana’ which begins with six fruits of Piper longum, is (consi¬ dered as) tolerable ; and that administration of ‘Rasayana’ which

* The verse is rather periphrastic. It is difficult to render it literally. ‘Dagapippalikaro dinam’ means a day characterised by ten fruits of Piper longum.

‘Kramavriddhi1 means gradual increase.

•Dagahani vardcfhayet’ means that the increase should go on tilt the tenth day.

That the increase should be by ten is. implied by the word ‘daga’ in ‘dagapippalika.’

The decrease should be also by ‘ten’ every day.

It is said that a thousand fruits of Piper longum should be used in this way.

From this we get that the use of the medicine should continue for nineteen days in all.

On the first day the number of fruits is ten ; on the second it is twenty ; on the third thirty ; on the tenth it comes to one hundred.

The total number on the tenth day becomes 550. On the eleventh the number is 90, on the twelfth So. Allowing the number to decrease by ted, on the nineteenth day the number becomes ten. The total of the 9 days from the eleventh to the nineteenth day reaches to 450. 550 and 450 make up 1,000. — T.

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

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begins with three fruits (at the outset) is considered as the least (of the three in point of efficacy.)*

The last variety of ‘Rasayana’ should be used by a weak man. 43

This ‘RasSyana’ of Piper longiim promotes strength, improves the voice, and conduces to longevity. It alleviates enlarged spleen and, indeed, all other diseases of the stomach. It counteracts the effects of age and sharpens intellect. 44

TRIPHALA RASAYANA,

RASAYANA MADE OF THE THREE MYROB ALANS.

After the food (taken before) is digested, take one fruit of ‘Haritaki’ (Chebulic myrobalan) before the (next) meal ; take two fruits of ‘Vibhitaka’ ( Terminalia Bellerica ), and (just) after meals take four fruits of ‘Amalaka’ ( Phylanthus Emblica). All these fruits should be taken with honey and ghee. 45

This ‘Rasayana’ of the three myrobalans should be taken for a whole year.

By its use one would live for a full hundred years without being influenced by age, and without being afflicted by disease. 46

Another preparation of ‘Triphala-Rasayana’ is as follows :

Take a (thin) new iron leaf and keep it laved with the paste of the three myrobalans for a whole day and night. Take out the paste (the next day) and use it with honey and water.f 47

* ‘Shatpippali Rasayana’ or ‘Rasayana’ which begins with six fruits of Piper longiim. On the first day six should be taken, on the second twelve, on the third eighteen, and so on to the thirteenth day. The total number taken in thirteen days comes up to 546. From the fourteenth the number should decrease by 6. That is, on the fourteenth day the number should be 72, on the fifteenth 66, and so on, until on the twentyfifth day the original number of 6 is reached. The grand total comes up to 1,014. Gangadhara remarks that the excess of 14 fruits over the number 1,000 allowed in the text, is not injurious.

‘Tripippali Rasayana’ or ‘Rasayana’ which begins with three fruits of Piper longiim. On the first day the number should be three, on the second six, and so on increasing by 3 a day to the nineteenth day. The total for the 19 days comes up to 513. The highest number of the day, 57, should decrease by 3, until it attains to the original number 3 on the thirty-sixth day. The total for the 36 days becomes 1,026. The excess of 26 is not baneful. — T.

t ‘Traiphalena kalkena.’ The measure of the three myrobalans to make the paste should be uniform. The same quantity of each ingredient should be taken. — T.

p. 1052

. CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

When the medicine is digested, one should take such food as is mixed with a copious quantity of ghee and milk.

From use of this ‘Rasayana’ for a full year, one becomes free from -decrepitude and disease and lives for a hundred years. 48

Another preparation of ‘Triphala Rasayana’ is as follows :

The three myrobalans should be used with the pulv of liquorice, or with Tugakshiri (bamboo manna) reduced to pulv, or with the' pulv of Piper longum, or with honey and ghee, or with sugar.