Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

Jivanti [Ccelogyne ovalis), Katurohini [Picrorrhiza Kurroa ), Pippali (fruits of Piper longtim), Pippalimula (the roots of Piper longuni), Nagara (dry ginger),* Suradaru ( Pinus deodara), Kalinga (the seeds of Holarrhena antidysenterica ), the flowers of £almali ( Bombax Malaearicuvi), Vira (otherwise called Kshirakakoli, i. e., a bulb of the onion tribe), Chandana (red sandal wood), Utpala (flowers of Nymphcea stellatd), Katphala (fruits of Myrica sapida ), Chitraka [Plumbago Zeylanica), Musta (tubers of Cyperus rotundas), Priyangu [Aglaia Roxburghiana'), Ativisha [Acojiilum heterophyllunp, Sthirfi (otherwise called Sslaparni, i. e., Hedysarum Gangeticurn), the filaments of Padma (lotus) and of Utpala [Nymphcea stellata), Samanga [Mimosa pudica), NidigdhikS [Solanum Xanthocarpuin), Vilwa [ZEgle marmelos), Mocharasa (exudation of Bombax Malabaricuni), and Paths [Cissampelos hernandifolia).

Of each of these take one Karsha (equal to z tolas).

Boiling the above in 4 prasthas (equal to 8 seers, r6 seers being actually taken), of water down to one prastha, take down the vessel.

One prastha of the decoction should here be known to be equal to two and thirty palas [i. e., 4 seers).f

Add two prasthas of the expressed juice of each of these, viz., Sunishinnaka [Marsilea quadrifolia). and Changeri [Oxalis corniculata ).

With all these, taken in the measures directed, one prastha of ghee should be boiled. (In practice, two prasthas are taken).

This ghee, which improves the strength, complexion, and digestive fire, should be duly administered in the following diseases, viz.. Piles, diarrhoea, discharge of blood characterised by the three faults excited together, dysentery (white flux), prolapsus ano, in diverse varieties of sticky and slimy dischargss, in copious evacuations of liquid stools,

* Gangadhara reads ‘maricha’, meaning black pepper. — T.

f The direction in the text is that the drugs named should be boiled in 4 prasthas or 8 seers of water. In practice, 8 prasthas or 16 seers of water are taken. This should beboiled down to ‘one prastha’ says the text. This one prastha, the text adds, is equal to3a tolas, i. c., 4 seers. In other words, 16 seers of water are boiled down to a fourth of the measure,.— T.

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

Hog

to swellings and ‘£ula’ pains in the anus, in suppression of urine, in attacks of rheumatism characterised by loss of touch, in loss of appe¬ tite, and in disgust for food.

This ghee may be taken with diverse kinds of food and drink, or . by itself when one has no ailment. 263-271

( Here are some verses).

The physician who, always keeping an eye on the strength (or otherwise) of the digestive fire, administers sweets and sours as also cooling and hot remedies, speedily conquers ailments born of Piles, viz., Piles, diarrhoea, and lienteric dysentery, — three diseases which are very generally the causes of one another. 272-273

If the strength of the digestive fire diminishes, these diseases gain in intensity. If, on- the other hand, the strength of the digestive fire increases, the intensity of these diseases diminishes. Hence, in these three diseases the strength of the digestive fire should especially be kept up. 274

By means of fried potherbs, by gruels of different kinds, by soups (of different pulses), by meat-juices, by ‘Kharas,’ and by applications, in diverse ways, of milk and whey, the physician should conquer the ailments of the anus. 275

All those varieties of food and drink which restore to the wind its normal course, and which are calculated to increase the strength of the digestive fire, should be taken every day by persons afflicted with Piles. 276

All those things that are the reverse of the above, and all those which have been mentioned in the Division called NidSna (as deserv¬ ing of being avoided), should never be indulged in by one who is afflicted with Piles. 277

{Here are some verses containing a summary.]

The two originating causes of Piles, the distinctive ‘Nidfinas’ of each, the seat, the forms, and the symptoms of the disease, -the con¬ siderations of curability and incurability, the combinations in respect of ointments, fomentation, fumigations, baths, plasters, letting out of

I4ICT

CHAR AKA -S AM HIT A..