An English Translation of the Sushruta Samhita (Bhishagratna ed.)

The Sahasra-paka-Taila :-The wood

of drugs belonging to the group of Maha-pancha-mula should be collected in large quantities and burnt on a

* Palra means 64 Palas, i e., 8 Seers, but in cases of liquids the weight should be doubled,

294 THE SUSHRUTA SAMIIITA. [Chap IV.

plot of land, so as to make the soil black. The fire should be kept buniing one whole night ; on the following morning on the extinction of the fire the ashes should be removed and the ground, when cool, should be soaked with one hundred Ghatas (six thousand and four hundred seers) of oil cooked with the drugs of the V id di'i-gandh a di gj'oup d^nd with, the same quantity of milk and kept in that condition for one night more. On the next morning the earth should be dug up, down to the stratum found to have been soaked with the oil and the soil should then be dissolved in warm water in large cauldrons for the purpose. The oil that will be found floating on the surface of the water should be skimmed off with both hands and kept in a safe basin. Then the decoction of the Vayu-subduing drugs (the Bhadra-darvadi group), meat-juice, milk, fermented rice- gruel (each taken in a quantity measuring a quarter part of that oil) should be taken one thousand times and each time should be boiled with the oil. Vayu- subduing and aromatic drugs and spices, in the northern (^trans-Himalaya) and southern (Deccan) countries, should be thrown into it and boiled with the oil. The boiling should be completed within the period during which it could be properly done. Then after the completion of tne cooking, conch-shells should be blown, Dundubhis should be sounded, umbrellas should be held open, ehowries should be blown into it and a thousand Brahmins should be treated with repasts. The oil so sacredly prepared should be stored carefully in golden, silver or earthen pitchers. This oil is called the Sahasrapatka-Taila and is of irresistible potency and fit even for the use of kings. Satapa(ka-Taila is also prepared in the above manner (with the aforesaid ingre- dients) by cooking it one hundred times only. 23.

chap. IV.] CHIKITSA STHANAM. 295

The Patra-Lavana :— The green leaves of the Eranda plants and those of the trees known as Mush- kaka, Naktamdla, Atarushaka, Piiiika, Aragvadha and Chitraka should be thrashed with (salt of equal quantity) in an Udukhala (a hand thrashing mill) and placed in an earthen pitcher, saturated with oil or clarified butter. Having covered the mouth of the pitcher with a lid, it should be plastered and burnt in fire of cow-dung. The medicine thus prepared t^with the help of internal heat) is called the Patra-Lavana. Medical experts advise the application of this medicine in cases of Vata-roga. '^4.

The Kanda-Lavana ".—Similarly, Snuhi- twigs, Brinjal (Vdrtdku), and 5' 4'"'''^- bark (taken in equal parts) and rock-salt (of equal weight as the entire drugs) should be thrashed and kept in a pitcher. Oil, clarified butter, lard and marrow should be added to it equal in weight with salt and then having covered the mouth of the pitcher with a lid, it should be plaster- ed and burnt in a fire of cow-dung (as before). The use of this medicated salt which is called the Kanda- Lavana or Sneha-Lavana is recommended by experts in Vata-roga. 25.

The Kalyanaka-Lavana :— The follow-
ing drugs with their roots, leaves and twigs, viz,,
Gandira^ Paldsa, Kutaja, Vilva, Arka, Snuhi, Apd-
indrga, Pdtald, P dribhadra^ Nddeyt, Krishnagandhd
Nipa, Nimba, Nirdahani, Atarushaka, Nakta-mdlaka,
Putika, Vfihati, Kantikari, Bhalldtaka, Ingudi, Baija-
yanti, Kadali, Varshdbhu, Hrivera^ Kshuraka, Indra-
vdruni, S vet amoks haka and Asoka should be gathered in
a green condition and mixed with (as large a quantity
of) rock-salt and having thrashed them in an Udukhala
should be burnt in a hermetically sealed pitcher as

tg6 THE SUSHRUTA SAMIIITA. [Chap. iV.

above, after which it should be filtered (twenty times)
and boiled in the manner of alkaline preparations At
the close of the boiling, powders* of the drugs of the
Hingvddi or Pippalyadi group should be mixed with
it. This medicine is called the Kalsiynaka-Lavana and
is specially efficacious in all cases of Vata-roga and
is applicable both in food and drink in cases of Gulma,
enlarged spleen, impaired digestion, indigestion, hae-
morrhoids, intestinal worms, aversion to food and
cough. 26 .

IVIemorable Verse :— The remedy proves
efficacious in Vata-roga through its heat-making potency,
power of liquifying and secreting the deranged Doshas
and of restoring and correcting them as well. 27,

Thus ends the fourlh Chapter of the Chikitsila Sthanam in the Sus'ruta Samhita which deals with the treatment of Vata-\ yadhi.

* The total weight of these powders should be one-fourth of the weight of the rock-salt taken in ihe course of the preparation.— Ddllana.

CHAPTER Y.

Now we shall discourse on the chapter which deals with the medical treatment of IVIaha-V^ta-

Vyadhi. i.

Several authorities group the disease Vata-Rakta
under two different sub-heads, such as superficial and
deep-seated. But such a classification is arbitrary and
unscientific, inasmuch as this disease first manifests
itself on the surface (layer of the skin) like Kushtha and
gradually invades the deeper tissues of the body. Hence
there are no (two) forms of this disease. i-2.

Causes of V^ta-Rakta :— The Vayu of

the body is enraged or agitated by such causes as wrestling with a man of superior and uncommon physical strength, etc., while the blood is vitiated by such causes as constant over-eating of edibles which are of difficult digestion and heat-making in their potency or ingestion of food before the digestion of the previous meal. The Vayu thus enraged and agitated enters into the blood- carrying channels of the body and being obstructed in its passage, becomes mixed with the vitiated blood. The deranged Vayu and the blood thus combine to give rise to a disease characterised by the specific symptoms of each, which is known as Vaita-Rakta. The charac- teristic pain, which at first confines itself to the extre- mities, gradually extends over the whole body.

Premonitory symptoms of Vstta-

Rakta : —The disease is ushered in with a pricking pain, a burning and an itching sensation (in the affected part), a swelling, roughness and numbness (anaesthesia) of the diseased locality, throbbing of the veins, ligaments,

^9^ tHE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. V.

nerves and arteries, a weakness in the thighs and sudden appearance of red or brownish circular patches on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, fingers and heels, etc., (A. R. — wrists). If neglected and immoderately treated in its premonitory stages, the disease soon develops its characteristic symptoms in succession, which have been described before ; whereas (a lifelong) defor- mity (of the affected part) is the penalty for neglecting it (in its fully patent or developed stage). 3.

Memorable Verse : — Men of a mild and deli-
cate constitution, as well as those who are (inordinately)
stout or sedentary in their habits or are addicted to
unwholesome and incompatible food, etc., are generally
found to be susceptible to an attack of Vaita-Rakta. 4.

PrOgTIOSiS : — A physician is advised to take in
hand the medical treatment of a Vata-Rakta-patient
who has as yet not lost much strength and muscle, nor is
afflicted with thirst, fever, epileptic fits, dyspnoea, cough,
numbness (of the affected part), aversion to food, indi-
gestion, extension and contraction of the limb, as well
as of a person who is strong and temperate in his living
and can afford to pay for the diet and other necessary
accessories of the treatement. 5.

Preliminary remedial measures :— in

the first stage of the disease the blood, having become
vitiated owing to its being obstructed in its course (by
the unusually agitated Vayu in the system), should be
gradually and not profusely bled, except when the body
would be found to have become extremely dry or to have
lost its natural healthful glow or complexion through the
action of the aggravated morbific principle (Vdyu), for
fear of further aggravating the Vayu. Emetics, purga-
tives, and Vasti (enemas), etc., should be administered
and the patient should be made to take a diet consisting

Chap, v.] CHIKITSA STHANAM. 299

of old and matured clarified butter (and boiled rice), in the case where the aggravated condition of the deranged Vayu would be found to predominate. As an alternative, he should be made to drink a potion consisting of goat's milk mixed with half its quantity of oil, with two Tola weight of Yashti-madhu or goat's milk cooked with Pris'niparni (two Tola weight) with honey and sugar (added after cooking), or cooked with S'unthi, S'ringd- taka, and Kas'eruka, or cooked with Syamd, Rdsnd, Sushavi, Pris'niparni^ Pilu, S'atdvari, S'vadojnshtrd and Das'a-fmda. 6

Oil, cooked with the addition ol milk previously
boiled with the decoction of Das'a-mula of eight times
its own weight and a Kalka of Madhuka, Mesha-s'ringi
(A. R. Sarngashta), S'vadmnshtrd, Sarala, Bhadra-ddru^
Vachd and Surabhi pasted together, should be adminis-
tered in drinks, etc , (viz , anointment, sprinkling, etc.\
As an alternative, the oil cooked with the decoction of
S'atdvari, Mayuraka, Madhuka, Kshira-Viddri^ Vald,
Ati-vald and Trina-pancha-mula . with the paste of the
drugs belonging to the Kdkolyddi group, or the oil^^
cooked with the decoction and a Kalka of Vala for
a hundred times should be prescribed for the patient.
The affected part should be washed with the milk, boiled
with the roots of the Vata-hara (Vayu-subduing) drugs
(?>., Das'a-mula), or simply with Amla (gruel, etc.), or
a plaster composed of barley, Madhuka, Eranda (castor)
and Varshdbhu (pasted together and heated), should be
applied to the part. 7.

Plasters, etc. : — Barley, wheat, sesamum, Mudga pulse aud Masha pulse should be taken in equal

* According to Jejjata Acharyya, the *' Vala-Taila", which is administered in the medical treatment of Mudha-garbha, should be prescribed in this case.

300 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. V.

parts and pounded separately ; and the paste of the
following drugs, viz., Kdkoli, Kshira-kdkoli, /ivaka,
RishabhakUy Vald, Ati-vald^ Visa-mrindla (lotus stem),
Pris'niparni, Mesha-s'ringi, Piydla^ S'arkard (sugar),
Kas'eruka, Surabhi, and Vachd should be mixed with
each of the preceding powders and each of these
compounds (so formed) should be boiled with milk,
oil, lard, marrow and clarified butter. The five
compounds, thus prepared, are called Pa^yasas, which
should be applied as a hot poultice (Upandha) to
the affected part ; or an Utkarikgk, made of the pulp
of oily fruit (seeds) * (prepared by cooking them with
milk) should be applied ; or powders of wheat, barley,
sesamum, Mudga pulse, or Masha pulse, and Vesavdra,
made of various kinds of fish and flesh, should be used
as a plaster. Vilvapes'ikd, Tagara, Deva-ddru, Sarald^
Rdsnd, Harenu, Kushtha, S'ata-pushpd, Eld, Surd and
cream of milk-curd pasted together, should be applied
to the affected part as a plaster (UpanaLha'. As an
alternative, the expressed juice of Matulunga, mixed with
Kanjika, Saindhava salt and clarified butter, pasted to-
gether with the root of the Madhu-s'igru and with sesa-
mum,-]- should be used in a similar way. The preceding
remedies should be administered in a case of Vaita-Rakta
maiked by a preponderance of the aggravated Vayu. 8.

Vata-Rakta with a preponderance

of Pitta : — In cases of Vdta-Rakta where the Pitta
preponderates, the patient should be made to drink a
potion consisting of a decoction of Drdkshd, Aragvadha^
Katphala, Kshira-viddri, Yashti-madhu, Chandana and
Kds w^r^'<3! sweetened with a quantity of sugar and honey.

* Such as sesamum, castor-seed, linseed, Vibhitaka-seeds, etc. t Some say that a paste of sesamum only should be used as a i separate plaster.

Chap, v.] CHIKITSA STHANAM. 3OI

As an alternative, a decoction of S'atdvari, Yashti-
madhu, Patola, Triphald, and Katu-rohini^ or a decoction
of Guduchi^ or a decoction of the drugs belonging to the
Chandanadi group, which are possessed of virtues for
allaying pittaja fever, should be administered to the
patient, sweetened with sugar and honey. Clarified
butter, cooked and prepared with a decoction of bitter
and astringent drugs* also proves beneficial in such
cases. 9.

The affected part should be washed (Parisheka) with
a decoction of Visa-mrindla, Chandana and Pad?naka
(taken in equal parts and) mixed with half its quantity
of milk. As an alternative, the affected part should be
sprinkled with a compound composed of milk, the
expressed juice of Ikshu (sugar-cane), honey, sugar, and
washings of rice (taken in equal parts) ; or with curd-
cream, honey, and Dhanydmla (fermented paddy-gruel),
mixed with a decoction of grapes and Ikshu ; or the
affected part should be anointed with clarified butter
cooked with the drugs of the Jivaniya group, or with the
clarified butter washed a hundred times in water, or
with clarified butter cooked with the Kalka of the
Kdkolyddi group. 10.

Pradeha (plaster) composed of S'dli, Shashtika, Nala^
Vanjula, Tdlis'a, S'rigdtaka^ Galodya, Haridrd, Gairika^
S'aivala, Padma-kashtha, leaves of padma (lotus), pasted
with Dhdnydmla and mixed with clarified butter, should
be applied to the affected part. This plaster (Pradeha)
may be applied lukewarm even in cases of Vdta-Rakta,
marked by a preponderance of the aggravated Vayu.
All the remedial measures (laid down above) may also