एकोनचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः अथातः संशोधनसंशमनीयमध्यायं व्याख्यास्यामः, यथोवाच भगवान् धन्वन्तरिः ॥ १ ॥
Now we shall discourse on the Chapter, which treats of medicinal drugs possessed of cleansing (cathartic) or soothing effects (Samsodhana- Samsamaniya-adhyaya). 1
मदनकुटजजीमूतकेक्ष्वाकुधामार्गवकृतवेधनसर्षपविडङ्गपिप्पलीकरञ्जप्रपुन्नाडकोविदारकर्बुदारारिष्टाश्वगन्धाविदुलबन्धुजीवकश्वेताशणपुष्पीबिम्बीवचामृगेर्वारुचित्राश्चेत्यूद्धर्वभागहराणि । तत्र कोविदारपूर्वाणां फलानि । कोविदारादीनां मूलानि ॥ २ ॥
Emetic Drugs : The drugs known as Madana fruits, Kutaja, Jimutaka, Iksvaku, Dhamargava, Krta vedhana Sarsapa Vidanga, Pippali, Karanja, Prapunnada, Kovidara, Korbudara, Arista, Asvagandha, Vidula Bandhujivaka, Sveta, Sanapuspi, Bimbi, Vaca, Mrgervaru and Citra, etc. are possessed of emetic properties. Out of these the fruits (seeds) of plants preceding Kovidara in the abovesaid list (from the Madana fruits to those of the Prapunnada) and the roots of plants from Kovidara to its close, should be used. 2
त्रिवृताश्यामादन्तीद्रवन्तीसप्तलाशङ्खिनीविषाणिकागवाक्षीच्छगलान्त्रीस्नुक्सुवर्णक्षीरीचित्रककिणिहीकुशकाशतिल्वककम्पिल्लकरम्यकपाटलापूगहरीतक्यामलकबिभीतकनीलिनीचतुरङ्गलैण्ड पूतीकमहावृक्षसप्तच्छदार्क ज्योतिष्मती चेत्यधोभागहराणि । तत्र तिल्वकपूर्वाणां मूलानि । तिल्वकादीनां पाटलान्तानां त्वचः। कम्पिल्लकफलरजः । पूगादीनामेरण्डान्तानां फलानि । पूतीकारग्वधयोः पत्राणि । शेषाणां क्षीराणीति ॥ ३ ॥
Purgative Drugs: The trees, plants, herbs and creepers, etc. knownasTrivrta, Syama, Danti, Dravanti, Saptala, Sankhini, Visanika, Gavaksi, Chhgalantri, Snuk, Suvarnaksiri Citraka, Kinihi, Kusa, Kasa, Tilvaka, Kampillaka, Ramyaka, Patala. Puga, Haritaki, Amalaka, Bibhitaka, Nilini, Caturangula, Eranda, Putika, Mahavrksa, Saptacchhada, Arka and Jyotismati, etc. are possessed of purgative properties. Of these the roots of plants, which precede Tilvaka in the above list, should be used for purgative purposes. The barks of trees from Tilvaka to Patala in the same list should be used for similar purposes. The pollens or dust of the Kampilla seeds and of the fruits of trees from Eranda to Puga, the leaves of Putika, and Aragvadha and the milky exudations of the remaining members of the list, should be similarly used. 3
कोशातकी सप्तला शङ्खिनी देवदाली कारवेल्लिका चेत्युभयतोभागहराणि । एषां स्वरसा इति ॥ ४ ॥
The expressed juice of Kasataki, Saptala, Sankhini, Devadali, or Karavellika is both emetic and purgative. 4
पिप्पलीविडङ्गापामार्गशिनुसिद्धार्थकशिरीषमरिचकरवीरबिम्बीगिरिकर्णिकाकिणिहीवचाज्योतिष्मतीकरञ्जार्कालर्कलशुनातिविषाश्रृङ्गवेरतालीशतमालसुरसार्जकेङ्गुदीमेषश्रृङ्गीमातुलुङ्गीमुरङ्गीपीलुजातीशालतालमधूकलाक्षाहिङ्गुलवणमद्यगोशकृद्रसमूत्राणीति शिरोविरेचनानि । तत्र करवीरपूर्वाणां फलानि । करवीरादीनामर्कान्तानां मूलानि । तालीशपूर्वाणां कन्दाः । तालीशादीनामर्जकान्तानां पत्राणि । इंगुदीमेषश्रृङ्गीत्वचौ । मातुलुङ्गीमुरङ्गीपीलुजातीनां पुष्पाणि । शालतालमधूकानां सारा: । हिङ्गलाक्षे निर्यासौ । लवणानि पार्थिवविशेषाः । मद्यान्यासवसंयोगाः। शकुद्रसमूत्रे मलाविति ॥ ५ ॥
The Errhines : The following drugs, viz Pippali, Vidanga, Apamarga, Sigru, Siddharthaka, Sirisa, Marica, Karavira, Bimbi, Girikarnika, Kinihi, Vaca, Jyotismati, Karanja, Arka, Alarka, Lasuna, Ativisa, Srngavera, Talisa, Tamala, Surasa, Arjaka, Ingudi, Mesasngi, Matulungi, Murangi, Pilu, Jati, Sala, Tala, Madhuka (Maula), Laksa and Hingu, together with such substances as rock-salt, spirits, cow’s urine and watery exudation of cow dung should be regarded as errhines Sirovirecana. The fruits (seeds) of plants from Pippali to Marica enumerated in the above-said list, the roots of plants commencing with Karavira and ending with Arka, the bulbs of those whose names precede Talisa in the same list, the leaves of those commencing with Talisa and ending with the Arjaka therein, the barks of Ingudi and Mesasrngi, the flowers of Matulungi, Murangi, Pilu and Jati, the essence (Sara) of Sala, Tala and Madhuk (Maul) trees, the gummy exudation (Niryasa) of Hingu plants and Laksa trees, as well as salts which are but the saline modifications of earth, Madya (wines) which are but the modified products of Asava (fermented liquors), and secretions of cowdung, or cow’s urine which should be understood to mean the animal excrements, in their crude or natural state, should be used where errhines are indicated. 5
संशमनान्यत उद्धर्वं वक्ष्यामः । तत्र भद्रदारुकुष्ठहरिद्रावरुणमेषश्रृङ्गीबलातिबलार्त्तगलकच्छुराशल्लकीकुबेराक्षीवीरतरुसहचराग्निमन्थवत्सादन्येरण्डाश्मभेदकालर्कार्कशतावरीपुनर्नवावसुकवशिरकाञ्चनकभार्गीकार्पासीवृश्चिकालीपत्तूरबदरयवकोलकुलत्थप्रभृतीनि विदारिगन्धादिश्च द्वे चाद्ये पञ्चमूल्यौ समासेन वातसंशमनो वर्गः ॥६॥
Samsamaniya Drugs: Now we shall enumerate the names of drugs and substances which soothe or pacify the deranged humours or principles of the body involved in any particular disease Samsamana.
Vata-Samsamana-Varga: The following drugs, viz. Bhadradaru, Kustha, Haridra, Varuna, Mesasngi, Bala, Atibala, Artagala, Kacchura, Sallaki, Kuberaksi, Virataru, Sahacara, Agnimantha, Vatsadani, Eranda, Asmabhedak, Alarka, Arka, Satavari, Punarnava, Vasuka, Vasira, Kancanaka, Bharngi, Karpasi, Vrscikali, Pattura, Vadara, Yava, Kola, Kulattha, etc. and the drugs forming the group of Vidarigandhadi-Gana, as well as those belonging to the first two groups of Pancamula (Mahat and Svalpa), are possessed of the general virtue of soothing (restoring to its normal state) the deranged (Vayu) Vata. 6
चन्दनकुचन्दनहीबेरोशीरमञ्जिष्ठापयस्याविदारीशतावरीगुन्द्रावर्गः ॥७॥
शैवलकह्लारकुमुदोत्पलकन्दलीदूर्वापूर्वाप्रभृतीनि काकोल्यादिः सारिवादिरञ्जनादिरुत्पलादिर्न्यग्रोधादिस्तृणपञ्चमूलमिति समासेन पित्तसंशमनो
Pitta-Sansamana Varga: The drugs known as Candana, Kucandana, Hribera, Usira, Manjistha, Payasya, Vidari, Satavari, Gundra, Saivala, Kalhara, Kumuda, Utpala, Kandali, Durva, Murva, etc. and the drugs forming the groups of Kakolyadi, Sarivadi, Anjanadi, Utpaladi, Nyagrodhadi, and Trna-Pancamula groups generally prove soothing to the deranged Pitta. 7
कालेयकागुरुतिलपर्णीकुष्ठहरिद्राशीतशिवशतपुष्पासरलारास्नाप्रकीर्योदकीर्येङ्गुदीसुमनः काकादनीलाङ्गलकीहस्तिकर्णमुञ्जातकलामज्जकप्रभृतीनि वल्लीकण्टकपञ्चमूल्यौ पिप्पल्यादिबृहत्यादिमुष्ककादिर्वचादिः सुरसादिरारग्वधादिरिति समासेन श्लेष्मसंशमनो वर्गः ॥८॥
Slesma-Sansamana-Varga: The drugs known as Kaleyaka, Aguru, Tilaparni, Kustha, Haridra, Sitasiva, Satapuspa, Sarala, Rasna, Prakirya, Udakirya, Ingudi, Sumanah, Kakadani, Langalaki, Hastikarma, Munjataka, Lamajjaka, etc. and the drugs belonging to the groups of Valli and Kantaka, Pancamulas and those composing the PipalyadiVarga, Brhatyadi-Varga, Muskakadi-Varga, Vacadi, Surasadi and Aragvadhadi groups are generally possessed of the efficacy of restoring the deranged Slesma to its natural state. 8
तत्र सर्वाण्येवौषधानि व्याध्यग्निपुरुषबलान्यभिसमीक्ष्य विदध्यात्। तत्र व्याधिबलादधिकमौषधमुपयुक्तं तमुपशम्य व्याधिं व्याधिमन्यमावहति । अग्निबलादधिकमजीर्णं विष्टभ्य वा पच्यते । पुरुषबलादधिकं ग्लानिमूर्च्छामदानावहति संशमनमिति, एवं संशोधनमतिपातयति, हीनमेभ्यो दत्तमकिञ्चित्करं भवति । तस्मात् सममेव विदध्यात् ॥ ९ ॥
The choice of a medicine whether for cleansing or soothing purposes should be determined by the consideration of the strength (intensity) of the disease, and the stamina and the digestive function of the patient under treatment. A medicine (of a soothing or Samsamana efficacy), which is stronger than the disease it has been applied to combat with, not only checks it with its own soothing virtue but usually gives rise to a fresh malady, on account of its surplus energy being not requisitioned into action, nor its being used up by the weakened and conquered original distemper. It is thus stored up in the organism for the working of fresh mischief. A medicine, which proves stronger than the digestive function of a patient, impairs his digestion, or takes an unusually greater length of time to be digested and assimilated into his organism. A medicine, which is stronger that the physical stamina of a patient, may bring on a feeling of physical languor, fits of fainting, loss of consciousness, delirium, etc. Similarly, an overdose of a cleansing (cathartic) medicine may work similar mischief. On the other hand, medicines of inadequate potencies, and accordingly unequal to the strength of a disease, as well as medicines in inadequate doses fail to produce any tangible effect. Hence medicines of adequate potencies should be alone administered in adequate doses. 9
भवन्ति चात्र
रोगे शोधनसाध्ये तु यो भवेद् दोषदुर्बलः । तस्मै दद्याद् भिषक् प्राज्ञो दोषप्रच्यावनं मृदु । ॥ १० ॥
चले दोषे मुदौ कोष्ठे नेक्षेतात्र बलं नृणाम् । अव्याधिदुर्बलस्यापि शोधनं हि तदा भवेत् । । ११ ।।
स्वयं प्रवृत्तदोषस्य मृदुकोष्ठस्य शोधनम् । भवेदल्पबलस्यापि प्रयुक्तं व्याधिनाशनम् ।।१२।।
व्याध्यादिषु तु मध्येषु क्वाथस्याञ्जलिरिष्यते । बिडालपदकं चूर्णं देयः कल्कोऽक्षसम्मितः ।।१३।।
Authoritative verses on the subject: A prudent physician should prescribe a mild purgative for a patient enfeebled by the action of the deranged and accumulated bodily humours and laid up with a disease in which such a cleansing (cathartic) or emetic remedy is indicated. The same rule should hold good in the case of a patient enfeebled through causes other than physical distempers, and whose bowels are easily moved, and in whom the fecal matter, etc. are found to have been dislodged from their natural seats or locations. Decoctions (including extracts and cold infusions of medicinal herbs) in doses of four Palas weights, and pastes and powders in doses of two Palas weights, should be prescribed in a disease of ordinary intensity. Corrective medicines (Purgatives and Emetics) may be safely exhibited even in a weak patient with loose or unconstipated bowels, if they are found to be stuffed with a spontaneous accumulation of fecal matter (Dosa) etc. inspite of such looseness or easy motion. 10-13
इति सुश्रुतसंहितायां सूत्रस्थाने संशोधनसंशमनीयो नामैकोनचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः॥३९॥
Thus ends the thirty-ninth Chapter of the Sutrasthana in the Susruta Sambita, which treats of drugs of cleansing (corrective) and soothing properties.
