सप्तविंशोऽध्यायः । अथात: सर्वोपघातशमनीयं रसायनं व्याख्यास्यामः, यथोवाच भगवान् धन्वन्तरिः ।। १ ।।
Now we shall discourse on the recipes and modes of using elixirs and rejuvinators of the human organism which will make it invulnerable to the inroads of any disease or of decay (Sarvopaghata-Samaniya-Rasayana). 1
रसायनम्। पूर्वे वयसि मध्ये वा मनुष्यस्य प्रयुञ्जीत भिषक् प्राज्ञः स्निग्धशुद्धतनोः सदा ।। २ ।।
नाविशुद्धशरीरस्य युक्तो रासायनो विधिः । न भाति वाससि क्लि (म्लि) ष्टे रङ्गयोग इवाहितः ॥ ३ ॥
Metrical Texts : A wise physician should (invariably ) prescribe some sort of tonic (Rasayana) for his patients in their youth and middle age after having their systems (properly) cleansed by the applications of a Sneha and purifying remedies (emetics and purgatives). A person whose system has not been (previously) cleansed (Sodhana) with the proper purifying remedies (emetics and purgatives) should not, in any case, have recourse to such tonics inasmuch as they would fail to produce the wished result, just as the application of a dye to a piece of dirty cloth will prove non-effective. 2-3
शरीरस्योपघाता ये दोषजा मानसास्तथा । । उपदिष्टाः प्रदेशेषु तेषां वक्ष्यामि वारणम् ॥ ४ ॥ शीतोदकं पयः क्षौद्रं सर्पिरित्येकशो द्विशः । त्रिशः समस्तमथवा प्राक् पीतं स्थापयेद् वयः ॥ ५ ॥
Now we shall describe the remedial measures and agents for the maladies due to the aggravated Dosas’, both mental and physical, which have already been described ( in several places). Old age and senile decay would be arrested (lit. perpetual or life-long youth would be secured ) by drinking milk, cold water, honey and clarified butter, either separatly or jointly (i.e., in any combination’ taken one, two, three or four at a time ), in early life (just on or just before the completion of the process of organic development). 4-5
Vidanga-Rasayana
तत्र विडङ्गतण्डुलचूर्णमाहृत्य यष्टीमधुकमधुयुक्तं यथाबलं शीततोयेनोपयुञ्जीत, शीततोयञ्चानु पिबेत्, एवमहरहर्मासम्, तदेव मधुयुक्तं भल्लातकक्वाथेन वा, मधुद्राक्षाक्वाथयुक्तं वा, मध्वामलकरसाभ्यां वा, गुडूचीक्वाथेन वा, एवमेते पञ्च प्रयोगा भवन्ति । जीर्णे मुद्गामलकयूघेणालवणेनाल्पस्नेहेन घृतवन्तमोदनमश्नीयात्; एते खल्वर्शांसि क्षपयन्ति, क्रिमीनुपघ्नन्ति, ग्रहणधारणशक्तिं जनयन्ति, मासे मासे च प्रयोगे वर्षशतं वर्षशतमायुषोऽभिवृद्धिर्भवति।।६।।
Vidanga-Rasayana : The powdered seeds of the Vidanga (Tandula) and pulverised Yasti-madhu and honey should be mixed together and taken with cold water in an adequate dose (according to the strength of the patient), and a portion of cold water should then be taken. This medicine should be regularly continued for a month. The same pulverised Vidanga seeds should be similarly taken for a month through the vehicle of the decoction of Bhallataka mixed with honey; or of the decoction of grapes mixed with honey; or with the expressed juice of Amalaka sweetened with honey; or through the vehicle of the decoction of Guduci. Thus there are five ways (of taking pulverised Vidanga seeds (Tandula) as an elixir. A meal of boiled rice with a copious quantity of clarified butter should be taken with the soup of Amalaka and Mudga pulse unseasoned with salt and cooked with only a small quantity of Sneha (clarified butter) after the medicine has been well digested.
These (Rasayana) remedies prove curative in cases of haemorrhoids and in complaints of worms. They improve memory and the power of comprehension and their use for every month increases the life-time of the user by one hundred years. 6
1. The mental Dosas are Rajas and Tanas, whereas the physical Dosas are Vayu, Pitta and Kapha.
2. There would be four combinations of one each, six of two each, four of three each and one of four jointly; thus there would be fifteen combination in all.
Vidanga-Kalpa
विडङ्गतण्डुलानां द्रोणं पिष्टपचने पिष्टवदुपस्वेद्य विगतकषायं स्विन्नमवतार्य दूषदि पिष्टमायसे दृढे कुम्भे मधूदकोत्तरं प्रावृषि भस्मराशावन्तर्गृहे चतुरो मासान् निदध्यात्, वर्षाविगमे चोद्धृत्योपसंस्कृतशरीरः सहस्त्रसम्पाताभिहुतं कृत्वा प्रातः प्रातर्यथाबलमुपयुञ्जीत । जीर्णे मुद्गामलकयूषेणालवणेनाल्पस्नेहेन घृतवन्तमोदनमश्नीयात्, पांशुशय्यायां शयीत, तस्य मासादूर्ध्वं सर्वाङ्गेभ्यः क्रिमयो निष्क्रामन्ति, तानणुतैलेनाभ्यक्तस्य वंशविदलेनापहरेत् । द्वितीये पिपीलिकास्तृतीये यूकास्तथैवापहरेत् । चतुर्थे दन्तनखरोमाण्यवशीर्यन्ते । पञ्चमे प्रशस्तगुणलक्षणानि जायन्ते – अमानुषञ्चादित्यप्रकाशं वपुरधिगच्छति दूराच्छ्रवणानि दर्शनानि चास्य भवन्ति, रजस्तमसी चापोह्य सत्त्वमधितिष्ठति । श्रुतनिगाद्यपूर्वोत्पादी गजबलोऽश्वजवः पुनर्युवाष्टौ वर्षशतान्यायुरवाप्नोति । तस्याणुतैलमभ्यङ्गार्थे, अजकर्णकषायमुत्सादनार्थे, सोशीरं कूपोदकं स्नानार्थे, चन्दनमुपलेपनार्थे; भल्लातकविधानवदाहारः परिहारश्च ।। ७ ।।
Vidanga-Kalpa : One Drona measure of Vidanga (seeds) should be boiled in the way of preparing cakes in an Indian cake-pan. When the watery portion ( of the cakes) have been removed ( evaporated) and the Vidanga-grains well boiled, they should be taken down and well pasted on a stone-slab. They should then be kept in a strong iron pitcher after having been mixed with a copious quantity of honey and water. The pitcher should be buried in a heap of ashes inside a closed room during the rainy season and preserved there during the four months of rain; after that period the pitcher should be taken out (of the ashes). Its contents should then be consecrated with (appropriate) Mantras by uttering them a thousand times and should be taken every morning in suitable quantities after the system has been thoroughly cleansed (by appropriate emetics and purgatives, etc.). The diet should consist of cooked rice and clarified butter mixed with a copious quantity of the soup of Mudga pulse and Amalaka cooked with a small quantity of Sneha and salt; and should be taken after the digestion of the medicine. The patient should lie on the ground (and not on a bedding). Worins would be found to have been issuing out of the body after the regular and continuous use of the medicine for a month, which should be removed with the aid of bamboo leaves after the body had been anointed with the Anu-taila (described before) Ants would be coming out of the body during the second, and vermins (Yuka) in the third month of the use of the medicine which should also be removed as in the preceding manner. The hair, nails and teeth begin to fall of and become dilapidated in the fourth month of its use. In the fifth month the body beams with a divine glow, becomes resplendent as the midday sun, and exhibits features which specifically belong to the etherial being. The ears become capable of hearing the faintest and remotest sould (under its use), and the vision extends far into space and beholds objects at a great range (which is not usually given to mortal eyes to descry). The mind, becomes free of the qualities of Rajas (action) and Tamas (nescience), becomes possessed of Sattva (illuminating principles or true knowledge). Things are permanently and indelibly impressed upon his (user’s) memory at a single hearing and the faculy of invention wonderfully expands. Old age and decay permanently vanish and youth returns to stay in him for good, bringing with it an elephantine strength and a horse-like speed, and he is enabled to live for eight hundred springs. The medicated oil known as Anu-taila should be used in anointing (the body at this stage of treatment); a decoction of Aja-karna for Utsadana (washing) purposes, well-water saturated with Usira for bathing purposes, sandal paste in anointing (Anulepana) the body, and the regimen of diet and conduct as described in connection with the Bhallataka treatment (Vidhana) should be observed. 7
1. Dalhana explains the term Madhukodakottara to mean a large quantity of Madhuka and water, (and by water he means the decoction of Vidanga).
Kasmarya Kalpa
काश्मर्यांणां निष्कुलीकृतानामेष एव कल्प: पांशुशय्याभोजनवर्जम् । अत्र हि पयसा भृतेन भोक्तव्यम्, समानमन्यत् पूर्वेणा शिषश्च । शोणितपित्तनिमित्तेषु विकारेष्वेतेषामुपयोगः ॥ ८ ॥
Kasmarya Kalpa : The use of huskless Kasmaryaja seeds for rejuvinating purposes, is similar to the preceding one, except that it requires a separate kind of diet and does not require the use to lie on the ground. Under this treatment, the diet should consist of (boiled) rice and well-boiled milk and the beneficial effect that would result from its use, are identical with those of the foregoing one. These remedies should be employed in diseases originating through the vitiated blood and Pitta of the system. 8
Bala-Kalpa
यथोक्तमागारं प्रविश्य बलामूलार्धपलं पलं वा पयसाऽलोड्य पिबेत् । जीर्णे पय: सर्पिरोदन इत्याहारः, एवं द्वादशरात्रमुपयुज्य द्वादश वर्षाणि वयस्तिष्ठति; एवं दिवसशतमुपयुज्य वर्षशतं वयस्तिष्ठति । एवमेवातिबलानागबलाविदारीशतावरीणामुपयोगः। विशेषतस्त्वतिबला-मुदकेन, नागबलाचूर्णं मधुना, विदारीचूर्णं क्षीरेण, शतावरीमप्येवम्, पूर्वेणान्यत् समानमाशिषश्च समाः । एतास्त्वौषधयो बलकामानां शोषिणां रक्तपित्तोपसृष्टानां शोणितं छर्दयतां विरिच्यमानानाञ्चोपदिश्यन्ते ।। ९ ।।
Bala-Kalpa : A Pala or half a Pala weight of the (powdered) roots of the Bala should be well-stirred in cow’s milk and taken (every day) and the patient or the user should not be allowed to sit out of his room as prescribed before (during the entire course of taking the medicine). He should be advised to take a meal consisting of boiled rice, milk and clarified butter after the medicine had been fully digested.
Premature old age and senile decay would be arrested for a period of twelve years by taking this elixir continuously for twelve days in the foregoing manner, whereas an extension of its course to a hundred days would add a hundred summers to the duration of his youthful age. Atibala, Naga-bala, Vidari, Satavari may be similarly taken for the same purpose, with this distinction that the (powders of ) the Ati-bala should be taken with water, those of the Naga-bala, with honey, whereas Vidari and the Satavari powders should be taken with milk. The regimen of diet and conduct as well as the beneficial results produced therefrom are the same (as from the use of Bala). The present remedies are recommended to persons seeking strength, to the consumption and to those who are suffering from haemorrhages, suffering from an attack of Haematemesis and diarrhoea.¹ 9
Varahi Kalpa
वाराहीमूलतुलाचूर्णं कृत्वा ततो मात्रां मधुयुक्तां पयसाऽऽलोडच पिबेत्, जीर्णे पयः सर्पिरोदन इत्याहारः; प्रतिषेधोऽत्र पूर्ववत् । प्रयोगमिममुपसेवमानो वर्षशतमायुरवाप्नोति स्त्रीषु चाक्षयताम्, एतेनैव चूर्णेन पयोऽवचूर्ण्य शृतशीतमभिमथ्याज्यमुत्पाद्य मधुयुतमुपयुञ्जीत सायंप्रातरेककालं वा, जीर्णे पय: सर्पिरोदन इत्याहारः, एवं मासमुपयुज्य वर्षशतायुर्भवति ।। १० ।।
Varahi Kalpa: A Tula measures of the powders of Varahibulbs should be taken in an adequate dose (everyday) by mixing it with honey and stirring it with milk. A meal of boiled rice with clarified butter and milk should be taken after it had been digested and the patient should be advised to observe a regimen of diet and conduct (Pratisedha) as laid down before (in connection with the foregoing elixirs). By using it a man is enabled to witness a hundred summers and does not feel any fatigue after sexual excesses. A quantity of this powder should be mixed with milk and boiled (according to the rules of Ksirapaka). When sufficiently cooled, the milk should be churned and the clarified butter produced therefrom should be taken every morning and evening or once a day after the medicine had been digested. A continuous use of the medicine for a month enables a man to live up to a good hundred years. 10
चक्षुःकामः प्राणकामो वा बीजकसाराग्निमन्थमूलं निष्क्वाथ्य
1. Suffering from consumption and hoemoptysis. —D. R.
माषप्रस्थं साधयेत्, तस्मिन् सिध्यति चित्रकमूलानामक्षमात्रं कल्कं दद्यादामलकरसचतुर्थभागम्, ततः स्विन्नमवतार्य सहस्त्रसम्पाताभिहुतं कृत्वा शीतीभूतं मधुसर्पिर्भ्यां संसृज्योपयुञ्जीत यथाबलम्, यथासात्म्यञ्च लवणं परिहरन् भक्षयेत् । जीर्णे मुद्गामलकयूषेणालवणेन घृतवन्तमोदनमश्नीयात् पयसा वा मासत्रयमेवमाभ्यां प्रयोगाभ्यां चक्षुः सौपर्ण्यवद् भवति, अनल्पबलो स्त्रीषु चाक्षयो वर्षशतायुर्भवतीति ।। ११ ।।
Persons, seeking better eye sight and vitality should make a decoction of Bijaka¹ (Pita Sala) and the roots of the Agnimantha with which a Prastha measure of Masa-pulse should be duly cooked. When the Masa-pulse is sufficiently boiled, an Aksa measure of powdered Citraka roots and the expressed juice of the Amalaka weighing one fourth part of the Masapulse should be added to it, and the whole compound should be removed (from the oven) at the close of the cooking. When cooled down this compound should be taken in adequate doses with honey and clarified butter according to the strength and personal advantageousness after consecrating it a thousand times with appropriate Mantras. Persons seeking longevity and a stronger or improved range of vision should take this and they should be advised to take their meals without any salt. The meal, after the digestion of the medicine, should consist of boiled rice and a copious quantity of clarified butter and should be taken with unsalted Mudga, and Amalaka soup or with milk alone. A continuous use of either of these two medicines for three consecutive months would make a man’s eye-sight as keen and foresighted as that of a Suparna² and enable him to witness a hundred summers in the full vigour of health, strength and manhood.³ 11
1. Dalhana recommends one Pala weight of Bijaka Sara and Agni-mantha to be boiled in an Adhaka measure of water which should be reduced to one half for the preparation of the decoction.
2. Suparna is the king of birds and is said to be the most keen-sighted.
3. Dalhana says that some commentators do not read this, since they do not consider it to be a part of the original text. Jejjata also has not read this.
भवति चात्रपयसा सह सिद्धानि नरः शणफलानि यः । भक्षयेत् पयसा सार्धं वयस्तस्य न शीर्यते ।। १२ ।।
Memorable Verse: The use of Sana (seeds) boiled with milk and taken also with milk guards against the loss of flesh and prevents the body from suffering any decay. 12 इति सुश्रुत संहितायां चिकित्सितस्थाने सर्वोपघातशमनीयं रसायनं नाम सप्तविंशोऽध्यायः ।। २७ ।।
Thus ends the Twenty-seventh Chapter of the Chikitsa Sthana in the Susruta Samhita which deals with elixirs and rejuvenators.
