Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

Waste-born cough, which is a dreadful ailment, arises from excite¬ ment of all the three faults. Hence, such treatment should be adopted as is beneficial in excitement of all the faults.^ 188

The strength or weakness of waste-born cough is determined by the predominance or otherwise of the excited faults.d

* Gangadhara notes that the use of ‘adi’ after ‘Pratuda,’ implies beasts of prey as well. — T.

-j- Gangadhara reads ‘Dhumah Sanusthanah’ in the first line. The Calcutta and the Bombay editions read ‘Dhumah Sanupanah.’ The sense is almost identical. — T.

$ What is stated here is this : ‘Dipanas,’ &c., are beneficial in waste-born cough, if administered according to the particular fault or faults excited. In some cases, ‘dipanas,’ in some ‘vringhanas,’ in some ‘valyas,’ are to be administered. ‘Vatyas5t’ is explained by Gangadhara as meaning ‘dosha- viparyayat,’ i. e., ‘contrary to the fault or faults excited.’ — T.

§ In waste-born cough, it will not do to allay this or that particular fault. As the disease is due to the excitement of all the faults, no treatment can be successful that is hot alleviative of all the faults simultaneously.— T.

II Waste-born cough arises from excitement of all the three faults. Its strength or other¬ wise is determined by the degree in which the faults have been excited as also by the

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As regards, again, the several varieties of cough, it should be noted that each succeeding one is more dangerous than the preced¬ ing one. i89

( Here are two verses containing a summary }.

Edibles, drinks, ghees (and oils), linctuses, Tanakas’ (after drinks), milks, ghees mixed with treacle,- smokes, medicines beneficial to coughs in general, the different varieties of coughs, their originating causes, symptoms, curability and incurability, medicines prescribable in each variety of cough, and the degree of danger attaching to each variety have been laid down in this Lesson. 190091

Thus ends Lesson XVIII, in the Division called ‘Chikitsa’, of the treatise of Agnivega as revised by Charaka.* accompaniments of the excited faults. ‘Anuvala-yoga’ is explained by GangS dhara as equi¬ valent te ‘anuvandha.yoga ? The varieties of cough noticed in this Lesson are five, viz., I. wind-born, 2. bile-born, 3. phlegm-born, 4. sore-born, and 5. waste-born. Each succeed¬ ing one is more dangerous than each preceding one. — T.

* The commentators say that the general form, ‘Charaka-pratijodhite’, is retained although these Lessons, it is well known, were revised by Dridhavala. ‘Charaka-proti qodhite,’ they contend, means ‘Charaka-pratisansluite aprSpte tu Dridhavala-pratisanskrite.’ This is ingenious. — T.

LESSON XIX.

TREATMENT OF ATISARA,

OR,

DIARRHOEA.

We shall now expound the treatment of ‘Atisara’ or Diarrhoea. Thus said the illustrious one of Atri’s race. 1

Unto the illustrious one of Atri’s race, seated on the northern breast of Himavat, in the midst of a conclave of Rishis, after having finished his morning duties and completed his libations on the Homa fire, Agnivega said, approaching with humility and saluting with reverence. 2

It behooveth thee, O illustrious one, to expound, through kindness for all creatures, what the first origin, premonitory indications, the symptoms, and the alleviatives are of Diarrhoea.*

The illustrious Punarvasu of Atri’s race, having heard these words of Agnivega, said, 4

Listen to me, O Agnivega, as I expound the subject in full ! 5

In ancient times, in sacrifices (performed in honour of the deities), animals were only dedicated (with the aid of proper mantras).

They were not actually killed. 6

Until long after the sacrifice performed by Daksha, in the sacrl* fices (for example) of Manu’s sons, viz., Marishyan, NabhSga, Ikshaku, Vigaga, Yati, and others, the animals, with their own consent, suffered themselves to be dedicated (with mantras). 7-8

After these times, (a monarch of the name of) Prithadra per¬ formed a sacrifice extending for many long years.

In this sacrifice, animals becoming scarce, the practice was inau¬ gurated of sacrificing (actually killing) kine. All creatures were moved at the sight. 9

From eating the flesh of the kine thus killed in Prithadra’s sacri: fice, through its heaviness, heating virtues, unassimilability, unsuit--

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ability of character as food, and disrelish, people suffered injury to their digestive fires, and loss of mental cheerfulness as well.

Diarrhoea first arose among those men.* i°

Again, in course of time, it was found that of one in whose con¬ stitution the wind predominates, who exposes himself to wind and sun, who indulges in excessive physical exercise, who takes food that is dry, insufficient, and of limited measure, who habitually indulges also in strong wines and sexual congress, and who suppresses the urgings of nature, the wind becomes provoked.

In consequence of this, the digestive fire becomes weakened. ”