The Bower Manuscript 29

29

II. Fol. 28: Bower manuscript
One should take the fruit of kakubha, and likewise two kuḍava measures of oil. / One should cook this slowly over a gentle fire in bibhītaka oil. // 907
For […] days one should perform nasal therapy; / then on the sixteenth day, freed of white hair, his hair becomes black; // 908
he will have a handsome face and eyes, radiant, with dark blue-black locks. / Thus spoke here the venerable Agastya, foremost among speakers. // 909
Three myrobalans, sahacara flower, flower of jambū, kāśmarya, and kakubha, / and the kernel of mango fruit, as well as the piṇḍāraka fruit, // 910
green vitriol, asana flower, indigo, blue water-lily, lotus-root joints, / antimony and dark-colored collyrium, black silt, and iron powder, // 911
the two kaṇṭakārikās, the two śārivās, and one should add madayantī, / bhṛṅgarāja juice, and likewise bibhītaka oil, // 912
stirred in a decoction of asana and kept for ten days in an iron vessel; / without burning it, one should cook it thoroughly over a gentle fire. // 913
Having buried half [the vessel] well placed among mung beans or black grams, / then when half a month has elapsed, after offering protective rites, it should be administered. // 914
Having prepared one's body with three myrobalans and eating kṛsarā, / with self-restraint, in a well-sheltered place, every other day, one should administer a śukti measure of this oil through the nose. // 915
Whoever properly takes a prastha measure of this oil through the nose, / when it has been used up, a grey-headed person will again have black hair. // 916 // [Hair Dyes]
Now we shall explain the ritual use of chebulic myrobalan:
To Brahmā sitting comfortably, the two Aśvins spoke these words: / "Whence did chebulic myrobalan arise, and how many origins are proclaimed for it? // 917
And how many tastes are counted, and how many secondary tastes are taught? / How many names or colors are there, and what is the characteristic mark for each name? // 918
And which diseases does it soothe, and what are its colors and forms? / Combined with which substance does it restrain which diseases? // 919
Venerable One, you ought to answer this question as it was asked."
Having heard the words of the Aśvins, Brahmā spoke these words: // 920
"What you two have asked, I shall explain in order, each separately, / generating intellect and beauty: // 921
A drop fell upon the earth as Śakra was drinking ambrosia; / from that, chebulic myrobalan, foremost of medicinal herbs, appeared. // 922
Vijayā, Trivṛtā, Rohiṇī, Pūtanā, Amṛtā, / Jīvantī, and Abhayā: chebulic myrobalan has seven origins. // 923
Round like a gourd is Vijayā; round is Rohiṇī; / Pūtanā has mostly stone and is small; Amṛtā has thick-fleshed fruit; // 924
Jīvantī is golden-colored; Trivṛtā has five ribs; / and Abhayā is dark brown: thus it was pointed out in the world by Brahmā in ancient times. // 925
Of these, I will briefly proclaim the taste and potency: / chebulic myrobalan has five tastes, is hot, lacks salt, and is auspicious. // 926
Its quality, free from salt, chebulic myrobalan's, is faultless; / because they expel waste, they are esteemed as giving health and longevity. // 927
Auspicious, quick to rise, easy to manage, ever fearless, / pleasant and nourishing, it treats the poor; // 928
and likewise delicate people, and men who are mostly in distress; / for Abhayā is a blessing to humans, ever beneficial for treatment. // 929
He who eats Abhayā with rock salt and with dry ginger, / and alternately with long pepper, disease will not overcome him. // 930
Eating two each [day], accompanied by jaggery as the second, […] / a man, attaining a thousand years, conquers all illnesses. // 931
Or eating Abhayā with mung beans as a light meal, / having dispelled diverse diseases, he may live a hundred years, // 932
free of disease, endowed with strength, devoid of wrinkles and grey hair; / and used constantly, it brings vital essence to the body. // 933
Abhayā, turmeric, long pepper, and rock salt, / and kuṣṭha: combined with cow's urine, this is a purgative. // 934
Jaggery, grape juice, honey, and likewise chebulic myrobalan: / this purgative for bile disorders was declared by Kāṅkāyana. // 935
Long pepper, rock salt, viḍaṅga, and chebulic myrobalan: / this, combined with cow's urine and with turmeric, is a purgative. // 936
Chebulic myrobalan combined with an equal amount of jaggery and with honey: / applied, it is a purgative formulation, and a proven rejuvenator. // 937
For the aforementioned chebulic myrobalan destroys all diseases; / it has been explained in brief, now hear it also in detail from me. // 938
Chebulic myrobalan destroys diverse poisons and poisons of the gods; / it kindles the digestive fire and quickly subdues abdominal swellings. // 939
The use of chebulic myrobalan even destroys abdominal afflictions; / prolonging life, it cures the phlegm passages of the consumptive. // 940
Cough, dyspnea, hiccough, dimness of sight, fainting, and prostrating convulsion / do not withstand Abhayā, just as the demons cannot withstand Indra's army. // 941
Chebulic myrobalan destroys jaundice and skin diseases; / it alleviates piles and destroys all urinary disorders. // 942