Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

Sirisha ( Mimosa Sirissa), liquorice, assafcetida, garlics, Tagara ( Taberncemontana coronaria ), Vachs {Acorus calamus ), and Kustha (Aplotaxis auriculaia), pounded together with the urine of the goat, form a cerebral purgative and collyrium (that are beneficial in Insanity). 74

Similarly, taking the following drugs, viz., Vyosha (i. e., the three acrids, viz., dry ginger, the fruits of Piper longum, and black pepper); the two varieties of Haridra (i. e., Curcuma longa, and Berberis Asiatica), Manjishtha ( Rubia cordifolia ), assafcetida, mustard seeds, and the seeds of Sirisha ( Mimosa Sirissa ), and pounding them toge¬ ther with goat’s urine, a cerebral purgative and collyrium will result that are very beneficial in Insanity, the afflictions caused by evil spirits and malignant astral conjunctions, and epilepsy. 75

Taking equal measures of ApSmarga (Achyranthes asp era), assa¬ fcetida, and Hingupatra (the leaves of Balanites Roxburghii), and adding black pepper of half the measure, and pounding them with the bile of the cow and the jackal, sticks may be prepared :

These sticks form an excellent collyrium for the eyes of those that are afflicted with epilepsy, and fever induced by Insanity caused by the action of of evil spirits.

They form an excellent collyrium for also those men who are afflicted by evil spirits or by the deities. They may be applied alsO' in diseases of the eye.* 76-77

Black pepper (reduced to pulv), macerated in the bile of the cow and the jackal, and kept exposed to the sun for a month, forms a

♦ The last line of 77 is read incorrectly ir 5maye’ and not ‘gomaye’, — T.

editions. The correct reading is ‘drigCHARAKA-SAMHITA.

p. 1275

collyrium that is beneficial to him whose vision is disordered or whose memory has been lost (in Insanity) through the influence of evil spirits or the action of vitiated faults.* * * § 78

SiddhSrthaka (white mustard seeds), Vacha (Acorns calamus), assafcetida, the two varieties of Karanja (i. e., Pongamia glabra and Guilandina Bonducella ), Devadaru (Pinus deodara), Manjishtha ( Rubia cordifolia ), the three myrobalans (viz., Chebulic, Emblic, and Belleric), Aparajita ( Clitoria Ternatea ) of the white variety), the bark of Katabhi (a variety of Mimosa Sirissa of small stature), the three acrids (viz., dry ginger, the fruits of Piper longum, and black pepper), Priyangu (Aglaia Roxburghiana), Sirisha (Mimosa Sirissa ), HaridrS ( Curcuma longa ), and Daruharidra ( Berberis Asiatica ) ;

Taking all these in equal measures, pound them together in goat’s urine.

This medicine is called ‘Agada.’f It should be used as a drink, a collyrium, a cerebral purgative, a plaster, a bath, and an unguent4

This medicine cures epilepsy, the effects of poison in the system. Insanity, the effects Atharvan rites, inauspiciousness or the absence of prosperity, and fever.

It destroys all fear of evil spirits. Its operation is auspicious in the king’s court.§

Ghee boiled with these drugs and cow’s urine serves the same purposes. 79-82

If the person afflicted with Insanity suffers from constant secre¬ tions from the mouth, or inflammation of the Schneiderian membrane (with loss of the sense of smell), these drugs should then be mixed with same fragrant substance, and after reducing them into a paste, sticks should be made for making the patient inhale their smoke.

* In this verse also, the correct reading is ‘masam’ and not ‘mansam’. — T.

•J- ‘Gada’ means disease ; hence ‘agada’ implies a curative of disease. As such, it is a synonym of medicine. The Commentators explain that ‘Agada’ here stands for the name of the medicine whose composition is explained. — T.

J Dissolving in a large quantity of water, it serves for a bath. — T.

§ /. e., if any body goes to the court of the king with this medicine on his person, the king becomes propitious unto him and his object is gained. — T.

K2/6

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

Or, he should be made to inhale the smoke of such sticks as have been mentioned among the methods of smoking that induce purging.

Or, he may be made to inhale the smoke of sticks made of the drugs mentioned above, beginning with Chitoria Ternatea of the white variety (and ending with Berberis Asiatica ) ; or he may be made to inhale the smoke of sticks made of the above drugs (begin¬ ning with Ternatea of the white variety) and assafcetida. 83

In Insanity characterised by vitiated wind and phlegm, the appli¬ cation of fomentation, of collyrium, of snuff blown into the nose through a tube, and of cerebral purgatives, and the inhalation of smoke, are beneficial, with the aid of the following, vie'., the urine, the bile, the stools, the hair, the nails, and the skin of the porcupine, the owl, the cat, the jackal, the wolf, and the goat.

In Insanity characterised by excited bile, the following are bene¬ ficial, vie., ghee cooked with bitters, as also ghee cooked with the group of drugs called ‘Jivaniya : also the oil called ‘Misrak.’ In such Insanity, food and drink that are cooling, sweet, and of mild virtues, are also beneficial. 84-86