Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

(The flesh of) birds of prey speedily kindle the digestive fire in consequence of such virtues as lightness, keenness, capacity of producing heat as also of correcting the faults.

In consequence of their flesh having been nourished by the flesh of other animals, it speedily operates as a ‘Vrighana.’f 2n

The fire in the body does not blaze up if one abstains from food. Nor does it blaze up by loading the stomach excessively with food ; even as a small fire does not blaze up if not fed with fuel or if fed with a large measure of fuel. 212

The physician, by proper administration of oily food and drink of diverse kinds as also of pulvs and ‘arishtas’ and ‘asavas,’ should increase the strength of the digestive fire. 213

As the fire of solid wood lasts steadily for a long time, even so the internal fire (of human beings) becomes steady with the aid of oily food and the rest. 214

One, who takes beneficial food (and drink) in frugal measure after the food last taken has been digested, always enjoys good health. When there is the absence of harmony in the ‘Dhatus,’ one should strive to increase the strength of the digestive fire.j 2IS

The heat residing in the fire within the body, acquiring steadiness through the harmony of the faults (vis., wind bile, and phlegm), digests the food (taken).

* Gangadhara takes ‘rasaih’ as implying ‘sSmlaih rasaih,’ that is, ‘meat-juice mixed with sour juices.’ Some editions wrongly read ‘pi^itaQinam’ for pi^itSginam,’ the genetive plural. — T.

f ‘Vringhana’ are things that promote nutrition and enhance corpulency. What is stated here is this : inasmuch as the flesh of birds of prey is nourished by the flesh of other animals, such flesh speedily promotes the nutrition of the patient. The second line is very terse. Its sense has been misunderstood by some of the Bengali translators. — T.

$ The instrumental ‘avaishamyena’ implies ‘afflicted by absence of harmony &c.’ Perhaps, the locative ‘avaishamye’ would be simpler. — T.

CH A R AK A- S A M HI T A .

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It is this circumstance that contributes to health freedom from disease , growth (nourishment), longevity, and increase of strength,*' 216

The digestive fire, weakened, or excessively increased, or rendered inharmonious by the .faults (wind, bile, and phlegm) themselves becoming inharmonious, begets diseases.

The operations necessary for the digestive fire when it becomes weak, have already been spoken of. Those that are needed for treat¬ ing that fire when it has been excessively increased, shall now be laid down.-f 2I7

In a person whose phlegm has been attenuated, the bile, being provoked and following the wind, reaches the seat of the digestive fire {viz., the ‘Grahani\ and by its own heat imparts strength to that fire.} 218

Then, having got an accession of strength in the body that has become dry, the fire accompanied by the wind, in consequence of its keenness, overwhelming the food taken, speedily and repeatedly digests it. 2*9

Continually digesting the food, that fire (when there is no food to digest) digests (consumes) the ‘dhatus’ such as blood and the rest. From this, weakness, disease, arid even death overtakes the person. 22°

Such a person obtains relief when he stuffs his stomach with food and begins to be restless and uneasy as soon as the food is digested.

Such diseases as thirst, asthma, delusions, and swoons, are born of the digestive fire which has been excessively enkindled. 221

That excessively blazing fire should be extinguished by means of food and drink that are heavy and oily and cold and sweet and

* ‘Arogya’ is, literally, ‘freedom from disease,’ that is, health. — T. f The Calcutta edition reads ‘Vishamaih.’ This does not seem to be incorrect. It is to be taken as an adjective of ‘doshaih.’ The meaning, if this reading be adopted, does not require to be stated. This reading derives force from the fact that in the next breath only two kinds of fire are spoken of, viz., ‘Manda’ and ‘Ativriddha.’ No reference is made to any fire called ‘Vishama.’— T.

-r The Calcutta edition reads ‘Soslimana Gangadhara reads ‘Soshmakam’ and explains it as equivalent to the former. — T.

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CHAR A KA-SA MHITA.

slimy, even as a blazing (external) fire is extinguished by water (poured upon it).* 222

Even if the food already taken be not digested, diverse kinds of edibles should yet be frequently placed before such a person, so that the (digestive) fire, in the absence of fuel (in the shape of food and drink), may not, obtaining an opportunity, kill the person outright (by consuming his very ‘dhatus’). 223