A History of Indian Medical Literature v1.c13.151.2

v1.c13.151.2

the properties of an alcoholic drink counteract those of ojas in the following way: laghu is contrary to guru, uṣṇa to śīta, amla to madhura, tīkṣṇa to mṛdu, āśuga to prasanna, rūkṣa to snigdha, vyavāyin to sthira, vikāśin to ślakṣṇa, viśada to picchila, sūkṣma to sāndra;⁶³⁰ thus sattva, residing there (i.e., in the seat of ojas, the heart), is quickly disturbed and brings about mada (intoxication) (24.30–34);⁶³¹ the heart is the seat of the channels (mārga) transporting rasa, vāta, etc., as well as the seat of sattva, buddhi, the senses, and the primary ojas;⁶³² for that reason the heart, and the dhātus located there, are pathologically changed by the immoderate use of alcoholic drinks and the damage of ojas resulting therefrom (24.35–36);⁶³³ the first stage of intoxication⁶³⁴ is characterized by stimulation (pratibodhita) of the heart, without any damage (avihata) to the ojas; the ojas is slightly damaged in the second stage, more seriously so in the third stage; a paiṣṭika alcoholic drink does not cause damage to the ojas, because the properties vikāśin, rūkṣa and viśada are not predominant in it (24.37–38); alcoholic drinks produce mental changes (vikāra) of a rājasa and tāmasa character, culminating in confusion and sleep when used in excess; this pathological state caused by alcohol (madyavibhrama) is called mada (intoxication) (24.39–40); three stages (prathama, madhyama, antya or uttama) of intoxication are described;