अष्टाविंशोऽध्यायः अथातः स्कन्दग्रहप्रतिषेधं व्याख्यास्यामः, यथोवाच भगवान् धन्वन्तरिः ॥ १ ॥
Now we shall discourse on the chapter which deals with the Therapeutics (and remedial measures) of an attack by Skanda-Graha (Skanda-Graha-Pratisedha). 1
स्कन्दग्रहोपसृष्टानां कुमाराणां प्रशस्यते । वातघ्नद्रुमपत्राणां निष्काथ: परिषेचने ॥ २ ॥ तेषां मूलेषु सिद्धञ्च तैलमभ्यञ्जने हितम् । सर्वगन्धसुरामण्ड-कैडर्यावापमिष्यते ॥३॥ देवदारुणि रास्नायां मधुरेषु द्रुमेषु च । सिद्धं सर्पिश्च सक्षीरं पानमस्मै प्रयोजयेत् ॥ ४ ॥
Decoctions of the leaves of the tree (Bilvadi) possessed of Vayusubduing virtue should be used for sprinkling decoction of their roots and with the drugs of the Sarvagandha, group and with Kaidaryya¹ and Suramanda as Kalka should be used in anointing the body of the child laid up with an attack of Skanda-graha. Draughts of clarified butter duly cooked with Deva-daru, Rasna, the drugs of the Madhura group and with milk, should be internally administered. 2-4.
सर्षपाः सर्पनिर्मोको वचा काकादनी घृतम् । उष्ट्राजाविगवाञ्चैव रोमाण्युद्धूपनं शिशोः ॥ ५॥
1. Kaidaryya, according to Dalhana, means Nimba or Guduci.
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SUSRUTA SAMHITA
Fumigation Moreover the body of the child should be fumigated with the fumes of the mustard seeds, the cast-off skin of a snake, Vaca, Kakadani, Clarified butter and the hairs of a camel, a goat, a sheep and of a cow mixed together and burnt. 5.
सोमवल्लीमिन्द्रवल्लीं शमीं बिल्वस्य कण्टकान् । मृगादन्याश्च मूलानि ग्रथितान्येव धारयेत् ॥ ६ ॥
The twigs of Soma-valli (Guduci), Indra-valli (ASmantaka ) and Sami as well as the thorns of Bilva and the roots of Mrgadani, should be strung together (in the shape of a garland) and tied (round its neck). 6.
रक्तानि माल्यानि तथा पताका रक्ताश्च गन्धा विविधाश्च भक्ष्याः | घण्टा च देवाय बलिर्निवेद्यः सुकुक्कुटः स्कन्दग्रहे हिताय ॥ ७ ॥ स्नानं त्रिरात्रं निशि चत्वरेषु कुर्यात् पुरं शालियवैर्नवैस्तु | अद्भिश्च गायत्र्यभिमन्त्रिताभिः प्रज्वालनं व्याहृतिभिश्च वह्नेः ॥ ८ ॥
The physician (or any other person acting on his behalf) should bathe in the night and worship the god Skanda for three successive nights and inner quadrangle of the house of the child or at the crossing of roads with various offerings, viz., garlands of red flowers, red flags, red perfumes such as Kumkuma, edibles of various kinds and newly harvested barley grains, sali rice. A cock should be sacrificed on the occasion (to appease his wrath) and bells should be rung (for his propitiation). The water to be used for bath (in course of worship), should be consecrated by reciting the Gayatri Mantra and the sacrificial fire should be duly lit with (three, seven or ten) libations (of clarified butter). 7-8.
रक्षामतः प्रवक्ष्यामि बालानां पापनाशिनीम् । अहन्यहनि कर्तव्या या भिषग्भिरतन्द्रितैः ॥ ९ ॥ तपसां तेजसाञ्चैव यशसां वपुषां तथा । निधानं योऽव्ययो देवः स ते स्कन्दः प्रसीदतु ॥ १० ॥ ग्रहसेनापतिर्देवो देवसेनापतिर्विभुः । देवसेनारिपुहरः पातु त्वां भगवान् गुहः ॥ ११ ॥
UTTARA-TANTRA
देवदेवस्य महतः पावकस्य च यः सुतः । गङ्गोमाकृत्तिकानाञ्च स ते शर्म प्रयच्छतु ॥ १२॥ रक्तमाल्याम्बरः श्रीमान् रक्तचन्दनभूषितः । रक्तदिव्यवपुर्देवः पातु त्वां क्रौञ्चसूदनः ॥ १३ ॥
Mantras- The body of the child should be guarded by a careful physician against the influence of the malignant Grahas by reciting every day a Mantra which runs as follows- “May Skanda, the eternal and changeless deity who is the receptacle of all sorts of energies produced by austerities, fame, valour, or organic combination (vital energy), be propitious to thee. May the almighty Guha protect thee from all evils-Guha who is the commander in-chief both of the army of the gods and of the Grahas and is the destroyer of the enemies of the army of the gods (in which rank he has been installed, lit. wedded, with the suffrage of all the gods). May be who is the begotten son of supreme deity- the god of the gods and who acknowledges severally the exalted motherhood of Ganga, Uma and the Krittikas, give thee health and comfort. May the beautiful god who pierced with a single shaft right through the heart of the mountain Krounca and who is effulgent with the red rays of his own divine person smeared with the paste of red sandal-wood and decked with the garland of red flowers, protect thee from all perils.” 9-13.
इति सश्रुत संहितायामुत्तरतन्त्रे स्कन्दग्रहप्रतिषेधव्याख्यानामाष्टाविंशोऽध्यायः ॥ २८ ॥
Thus ends the twenty-eight chapter of the Uttara-Tantra in the Susruta Samhita which deals with the Therapeutics of Skanda-Graha.
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