Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

* The expression * Asyasukham’ means in plain English want of physical exercise, or sedentary habits, while ‘Svapna-Sukham’, means indulgence in too much sleep. — R. S.

‘NavannapSnam’, implies new rice or food consisting of new articles, and drinks, that is, wines, that are newly made. Old rice and old wines are always beneficial. — T.

f Some of the editions read ‘bastigatam’ in place of ‘bastigatah’ which is found in some of the editions of Madhava’s Nidana. I have adopted the seeond reading as making a better sense. — R. S.

t ‘Dosha’ means literally the vitiating elements. They are primarily three viz., ‘kapha’, ‘pitta’ and vayu, which have been rendered in the translation by phlegm, bile and wind respectively.

‘Dusha’ means literally that which is vitiated viz. , blood, flesh, chyle, semen &c.

§ When the action of a medicine is uniform in regard to both ‘dosha’ and ‘dushya’ and tends to cure the disease as well as to put down the disturbance in the ‘<\ushyas’ k is

p. 196

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

The vitiators are three, viz., phlegm, bile, and wind. Those (elements of the body) which are subject to vitiation are fat, blood, semen, (watery sceretions), ‘Vasa,* LasikS,f marrow, chyle, Ojas, and flesh.

There are twenty varieties of ‘Meha’ that afflict human beings. 1

The following ten varieties of ‘Meha’ should be known as phlegmborn :

1. That in which the urine is like water ;

2. that in which the urine is like the expressed juice of the sugarcane ;

3. that in which the urine is thick ;

4. that in which the urine though thick, looks clear on the surface.

5. that in which the urine is white in colour ;

6. that in which the urine is mixed with semen ;

7. that in which the urine is cold ;

8. that in which the urine issues slowly and in drops ;

9. that in which the urine looks slimy like secretions from the salivary glands, and

10. that in which the urine is mixed with grains like those of sand J

The following varieties arise from (excited) bile :

1. That in which the urine resembles the ‘ksharas’ ;

2. that in which the urine is of a dark colour ;

3. that in which the urine is of a blue colour ;

4. that in which in the urine is yellow ;

5. that in which the urine is of the colour of ManjisthS ( Rubia cordifolid ), and

6. that in which the urine is red in colour.f 8-9 said to be ‘samakriya or uniform in action. When the same action is dissimilar in regard to ‘doshas’ and ‘dushyas’ or in other words when it tends to put down the one at the risk of aggravating the other, the medicine is called ‘visamakriya’ or dissimilar or contrary in its action. — R. S.

* ‘Vasa.’ is explained by commentators as the oily matter present in the flesh or the oily substance present in the whole body. — T.

+ ‘LaSika’ is the liquid matter lying between the flesh and the outer skin Lymph. — T.

t The ten Sanskrit names are I. Udaka, 2. Ikshu, 3. Sandra, 4. Sandra-pras3da, 5. (Jukla, 6. (Jukra, 7, Qita, 8. (Janaih, 9. Lala, and xo. Sikata. — T.

§ These Six varieties are named 1. Ksh5ra, 2. Kal5, 3. Nila, 4. HSridra, 5. Manjiahtha, and 6. RaktS. — T.

CHA RA KA - SA MHITA.

When these ingredients, viz., marrow, ‘Ojas’, fat, and Lasika,’ are dragged to the bladder by the (excited) wind, it causes a person to pass four kinds of urine. These are i. urine mixed with marrow, 2. that mixed with ‘Ojas’, 3. that mixed with fat, and 4. that mixed with ‘Lasika.’* 10

It is seen that ‘Prameha’ accords, in respect of colour, taste, touch, and smell, with the ‘dosha’ (vitiating elements) that has originated it .Thus, in ‘Prameha’ brought about by (excited) wind, the colour of the urine becomes dark-red ; its discharge is accompanied by severe pain ; and it acquires the six attributes of marrow and the other elements named above. jPerspiration, fcetid smell in the body, flabbiness of the flesh, incli¬ nation for enjoying the pleasures of good beds and seats and sleep, a sense of the chest, the eyes, the tongue, and the tympanum, being covered with a plaster, h'arshness of the features, excesssive growth of hair and the nails, love of cold, dryness of the throat and the palate, sensation of sweetness, in the mouth, burning of the palms and the soles, and the attraction of ants by the urine, ---these are the indications which manifest themselves in a person who is about to be attacked with1 Meha.’ ”-13

Persons attacked with ‘Prameha’ are of two kinds : either corpulent and strong, or lean and weak.

In case of the lean and the weak, the treatment consists in the administration of such medicines as promote nutrition and increase the bulk of the body.

In case of those who are characterised by an excess of ‘dosha’ and physical strength, the treatment consists in the administration of correctives (that is, purgatives and emetics which correct the system). J4

After the oil has been administered to a person afflicted with ‘Prameha,’ the diverse combinations of drugs which have been laid

* The Sanskrit names of these four varieties of ‘Meha’ are I. ‘Majjameha’, 2. ‘Madhnmeha’, 3. ‘Vasameha’, and 4. ‘Hastimeha’. — T.