describe the different traits of these (all-healing) Osha- dhis. The Ajagari* Oshadhi is found to put forth five leaves which have a brown colour and are marked with variegated ring-like patches. It looks like a snake and measures five Aratnis (a cubit of the middle length from the elbow to the tip of the little finger) in length. The
* There is no mention of "Ajagari" in the list (para. 2) and there is no mention of **Suvarchald" in this descriptive list. It seems, therefore, probable that "Ajagari" and "Suvarchala" ajre identical.
542 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. tChap. XXX.
S'veta-kaipoti is a leafless, gold-coloured, snake-shaped plant with a root two fingers in length and is red at the extremities. The Gonasi is a bulbous plant possessed of two leaflets, red-coloured and is marked with black rings. It measures two Aratnis in height and resembles a Gonasa (boa) snake in shape. The Krishna- ka(poti is a soft, hairy, milk-secreting plant and its juice is possessed of a colour and a taste like that of sugar-cane juice. The VatrSkhi is bulbous and puts forth a single leaflet; it is resplendent like broken pieces of black antimony. It resembles a black lance hooded Kobrd (Krishna Sarpa) in shape and is possessed of mighty potency. 8.
The Chratrai and the Ati-chchhatra^ are bulbous in their origin and are found to be attached to a plant of the Sveta-kapoti species. Both of them are possessed of the virtue of arresting death and decay and act as prophylactic against the Rakshas as (malig- nant spirits). A plant of the Kanyai species is found to put forth a dozen leaflets beautifully coloured like the breast-feathers of a peacock. It is bulbous in its origin and exudes a gold- coloured juice. An Oshadhi plant of the Karenu species abounds in milky juice and its bulb resembles an elephant. It puts forth two leaves which look like those of a Hasti-karna-paldsa tree. An Oshadhi plant of the Ajat species abounds in milky juice, grows like a Kshupa or bushy plant and is white- coloured like the moon, a conch shell, or a Kunda flower ; its bulb resembles the udder of a she-goat. An Oshadhi plant of the Chakrakai species is white-coloured, puts forth flowers of variegated colours, grows in bushes, resembles a Kdkddani plant in shape and size and is possessed of the efficacy in warding off death and decay. An Oshadhi plant of the A'ditya-parnini species grows
Chap. XXX.] CHIKITSA STHANAM. 543
from roots (and has no bulb) and is furnished with five red-coloured leaflets as soft as a piece of linen and which always point towards the sun (change their direction with the progress of that luminary in heavens) An Oshadhi plant of the Brahma-Suvarchalai species, is gold-coloured, abounds in milky juice, resembles a lotus plant in appearance, grows by the side of water (?>., in marshy lands) and spreads in all directions. An Oshadhi plant of the Mahak-S'ra^vani speciesbears flowers like a Nilotpala and collyrium coloured fruit. The stem of the Kshupa (bushy) plant measures an Aratni and the leaf two fingers in length. It is gold-coloured and abounds in milky juice. An Oshadhi plant of the S'ra'vani species, possesses all the preceding features, (of the MahA-s'rdvani) but is tinged with a yellow colour. The Oshadhi known as the Golomi and the Ajalomi are hairy and bulbous (in their origin). A Vegavati Oshadhi plant puts forth leaves from its roots ; its leaves are severed like those of a Hamsapddi creeper, and move about violently (even In the absence of any wind), or it resembles a Samkha-pushpi creeper in all its features, looks like the cast-off skin of a snake and grows at the end of the raiijy season {i.e., in autumn), 9,
lYIode of culling' the above drugs :—
The first seven of the all -healing Oshadi plants enumerat-
ed above should be culled by reciting the following
Mantra : —"We appease thee with the holy energy and
dignity of Mahendra, Rama, Krishna and of the Brdhma-
nas and of cows. Exert your beneficial virtues for the
good of mankind". The intelligent one should consecrate
all these Oshadhis with this Mantra. The lazy, the
impious, the ungrateful and the unbelieving invariably
fail to see and secure the Soma plants, or the drugs
possessed of similar virtues. The gods after having
S44 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. tChap. XXX.
drunk the celestial ambrosia to their fill cast the residue
to the Somas and kindred plants as well as to the
moon, the lord of the Oshadhis. lo-A.
Their habitats :-The Brahma-suvarchald species (of the Oshadhis) is found to grow in and about the waters of the great river Indus and the lake Deva- sunda. The Adityaparnini species may be had in those two regions at the end of winter, and Gonasi and Ajagari at the beginning of the rains The Karenu^\}(\^ Kanyd, the Chhatrd^ the Ati-chchhatrd^ the Golomi, the Aja-lomi, and the Mahd-s'rdvani varieties of the Osha- dhis are found (in spring) in the lake of Kshudraka- Manasa in Kashmir. The Krishna-sarpdkhyd and the Gonasi species also are found in that locality during the spring. The S'veta-kdpoti species is white coloured and is found to grow on the ant-hills which cover a space of three Yojanas on the other (viz^ the western) side of the river Kausiki and to the east of the Sanjaya- nti. The Oshadhi of the Vegavati species grows on the Malaya hills and on the Nala-setu. lO-B.
Any one of these Oshadhis should be taken after a
fast under the auspices of the full-moon in the month
of Kdrtika. The regimen of diet and conduct is the
same as laid down in connection with Soma-Rasa^yana
and the results have been already described to be the
same, loC.
The common habitats of all the
Oshadhis : — The Soma as well all the other
Oshadhi plants may be had on (the summits of) the
Arvuda mountains whose cloud-rending summits are
the favourite haunts of the gods and which abound in
holy pools and fountains frequented by the gods, the
Siddhas and the holy Rishis, and whose large hollow
caves are reverberated with the thundering roars of
Chap. XXX.] CHiKITSA STHANAM. 545
lion and which are moated on all sides by swift cours-
ing rivers, whose waters are perpetually tossed by
sportive elephants of the forests and whose brows are
effulgent with the lustres of various brilliant metals
imbedded in their hearts. lo.
These ambrosial plants (as well as other drugs)
are to be sought in the rivers, the holy forests and
hermitages, as well as in lakes and on hills, since
this world is a bed of gems and is known to hold
priceless treasures in all places, ii.
Thus ends the Thirtieth Chapter of the Chikitsita Sthdnam in the Sus'ruta Samhita which deals with the tonic remedies which have the power of removing the mental and physical distresses.
CHAPTER XXXI.
Now we shall discourse on the medicinal uses (both
internal and external) of the Snehas*, i.e,, oleaginous
substances (Snehaupayogika-Chikitsita). i.
A Sneha or an oleaginous substance forms the
essential factor of the physical organism, and the self-
conscious animated element (which contributes directly
to its vitality and makes life possible) abounds in
oleaginous principles; both are consequently in constant
want of a Sneha. Snehas or oleaginous substances are
enjoined to be administered in food and drinks as well
as in Anuvdsana, Mastikya-s'iro-vasti and Uttara-vasti
(urethral or vaginal enemas), errhines (Nasya), ear-drops
(Karna-purana) and unguents (Abhyanga). 2.
There are four kinds of Snehas which, however, are
divided into two classes according to their origin : viz.,
vegetable and animal. Clarified butter prepared from
cow's milk is the best of the animal Snehas, while
Sesamum oil is the best of the vegetable ones, 3.
Now we shall describe the ends for which the
different vegetable oils should be used as well as the
modes in which they should be prepared and employed. 4.
The expressed oils prepared from (the seeds of)
Lodhra, Eranda^ Kos'dnira, Danti, Dravanti, Saptaldy
S' amkhini, Palds'a^ Vishdnikd^ Gavdkshi, Kampillaka,
Sampdka and of Nilini act as purgatives. The oils
prepared from (the seeds of) Jimutaka^ Kutaja, Kritave-
dhana, Ikshvdku (bitter gourd), Dhdmdrgava and of
Madana act as emetics. The expressed oils prepared
from (the seeds of) Vidanga, Khara manjari^ Madhu-
* The Sneha is of four kinds, viz., clarified butter, oil, lard and marrow, of which clarified butter and oil are generally used.
Chap. XXXI.] CHIKITSA STHANAM. 547
s'igru, Surya-valli, Pilu, Siddhdrthaka and oi Jyotishmati act as errhines (S'iro-virechana). 5.
The expressed oils prepared from (the seeds of)
Karanja, Putika, Kritamdla, Mdtulunga, Ingudi and of
Kirdta-tikta are used in cases of Dushta-vrana (malig-
nant ulcers). The expressed oils of Tuvaraka, Kapittha,
Kampillaka, Bhalldtaka and of Patola are used in cases
of Maha^-vyaidhi (Kushtha, etc.). The expressed oils of
Trapusha^ Ervdruka, Karkdruka^ Tumbi and of Kush-
mdnda are used in cases ' of Mutra-sanga (for diuretic
purposes). The expressed oils of Kapota-vamka^ Aval-
^uja and of Haritaki are used in cases of Sarkara'-
s'mari (gravels, stones, etc.). The expressed oils of
Ktisumbha^ Sarshapa, Atasi, Pichii-marda^ Atimuktaka
Bhdndi, Katu-tumhi and of Katabhi are used in cases of
Prameha (urinary complaints). The expressed oils of
the fruits of Tdla, Ndrikela, Panasa, Mocha, Piydla,
Vilva, Madhuka, S'lesJmidtaka and of Amrdtaka are
used in diseases due to the deranged Va'yu acting in
concert with the deranged Pitta. The expressed oils
of Vibhitaka. Bhalldtaka and of Pinditaka are used in
Krishna-karma (blackening the cicatrix of a healed
ulcer, etc.). The expressed oils of 5 ravana, Kanguka and
of Tuntuka are used in imparting a yellow colour (to a
cicatrix). The expressed oils of the pith of S^ims^apd
and o^thoAguru are used in cases of Kushtha known as
Dadra (ring- worm) and Kitima. 6-y.
The primary action of all kinds of Sneha (oil, clari-
fied butter, etc.^ is to subdue the aggravation of the
deranged Vdyu of the body, and the general virtues of
all kinds of (vegetable) oil have been described above. 8.
Now we shall describe the process of preparing drug-
decoctions and of medicating oils (therewith). Accord-
ing to several authorities, the bark^ roots and leaves,
548 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. XXX[.
etc., of the drugs to ba used should be boiled with
water weighing four times their combined weight,
and should be taken down with three-fourths of the
original water evaporated by boiling. This is the rule
of preparing drug-decoctions (Kashdya^^. Six Prasrita
(one Prasrita being equal to sixteen ToUs) weight of oil,
twenty-four Prasrita weights of the liquid (decoction
prepared before) and four Aksha measures (one Aksha
being equal two to Tolds) of pasted drugs (as Kalka) are
the proportions to be observed in cooking a medicated
oil. But this is not correct. Why ? Because it is
not in conformity with the injunctions of the Scriptures
(officinal standard). We shall now proceed to explain
the different measures of Pala, Kudava, etc. 9-10.
Measures of Drugs :— The weight of twelve
middle-sized Dhdnya-m^shas (corns of paddy) make
one Suvarna-mdshaka. Sixteen Suv^arna-mdshakas make
one Suvarna. The weight of nineteen middle-sized
Nishpdvas (pulse) make one Dharana. Three Dharanas
and a half make one Karsha. Four Karshas make one
Kudava. Four Kudavas make one Prastha.* P'our
Prasthas make one Adhaka. Four Adhakas make one
Drona. Hundred Palas make one Tull Twenty Tulds
make one Bhdra. This is tha measure in respect of
dried substances. The quantity should be doubled in
cases of fresh vegetables and fluids. -J- ir.
* Thirly-two Palas make one Prastha in respect of water \ but in respect of non-oily substances a Prastha is equal to twenty Palas, where- as in respect of fresh drugs it is equal to only sixteen Palas,
t Some drugs, viz. :— Vdsa, Kutaja, Kushmanda, Prasa'rani Vald, Amrita and Nimba, etc., are invariably employed in their fresh state and the practice is not to take them in double measures in spite of their freshness. Two different kinds of measure have been adopted ip the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia. One is called the KcClinga and the
Chap. XXXI.] CHIKITSA STHANAM. 549
The Kash2iya-P2ika Kalpa :— The bark,
roots and leaves, etc., of medicinal drugs should be
dried in the sun and taken in any of the aforesaid
measures, should be cut in small pieces, or pounded,
as the case may be, and soaked in a quantity of water*
weighing eight or sixteen times their combined weight.
They should then be boiled over a fire and the decoc-
tion should be taken down from the oven with only
a quarter part of the water left. This is the general
rule for preparing a decoction (Kasha^ya). 12.
The Sneha-Paka Kalpa :— One part of
the Sneha (oil, clarified butter, etc.), four parts of (any
one or more) liquid! substances, a fourth part of the
medicinal pastes (Kalka) should be boiled together.
This is the general rule for the preparation of a
medicated Sneha ;oil, clarified butter, etc.). 13,
Alternative IVIethodS :— As an alternaiive,
a TuU measure of the bark, roots and leaves, etc. (as
the case may be) of the drugs to be decocted, should be
boiled with a Drona measure of water. The water in the
preparation should be boiled down to a quarter part of
Its original quantity and then considered as cooked and
