Studies in the Medicine of Ancient India, Part I: Osteology, or the Bones of the Human Body c6.s2.t7: § 36. Suśruta's Statement in other Medical Works

Studies in the Medicine of Ancient India, Part I: Osteology, or the Bones of the Human Body c6.s2.t7

Language: English

§ 36. Suśruta's Statement in other Medical Works

c6.s2.t7.1

1. It has been mentioned in § 26 that the Traditional Recension of the statement of Suśruta is found in the two medical works, Śārīra Padminī and Bhāva Prakāśa.

c6.s2.t7.2

2. In the Śārīra Padminī (verses 70 and 71) it runs as follows :

‘In the sequel, the skeleton (kikasa) is explained as numbering three hundred bones in accordance with the count of the ancient Surgical Text-book. There are altogether one hundred and twenty bones in the extremities; one hundred and seventeen in the pelvic cavity, sides, abdomen, breast, and back; and sixty-three in the neck and upwards. Counting them, item by item, there are three hundred; but in respect of their shape, they are divisible into five classes.’ (Original Text in § 91.)

c6.s2.t7.4

3. In the Bhāva Prakāśa the statement runs as follows :

c6.s2.t7.5

‘In the Surgical Text-book the number of bones is stated to be three hundred. These, as well as their position in the body, are as follows: One hundred and twenty bones are said to be in the extremities. In the two sides, hips, breast, back, and abdomen,—in all these, one should know, there are altogether one hundred and seventeen. In the neck and upwards there exist sixty-three bones.’ (Original Text in § 92.)

Linked texts (1)

Bhāvaprakāśa — Bhāvamiśra 1550, Sanskrit