Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

quired it.)26 The Rishis also, solicitous of the good of (all) creatures and of long life, received from Bharadwaja that Science enhancing the period of life.26 Those great Rishis (then) beheld duly, with the eye of knowledge, similarities, dissimilarities, properties, objects, and operations, 2 7 as also compositions. Knowing these, and con¬ forming to the ordinances of that Science, they obtained great felicity and even immortal life.28 Then Punarvasu, inclined for friendship, through compassion for all creatures, communicated the auspicious Science of Life unto six disciples.29 Agnivega, Bhela, Jatukarna, Paragara, Harita, and Kharapani, received the prelections of that ascetic.30 Diversity of intelligence was there, (but) no dif¬ ference in teaching on the part of the ascetic ; whence Agnivega first became the author of a treatise.3 1 Then Bhela and the others also compiled their own treatises ; (and) those intelligent men caused Atri’s son with a conclave of Rishis to listen to their works. 3 2 Having listened to those compilations of auspicious subjects, the Rishis, filled with joy, admitted that they had been duly compiled.33 And all of them praised those benefactors of every creature. (And they all) loudly exclaimed at the same time,- — “Compassion (hath been shown) for all creatures!”34 The celestial Rishis, staying in the firmament, with the gods themselves, heard that auspicious declara¬ tion of those great Rishis. And having heard it, they rejoiced greatly.36 “0 excellent,”-— this sweet and deep voice in the skies, uttered by creatures from joy, resounded through the three worlds.36 Auspicious winds blew in all directions ; all the points of the compass were irradiated with effulgence ; and a celestial shower of flowers, mixed with drops of rain, fell.37 Then the presiding deities of Knowledge, Intellect, Success, Memory, Quickness of perception, Fortitude, Fame, Forgiveness, &c., entered those Rishis headed by Agnivega.38 The treatises of those (six disciples) were approved by the great Rishis. (And since they were) for the benefit of the whole range of creatures, they acquired great fame on Earth.39

Good, evil, happy and unhappy is Life. That ( knowledge) in which are declared its nature, and measure, and what is beneficial to it and what injurious, is called the Science of Life.40 The union of body, senses, mind, and soul is called Life. The latter is known again by the names of Dhari, Jivita, Nityaga, and Anubandha *41

* Life is called Dhari (holder together) because it holds together the elements of which it consists ; Jivita is existence ; Nityaga (always going), because it is continually running or going away; Anubandha ( tie or link), because this life is a link in the endless chain of individual existence. The last refers to the doctrine of the transmigration ef souls. — T.

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

The sacred Science of Life, approved by persons conversant ivith the Vedas, and beneficial to both ( this and the other) region of men, is being expounded (as follows.)42 Of all things, at all times, similarity is the cause of increase ; and dissimilarity is the cause of decrease. A tendency exists towards both.* * * §43

Similarity is that which produces oneness; and dissimilarity is that which produces diversity. Therefore, similarity is identity of substance, and dissimilarity is the reverse of this.44

Mind, soul, and body, this trinity, called person, resteth on union like three sticks (standing with one another’s support.) Upon that (trinity) everything rests.f45 That is also called purusha or Being. It is also animate. That is also regarded as the subject matter of this Science ; and it is also for the sake of that, that this Science is promulgated.46

Those having ether for the first (i.e., ether, ' air, fire, water, and earth), soul, mind, and the quarters, are constituent elements (of all things) United with the senses, elements are called animate; without the senses, they are called inanimate.^ 4T

The properties (of vision, taste, scent, touch, and hearing), pairs of opposites (such as heavy and light, heat and cold, &c.), the intellect, pleasure and pain, and desire and aversion and will, and the qualities of dissimilarity and others (i.e., dissimilarity, con¬ trariety, union, number, composition, division, separateness, measure, inertia and contiguity) are called attributes, while all functions such as (of the mind in) will, are called action .§48

* This is regarded as almost the basis of the Science of Life. “ Similarity is the cause of increase,” — as water or any watery substance, coming in contact with water, increases the latter. Heat, being dissimilar to water, decreases the latter. All things, again, have a tendency to increase or decrease. — T.

+ “ Upon that everything rests” is explained by the commentator as meaning that it is the union of three things, called person, which enjoys or suffers the fruit of actions both of this and previous existences. — T.

j Difah are the cardinal and subsidiary directions. Some translators from Sanskrit wish to render the word as “ points of the compass.” Even if the anachronism involved in the expression when put into the mouth of a Rishi be overlooked, it would be inaccurate, for in Sanskrit it implies the zenith and the nadir besides the eight ordinary points of the compass. I think the word quarters would be a bettersubstitute for directions. — T.