The Bower Manuscript 12.305

12.305

It prolongs life, confers strength, cures cough and asthma, / and removes all diseases: this balā-oil should be administered. // 286 // Balā-oil, 7 verses.
The truthful twin deities the Aśvins, physicians worshipped by the gods, / proclaimed this supreme oil that promotes nourishment, // 287
that soothes all diseases, is fit for a king, and resembles nectar. / Celebrated under the name Amṛta, this oil gives strength to mortals. // 288
One should gather licorice grown in fertile soil after performing auspicious rites, / in the Puṣya constellation, self-restrained, having briefly had brahmins pronounce blessings. // 289
The wise man should extract four pātra measures of its fresh juice. / Prapauṇḍarīka, amṛtā, lotus roots, śatāvarī, // 290
śṛṅgāṭaka, āmalakī, udumbara, kaśeruka, / and separately the bark of each of the milk-bearing trees, // 291
roots of kuśa, kāśa, and sugarcane, as well as of śara and vīraṇa, / roots of gundrā and naḍikā, kroñcā, adas, // 292
vadarī, vidārī, vetasa, and vāsā, / nimba, śālmali, dates, coconuts, priyaṅgu, // 293
paṭola, kuṭaja, grapes, sandalwood together with lotus stalks, / kakubha, aśvakarṇa, lāmajjaka, dhanañjaya, // 294
and whatever bitter, sweet, and cooling herbs are available, / in portions of four palas each, should be boiled in two droṇas of water. // 295
When the liquid is reduced to one-eighth, he should cook it with the following pastes: / balā, nāgabalā, jīvā, ātmaguptā, kaśerukā, // 296
nata, rasa, spṛkkā, fine cardamom, cinnamon, / jīvaka, ṛṣabhaka, the two medās, licorice, blue lotus, // 297
saffron that gives complexion, aloe-wood, cassia leaves, / vidārī, kṣīrakākolī, vīrā, śārivā, // 298
śatāvarī, priyaṅgu, guḍūcī, lotus stamens, / lāmajjaka, sandalwood, and fruits of rājādana; // 299
pearls, coral, conch-shell, moonstone, lapis lazuli, / crystal, silver, gold, and other gems and pearls; // 300
and one pala each of licorice, mañjiṣṭhā, and the two aṃśumatīs. / Having finely ground these, he should slowly cook them over a gentle fire: // 301
four pātras of sesame oil, eight times as much milk as sesame oil, / and half as much sour gruel as milk the physician should add. // 302
It may be boiled a hundred or even a thousand times. / This is the mark of its being properly prepared: // 303
it is stirred with the hand alone when the sun has risen. / Having had the twice-born pronounce blessings, self-restrained and performing auspicious rites, // 304
he should apply this Amṛta oil, worshipped by the gods, / by means of non-retention and cleansing enemas, drinks, errhines, and massages. // 305