Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

The measure of this medicine should be increased each day by half a pala till it reaches five palas (in ten days) which is the largest measure.

This measure should be taken for a month.

Every day, after the medicine has been digested, the patient should take milk, the soup of Phaseolus Mungo and other seeds of the kind, as also meat-juice with boiled rice. 44

This medicine conquers abdominal tumours, abdominal dropsy, piles, swellings, the several varieties of gonorrhoea, asthmatic breath¬ ing (or cough, as some texts have), catarrh in the nose, tymphanites, indigestion, ansemia consumption, mental derangements, cough (or, as some texts have, difficulty of breathing), and excited phlegm. 45

Even this is the combination called ‘Gudfidraka’ (treacle and ginger).

CHARAKA-SAMH1TA.

p. 1319

The expressed juice of raw ginger should be drunk every day in the same way, and every day, when the medicine is digested, the patient should take boiled rice with milk.

‘£ilajatu,’ taken with the decoction of the three myrobalans, speedily cures swellings born of any of the three or all the three faults. 46

Even this is the method of administering ‘(jrlajatu.’

Taking eight seers. of the ten roots, a hundred chebulic myro¬ balans, and a hundred palas of old treacle, boil them together. Into the lickable (i. e., slightly thick) decoction obtained by boiling these properly, after it has been strained through a piece of cloth, should be thrown the pulv of the three acrids mixed with the three scents (viz., the leaves of Cinnamomum Tamala, the bark of Cinnamomum. zeylanicum, and the fruits of Elettaria cardamomum ).

When the contents are cooled by exposure to the morning air, half a prastha of honey, and a small measure of the ashes of barley shoots, should be added.

The patient should take every day a (boiled) myrobalan, and lick half a pala of the thickened liquid.

This medicine cures swellings of even an aggravated character, as also asthmatic breathing, fever, disgust for food, gonorrhoea, hiccup, enlarged spleen, and abdominal dropsy and chlorosis born of any one of the three faults. ' It also cures leanness, vitiated wind in the imma¬ ture stage, blood-bile and acid bile, loss of complexion, and the faults of the urine, the wind, and the semen. 47-49

Even this is the composition of ‘Kansa-Haritaki.’

The roots of Patola ( Trichosanthes dioica ), Suradaru (Pinus deodara), Danti (Baliospermum montanum ), Trayanti (otherwise called Trayamana i. e., Ficus heterophylla ), Pippali (Piper lotiguiri), Abhaya (chebulic myrobalans), Vicala (Cucumis Colocynthis), liquorice, Tiktarohini (Picrorrhiza Kurroa ), Chandana' (Pterocarpus santalinus ), Nichula (otherwise called Hijjala, that is, Eugenia acutangula), and Darbbi (Berberis Asiatica ) :

p. 167

p. 1320

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

Take a karsha of each of these and boil them in. water for obtain¬ ing their decoction.

Into the decoction thus obtained add ghee of the measure of a Ku^ava.

This forms a drink, that cures erysipelas, burning of the skin, fever, excitement of the three faults, thirst, the effects of poisons introduced into the system, and swellings. 5°-5i

Even this is the composition of the ghee called ‘Patola-muladya.’

Yamani (the seeds of Ptychotis Ajowari), Chitraka ( Plumbago zeylanicu), Dhanya (coriander seeds), Pâtha (Cissampelos hernandifolia), Dipyaka '( Cnidum diffusum), Tryushana (the three acrids), Amlavetasa ( Rumex vesicarius ), the (raw and dried) fruits of Vilwa (AEgle Marmelos), the bark of the fruits of Dfidima {Punica granatum), Yavaquka (the ashes of the barley shoots), the roots of Pippali ( Piper longum ), and Chavya {Piper Chaba ) ;

Take an aksha (two tolas) of each of these, pound them together.

The pounded mass should be boiled in an adhaka (8 seers) of water. (Sixteen seers are taken, for the measure is doubled of liquids).

Add a prastha (2 seers) of ghee. (Four seers are taken, the mea¬ sure being doubled).

This preparation cures piles, abdominal tumours, and swellings that are difficult of treatment. It kindles the digestive fire also. 5*S3

Even this is the composition of ‘Yamanikadya-ghrita.’*

Or, the patient may drink that ghee which has been boiled in water of eight times its measure, .with Chitraka {Plumbago zeylanica) and Kshara (the ashes of barley shoots) added to it. This ghee is possessed of great energy.

The ghee called ‘Kalyanaka,’ or that called ‘Panchagavya,’ or that called ‘Mahatikta,’ or that called ‘Tikta,’ is also beneficial in cases

. * The readings of GangSdhara’s edition are followed. In the Calcutta and the Bombay ^editions, this ghee is called ‘Chitrakadya’ for the verses begin with ‘Sachitraka &c.’— T.

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

*32* of swelling. (All these ghees have been spoken of in the chapter on Insanity).* 54

Even this is the composition of the ghee called ‘Chitrakfidi.’

Take an earthen pot whose inward surface should be laved with the paste of Chitraka ( Plumbago zeylanica).