Kautilya's Arthashastra 14.2: Chapter 2 (Section 178): Deceiving through Occult Practices

14.2.1

śirīṣodumbaraśamīcūrṇaṃ sarpiṣā saṃhṛtyārdhamāsikaḥ kṣudyogaḥ //

A DOSE of the powder of sirísha (mimosa sirísa), udumbara (glomerous fig-tree), and sami (acacia suma) mixed with clarified butter, renders fasting possible for half a month; the scum prepared from the mixture of the root of kaseruka (a kind of water-creeper), utpala (costus), and sugar-cane mixed with bisa (water-lily), dúrva (grass), milk, and clarified butter enables a man to fast for a month.

14.2.2

kaśerukotpalakandekṣumūlabisadūrvākṣīraghṛta.maṇḍasiddho māsikaḥ //

14.2.3

māṣayavakulatthadarbhamūlacūrṇaṃ vā kṣīraghṛtābhyām, vallīkṣīraghṛtaṃ vā samasiddham, sālapṛśniparṇīmūlakalkaṃ payasā pītvā, payo vā tatsiddhaṃ madhughṛtābhyām aśitvā māsam upavasati //

The powder of másha (phraseolus radiatus), yava (barley), kuluttha (horse-gram) and the root of darbha (sacrificial grass) mixed with milk and clarified butter; the milk of valli (a kind of creeper) and clarified butter derived from it and mixed in equal proportions and combined with the paste prepared from the root of sála (shorea robusta) and prisniparni (hedysarum lagopodioides), when drunk with milk; or a dose of milk mixed with clarified butter and spirituous liquor, both prepared from the above substances, enables one to fast for a month.

14.2.4

śvetabastamūtre saptarātroṣitaiḥ siddhārthakaiḥ siddhaṃ tailaṃ kaṭukālābau māsārdhamāsasthitaṃ catuṣpadadvipadānāṃ virūpakaraṇam //

The oil prepared from mustard seeds previously kept for seven nights in the urine of a white goat will, when used (externally) after keeping the oil inside a large bitter gourd for a month and a half, alter the colour of both biped and quadruped animals.

14.2.5

takrayavabhakṣasya saptarātrād ūrdhvaṃ śvetagardabhasya leṇḍayavaiḥ siddhaṃ gaurasarṣapatailaṃ virūpakaraṇam //

The oil extracted from white mustard seeds mixed with the barley-corns contained in the dung of a white donkey, which has been living for more than seven nights on a diet of butter, milk and barley, causes alteration in colour.

14.2.6

etayor anyatarasya mūtraleṇdarasasiddhaṃ siddhārthakatailam arkatūlapataṅgacūrṇapratīvāpaṃ śvetīkaraṇam //

The oil prepared from mustard seeds which have been previously kept in the urine and fluid dung of any of the two animals, a white goat and a white donkey, causes (when applied) such white colour as that of the fibre of arka plant or the down of a (white) bird.

14.2.7

śvetakukkuṭājagaraleṇḍayogaḥ śvetīkaraṇam //

The mixture of the dung of a white cock and ajagara (boa-constrictor) causes white colour.

14.2.8

śvetabastamūtre śvetasarṣapāḥ saptarātroṣitāstakra(?).marka..kṣīralavaṇaṃ dhānyaṃ ca pakṣasthito yogaḥ śvetīkaraṇam //

The pastry made from white mustard seeds kept for seven nights in the urine of a white goat mixed with butter-milk, the milk of arka plant, salt, and grains (dhánya), causes, when applied for a fortnight, white colour.

14.2.9

kaṭukālābau valīgate gataṃardhamāsasthitaṃ gaurasarṣapapiṣṭaṃ romṇāṃ śvetīkaraṇam //

The paste, prepared from white mustard seeds which have been previously kept within a large bitter gourd and with clarified butter prepared from the milk of valli (a creeper) for half a month, makes the hair white.

14.2.10

alojuneti yaḥ kīṭaḥ śvetā ca gṛhagolikā /
etena piṣtenābhyaktāḥ keśāḥ syuḥ śaṅkhapāṇḍarāḥ //

A bitter gourd, a stinking insect (pútikíta), and a white house-lizard; when a paste prepared from these is applied to the hair, the latter becomes as white as a conch-shell.

14.2.11

gomayena tindukāriṣṭakalkena vā marditāṅgasya bhallātakarasānuliptasya māsikaḥ kuṣṭhayogaḥ //

When any part of the body of a man is rubbed over with the pastry (kalka) prepared from tinduka (glutinosa) and arishta (soap-berry), together with the dung of a cow, the part of the body being also smeared over with the juice of bhallátaka (semecarpus anacardium), he will catch leprosy in the course of a month.

14.2.12

kṛṣṇasarpamukhe gṛhagolikāmukhe vā saptarātroṣitā gujjāḥ kuṣṭhayogaḥ //

(The application of the paste prepared from) gunja seeds kept previously for seven nights in the mouth of a white cobra or in the mouth of a house-lizard brings on leprosy.

14.2.13

śukapittāṇḍarasābhyaṅgaḥ kuṣṭhayogaḥ //

External application of the liquid essence of the egg of a parrot and a cuckoo brings on leprosy.

14.2.14

kuṣṭhasyapriyālakalkakaṣāyaḥ pratīkāraḥ //

The pastry or decoction prepared from priyála (chironjia sapida or vitis vinifera?) is a remedy for leprosy.

14.2.15

kukkuṭakośātakī(?).śatāvarīmūlayuktam āhārayamāṇo māsena gauro bhavati //

Whoever eats the mixture of the powders of the roots of kukkuta (marsilia dentata), kosátaki (duffa pentandra), and satávari (asparagus racemosus) for a month will become white.

14.2.16

vaṭakaṣāyasnātaḥ sahacarakalkadigdhaḥ kṛṣṇo bhavati //

Whoever bathes in the decoction of vata (banyan tree) and rubs his body with the paste prepared from sahachara (yellow barleria) becomes black.

14.2.17

śakunakaṇgutailayuktā haritālamanaḥśilāḥ śyāmīkaraṇam //

Sulphuret of arsenic and red arsenic mixed with the oil extracted from sakuna (a kind of bird) and kanka (a vulture) causes blackness.

14.2.18

khadyotacūrṇaṃ sarṣapatailayuktaṃ rātrau jvalati //

The powder of khadyota (fire-fly) mixed with the oil of mustard seeds emits light at night.

14.2.19

khadyotagaṇḍūpadacūrṇaṃ samudrajantūnāṃ bhṛṅgakapālānāṃ khadirakarṇikārāṇāṃ puṣpacūrṇaṃ vā śakunakaṅgutailayuktaṃ tejanacūrṇam //

The powder of khadyota (fire-fly) and gandúpada (earth-worm) or the powder of ocean animals mixed with the powder of bhringa (malabathrum), kapála (a pot-herb), and khadira (mimosa catechu), and karnikára (pentapetes acerifolia), combined with the oil of sakuna (a bird) and kanka (vulture), is tejanachúrna (ignition powder).

14.2.20

pāribhadrakatvanmaṣī maṇḍūkavasayā yuktā gātraprajvālanam agninā //

When the body of a man is rubbed over with the powder of the charcoal of the bark of páribhadraka (erythrina indica) mixed with the serum of the flesh of mandúka (a frog), it can be burnt with fire (without causing hurt).

14.2.21

paribhadrakatvaktilakalkapradigdhaṃ śarīram agninā jvalati //

The body which is painted with the pastry (kalka) prepared from the bark of páribhadraka (erythrina indica) and sesamum seeds burns with fire.

14.2.22

pīlutvanmaṣīmayaḥ piṇḍo haste jvalati //

The ball prepared from the powder of the charcoal of the bark of pílu (careya arborea) can be held in hand and burnt with fire.

14.2.23

maṇḍūkavasādigdho 'gninā jvalati //

When the body of a man is smeared over with the serum of the flesh of a frog, it burns with fire (with no hurt).

14.2.24

tena pradigdham aṅgaṃ kuśāmraphalatailasiktaṃ samudramaṇḍūkīphenakasarjarasacūrṇayuktaṃ vā jvalati //

When the body of a man is smeared over with the above serum as well as with the oil extracted from the fruits of kusa (ficus religiosa), and ámra (mango tree), and when the powder prepared from an ocean frog (samdura mandúki), phenaka (sea-foam), and sarjarasa (the juice of vatica robusta) is sprinkled over the body, it burns with fire (without being hurt).

14.2.25

maṇḍūkakulīrādīnāṃ vasayā samabhāgaṃ tailaṃ siddham abhyaṅgaṃ gātrāṇām agniprajvālanam //

When the body of a man is smeared over with sesamum oil mixed with equal quantities of the serum of the flesh of a frog, crab, and other animals, it can burn with fire (without hurt).

14.2.26

veṇumūlaśaivalaliptam aṅgaṃ maṇḍūkavasādigdham agninā jvalati //

The body which is smeared over with the serum of the flesh of a frog burns with fire.

The body of a man, which is rubbed over with the powder of the root of bamboo (venu) and saivála (aquatic plant), and is smeared over with the serum of the flesh of a frog, burns with fire.

14.2.27

pāribhadrakappatibalāvañjulavajrakadalīmūlakalkena maṇḍūkavasāsiddhena tailenābhyaktapādo 'ṅgāreṣu gacchati //

Whoever has anointed his legs with the oil extracted from the paste prepared from the roots of páribhadraka (erythrina indica), pratibala (?), vanjula (a kind of ratan or tree), vajra (andropogon muricatum or euphorbia), and kadali (banana), mixed with the serum of the flesh of a frog, can walk over fire (without hurt).

14.2.28

upodakā pratibalā vañjulaḥ pāribhadrakaḥ /
eteṣāṃ mūlakalkena maṇḍūkavasayā saha //

Oil should be extracted from the paste prepared from the roots of pratibala, vanjula and páribhadraka, all growing near water, the paste being mixed with the serum of the flesh of a frog.

14.2.29

sādhayet tailam etena pādāv abhyajya nirmalau /
aṅgārarāśau vicared yathā kusumasaṃcaye //

Having anointed one's legs with this oil, one can walk over a white-hot mass of fire as though on a bed of roses.

14.2.30

haṃsakrauñcamayūrāṇām anyeṣāṃ vā mahāśakunīnām udakaplavānāṃ puccheṣu baddhā naladīpikā rātrāv ulkādarśanam //

When birds such as a hamsa (goose), krauncha (heron), mayúra (peacock) and other large swimming birds are let to fly at night with a burning reed attached to their tail it presents the appearance of a fire-brand falling from the sky (ulká).

14.2.31

vaidyutaṃ bhasmāṅgiśamanam //

Ashes caused by lightning quench the fire.

14.2.32

strīpuṣpapāyitā māṣā vrajakulīmūlaṃ maṇḍūkavasāmiśraṃ culluyāṃ dīptāyām apācanam //

When, in a fireplace, kidney beans (másha) wetted with the menstrual fluid of a woman, as well as the roots of vajra (andropogon muricatum) and kadali (banana), wetted with the serum of the flesh of a frog are kept, no grains can be cooked there.

14.2.33

cullīśodhanaṃ pratīkāraḥ //

Cleansing the fire place is its remedy.

14.2.34

pīlumayo maṇir agnigarbhaḥ suvarcalāmūlagranthiḥ sūtragranthir vā picupariveṣṭito mukhyād agnidhūmotsargaḥ //E

By keeping in the mouth a ball-like piece of pilu (careya arberea) or a knot of the root of linseed tree (suvarchala) with fire inserted within the mass of the ball and wound round with threads and cotton (pichu), volumes of smoke and fire can be breathed out.

14.2.35

kuśāmraphalatailasikto 'gnir varṣapravāteṣu jvalati //

When the oil extracted from the fruits of kusa (ficus religiosa) and ámra (mango) is poured over the fire, it burns even in the storm.

14.2.36

samudraphenakas tailayukto 'mbhasi plavamāno jvalati //

Sea-foam wetted with oil and ignited keeps burning when floating on water.

14.2.37

plavamānānām asthiṣu kalmāṣaveṇunā nirmathito 'gnir nodakena śāmyati, udakena jvalati //

The fire generated by churning the bone of a monkey by means of a bamboo stick of white and black colour (kalmáshavenu) burns in water instead of being quenched.

14.2.38

śastrahatasya śūlaprotasya vā puruṣasya vāmapārśvaparśukāsthiṣu kalmāṣaveṇunā nirmathito 'gniḥ striyāḥ puruṣasya vāsthiṣu manuṣyaparśukayā nirmathito 'gnir yatra trir apasavyaṃ gacchati na cātrānyo 'gnir jvalati //

There will burn no other fire where the fire generated by churning, by means of a bamboo stick of white and black colour, the left side rib-bone of a man killed by a weapon or put to the gallows; or the fire generated by churning the bone of a man or woman by means of the bone of another man is circumambulated thrice from right to left.

14.2.39

cuccundarī khañjarīṭaḥ khārakīṭaś ca piṣyate /
aśvamūtreṇa saṃsṛṣṭā nigalānāṃ tu bhañjanam //

When the paste prepared from the animals such as chuchundari (musk-rat), khanjaríta (?) and khárakíta (?), with the urine of a horse is applied to the chains with which the legs of a man are bound, they will be broken to pieces.

14.2.40

ayaskānto vā pāṣāṇaḥ kulīradardurakhārakīṭavasāpradehena dviguṇaḥ //

The sun-stone (ayaskánta) or any other stone (will break to pieces) when wetted with the serum of the flesh of the animals kulinda (?), dardura (?), and khárakíta (?).

14.2.41

nārakagarbhaḥ kaṅkabhāsapārśvotpalodakapiṣṭaś catuṣpadadvipadānāṃ pādalepaḥ //

The paste prepared from the powder of the rib-bone of náraka (?), a donkey, kanka (a kind of vulture), and bhása (a bird), mixed with the juice of water-lily, is applied to the legs of bipeds and quadrupeds (while making a journey).

14.2.42

ulūkagṛdhravasābhyām uṣṭracarmopānahāv abhyajya vaṭapattraiḥ praticchādya pañcāśadyojanāny aśrānto gacchati //

When a man makes a journey, wearing the shoes made of the skin of a camel, smeared over with the serum of the flesh of an owl and a vulture and covered over with the leaves of the banyan tree, he can walk fifty yojanas without any fatigue.

14.2.43

śyenakaṅkakākagṛdhrahaṃsakrauñcavīcīrallānāṃ majjāno retāṃsi vā yojanaśatāya, siṃhavyāghradvīpakākolūkānāṃ majjāno retāṃsi vā //

(When the shoes are smeared over with) the pith, marrow or sperm of the birds, syena, kanka, káka, gridhra, hamsá, krauncha, and vichiralla, (the traveller wearing them) can walk a hundred yojanas (without any fatigue).

14.2.44

sārvavarṇikāni garbhapatanāny uṣṭrikāyām abhiṣūya śmaśāne pretaśiśūn vā tatsamutthitaṃ medo yojanaśatāya //

The fat or serum derived from roasting a pregnant camel together with saptaparna (lechites scholaris) or from roasting dead children in cremation grounds, is applied to render a journey of a hundred yojanas easy.

14.2.45

aniṣṭair adbhutotpātaiḥ parasyodvegam ācaret /
ārājyāyeti nirvādaḥ samānaḥ kopa ucyate //E

Terror should be caused to the enemy by exhibiting these and other wonderful and delusive performances; while anger causing terror is common to all, terrification by such wonders is held as a means to consolidate peace.