History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c40.146

v3.c40.146

To return to the subject of *bhojana*. After finishing one's midday meal, a person was to chew *tāmbūla* or *mukhavāsa* (described above p. 734) and it appears that in ancient times persons smoked also certain preparations made with fragrant herbs and medicaments (and not tobacco which was then unknown). For example, Bāṇa describes in the Kādambarī (para 15) that king Sūdraka after his mid-day meal took in the smoke of fragrant drugs and then chewed tāmbūla.¹⁹⁰⁸ In the Caraka-saṁhitā, sūtrasthāna chap. 5, there is a description how a reed was to be smeared with pastes of sandalwood, nutmeg, cardamom and several other drugs and spices, how it was to be eight angulas long and as thick as one's thumb, how it was to be dried and the reed removed and then the dried portion was to be smoked. Vide Indian Antiquary vol. 40 pp. 37-40 for detailed information.