Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

Kasamardda {Cassia Sophora ), Abhaya (chebulic myrobalans), Musta (the tubers of Cyperus roiundus), Patha {Cissampelos hernandifolia), Katphala {Myrica Sapida), Nagara (dry ginger), Pippali (fruits of Piper longum), Katuka {Picrorrhiza Kurroa), Drâksha (grapes,) Kasmaryya (otherwise called Gambhari, i. e., the fruits of Gmelina arborea), and Surasa (otherwise called Rasna, i. e., Vanda Roxburghii).\

Take an ‘aksha’ (equal to 2 tolas) of each of thes6 ; also ghee of the measure of 4 seers ; and an ‘adhaka’ (equal to 16 seers) of milk and the juice of the grape.

Boil all these together.

This medicated ghee is highly beneficial and cures consumption or waste, fever, enlargement of the spleen, and all varieties of cough. 162-163

* For ‘Triphala’, meaning the three myrobalans, the Calcutta and the Bomhay editions read ‘Pippali’, meaning the fruits of Piper longum. — T.

-j- ‘Surasa’ is identified with ‘Rasna or Vanda Roxburghii. It stands also for a variety of Ocimum sanctum.

‘Qosha stands for both consumption or waste, and dropsical swellings. Here it means consumption.

The second line is read differently in the Calcutta and the Bombay editions. We adopt the reading of Gangadhara.— T.

CHARAKA-SAMHI7 A.

f 533

Or, ghee , boiled with DhStri-phala (chebulic myrobalans) them¬ selves previously boiled in milk, and (when dry) reduced to pulv,

. or ghee boiled in the expressed juice of Dadima (the fruits of Panica granatum) of twice its measure, and mixed with the paste of Vyosha (the three acrids, viz., dry ginger, the fruits of Piper Ion gum, and black pipper),

Should be drunk.

Or, the man, after taking his meals, may take ghee boiled with the ashes of green barley shoots.

Or, he may take ghee boiled with Pippali (the fruits reduced to pulv of Piper longum), and treacle, and goat’s milk.* 164-165

All these varieties of ghee have the effect of increasing the strength of the digestive fire of one afflicted with waste-born cough.

They have the effect, besides, of correcting the (excited) faults, constipated bowels, and the ducts of the chest. 164-166 HARITAKI-LEHA

OR

THE LINCTUS OF CHEBULIC MYROBALANS.

Take twenty chebulic myrobalans and boil them in two ‘adhakas’

. of the decoction of barley seeds.

(Two ‘adhakas are equal to 16' seers. In practice, double the measure, that is, 32 seers are taken.)

After they have been boiled, their seeds should be thrown away, ■and the kernel reduced to paste.

* The first of these ghees is thus prepared : the chebulic myrobalans are first boiled in ' milk ; their seeds are then thrown out ; the softened kernel is reduced to paste and boiled with ghee. The measure of the ghee should be four times that of the pulv of the myrobalans. As regards the second ghee , it is boiled with the paste of the three acrids whose measure . is a fourth of that of the ghee. The measure of the juice of pomegranate fruits should, as ' stated in the text itself, be twice as that of the ghee.

' As regards ‘Yavakshara-ghrita,’ the measure of ‘Yavakshara’ or the ashes of green barley : shoots, should be an eighth of that of the ghee, while that of water should be four times that of the ghee.

As regards the fourth^, the united measure of Piper longum and treacle should be ■ one-fourth of that of the ghee ; while that of goat’s milk should be four times that of ghee.—T.

CHA RA KA-SA MB IT A.

*534

This paste, adding six palas of old treacle, should again be boiled in the decoction of barley seeds (kept in the vessel).

When this second boiling is about to be completed, the following should be thrown into the vessel, viz., a ‘karsha’ (equal to 2 tolas) of Manahjila (realgar), and half a ‘karsha’ of Rasftnjana (galena), and half a ‘ku^ava’ (equal to 2 palas) of Pippali (the fruits of Piper longum ).

These constitute a linctus which is curative of asthma and cough.* 167-168

The quills of the porcupine reduced to ashes, mixed with ghee, honey, and sugar,

Or, the legs of the peacock reduced to ashes and mixed with ghee and honey,

Or, the ashes of the leaves of Eranda (. Ricinus communis ), mixed with (an equal measure of) the pulv of the three acrids, and treacle and (sesame) oil,

Should be licked. Every one of these linctuses is curative of asthma and cough.

Mixing the ashes, in the same way, of the leaves of Surasa {Ocimum sanctum) and of Eranda ( Ricinus communis ), that is, with the pulv of the three acrids, treacle, and oil, a linctus should be made. This linctus also is curative of asthma and cough.f 169170

One may also lick the pulv of Vfirtaku (fruits of Solanum Melongena ), Pippali {Piper lofigum ), DrakshS (grapes) and Padmaka (a fragrant wood brought from central India), mixed with honey and ghee.

Or, one may lick the pulv of Tryushana (the three acrids) mixed with old treacle and ghee. l7l

Or, one may lick the pulv of the following, viz., Chitraka {Plum¬ bago Zeylanicd \ Triphala (the three myrobalans), Ajaji (the seeds of t By ‘etena vidhina’ in the second line of 170, is meant that the ashes of ‘Surasa’ •Eranda’ are to he mixed with the pulv of ‘Vyosha’, and treacle, and oil.— T

* ‘Qvabidha’, otherwise called ‘gallaki,’ is the large porcupine. The word may mean also a dog. Here, however, the porcupine is meant.

UIARAKA-SAMHI7A.

*535