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A History of Indian Medical Literature v1.c16: Chapter 9

A History of Indian Medical Literature v1.c16

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English

Contents

Chapter 9

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The *Carakasaṃhitā* consists of 120 chapters¹ (adhyāya), arranged in eight sections (sthāna).²

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The names of the sections are Sūtra-³ or Ślokasthāna⁴ (30 chapters), Nidānasthāna (8 chapters), Vimānasthāna⁵ (8 chapters), Śārīrasthāna⁶ (8 chapters), Indriyasthāna⁷ (12 chapters), Cikitsāsthāna⁸ (30 chapters), Kalpasthāna⁹ (12 chapters), and Siddhisthāna (12 chapters).

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The same eight sections, in the same order, are found in the *Bhelasaṃhitā*; they also form part of the *Kāśyapasaṃhitā*, where the order of Kalpa- and Siddhisthāna is reversed.

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The same number of 120 chapters is a characteristic of the *Bhelasaṃhitā*, *Kāśyapasaṃhitā* (without the Khilasthāna), *Suśrutasaṃhitā* (without the Uttaratantra), and *Aṣṭāngahṛdayasaṃhitā*.

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The total number of chapters of the saṃhitā, the names and the order of the sections, and the number of chapters in each section are recorded in a table of contents (Sū.30. 33–35).

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The Sūtrasthāna is divided into seven groups of four chapters (catuṣka) and two summarizing chapters (saṃgrahādhyāyas).¹⁰ The names of the catuṣkas are: bheṣaja-,¹¹ bheṣajāśraya-,¹² or auṣadhacatuṣka¹³ (Sū.1–4); svastha-,¹⁴ svasthavṛtta-,¹⁵ or svāsthyavṛttacatuṣka¹⁶ (Sū.5–8); nirdeśa-¹⁷ or nairdeśikacatuṣka¹⁸ (Sū.9–12); kalpanā¹⁹ or prakalpanācatuṣka²⁰ (Sū.13–16); roga-²¹ or rogādhyāyacatuṣka²² (Sū. 17–20); yojanācatuṣka²³ (Sū.21–24); annapāna-,²⁴ annapānika-,²⁵ or annaviniścayacatuṣka²⁶ (Sū.25–28).

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Similar divisions are not found in the other sections, but the first two chapters of the Cikitsāsthāna are subdivided into four pādas each.²⁷

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The total extent of the *Carakasaṃhitā* is said to be 12,000 units (verses and passages in prose) in a verse at the end of the treatise,²⁸ which is probably spurious.²⁹ The actual number of verses is 9,035; the prose passages amount to a number of 1,111.³⁰

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Chapters written in a mixture of verse and prose are frequent, particularly in the Sūtrasthāna. Chapters four, eight, twelve, fifteen, nineteen, twenty, twenty-five and twenty-nine of the Sūtrasthāna, the Nidānasthāna, the Vimānasthāna, and chapters three to eight of the Śārīrasthāna are mainly in prose; several chapters of the Sūtrasthāna, chapters four to twelve of the Indriyasthāna, chapters two to thirty of the Cikitsāsthāna, chapters two to twelve of the Kalpasthāna, chapters one, three to eight, nine and eleven of the Siddhisthāna are mainly in verse.

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References to other sections and chapters are not rare at all in the *Carakasaṃhitā*.³¹

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The titles of the chapters are either based on their first words or related to their subject matter.32

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Metres used in the verses are anuṣṭubh, āryā, gīti, indravaṃśā, indravajrā, kusumitalāvellitā, puṣpitāgrā, rucirā (prabhāvatī), svāgatā, udgīti, upajāti, upendravajrā, vaṃśasthā, and viyoginī.33

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Remarkably few studies are available on linguistic peculiarities of the Carakasaṃhitā.34 An article by M.M. Deshpande deals with the bhinnakartṛka -tum infinitive,35 found only in parts of the Carakasaṃhitā not redacted by Dṛḍhabala.36 Two articles on the language of the Carakasaṃhitā were published by R.P. Das, who discusses Caraka’s compounds, the anomalous removal of hiatus, unusual sandhi, constructions with yasya and yasyāḥ, the use of certain secondary suffixes, unusual genders of nouns, some peculiar words, etc.37

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The style of the Carakasaṃhitā is much more developed than that of the Bhelasaṃhitā, the contents of which resemble it in many respects. P.V. Sharma38 pointed to the remarkable differences when the vātakalakalīya chapters of both treatises39 are compared. He also called attention to a number of skillful and beautiful verses.40

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The Carakasaṃhitā is primarily a treatise on kāyacikitsā,41 which for that reason occupies the first place in the list of the eight divisions (aṅga) of āyurveda (Sū.30. 28).42 Passages indicating that other subjects, such as śalya, śālā kya, etc., do not belong to its domain are found at several places,43 particularly in the Cikitsāsthāna. Specialists in surgery are referred to as dhānvantarīyāḥ,44 śalyavidaḥ,45 śalyahartāraḥ,46 vraṇacintakas,47 and kṣāratantravidaḥ.48 Specialists in śālā kya were also known.49

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Consequently, by far the larger part of the Carakasaṃhitā is devoted to internal medicine (kāyacikitsā). Surgical subjects, not altogether absent, are discussed in chapter twenty-five, subjects belonging to śālā kya in chapter twenty-six of the Cikitsāsthāna. Kaumārabhṛtya is dealt with in Śārīrasthāna 2–4, 6 and 8, bhūtavidyā in Nidānasthāna 9–10 and Cikitsāsthāna 9–10, agadatantra in chapter twenty-three of the Cikitsāsthāna, rasāyana in chapter one of the Cikitsāsthāna, vājīkaraṇa in chapter two of the Cikitsāsthāna.50

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This arrangement of the contents reflects a general feature of the early medical works and many later treatises,51 namely, that the eight branches of āyurveda are referred to as classificatory scheme, without actually being made the basis of a corresponding disposition of the material.52

Contributions of Agniveśa

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Elements belonging to the oldest layer of the Carakasaṃhitā, i.e., the Agniveśatantra, are, according to P.V. Sharma:53 the names of chapters based on their first words;54 the expression ‘iti ha smāha bhagavān ātreyaḥ’ at the beginning of a chapter; the use of saumya with reference to Agniveśa as a pupil;55 the use of the term skandha;56 passages calling to mind the style of some Upaniṣads;57 the mixture of prose and verse;58 the discussions among groups of sages;59 the summary in verse at the end of a chapter; the use of the word upaniṣad;60 the references to Kāmpilya and Pāñcāla; the importance of the term catuṣpāda;61 the term ṣoḍaśakala;62 the version of Sāṅkhya acknowledging twenty-four tattvas;63 the doctrine of bhūtānupraveśa;64 the traces of an early type of Yoga, different from the system represented by the Yogasūtras; the doctrine of the three doṣas; the foremost place of vāyu among the three doṣas;65 the description of five kinds of vāyu;66 the descriptions of the buddhīndriyas, karmendriyas and manas; the description of the heart;67 the ten prāṇāyatanas;68 some elements relating to bhūtavidyā;69 the comparison of ojas and madhu (honey);70 the importance of rasa;71 the concept of the three eṣaṇās;72 the concepts of sat and asat;73 the concept of paraloka, defended against heretical views;74 the transmission of a science from the gods to human sages;75 one hundred years as the maximum span of human life;76 the concept of a tṛtīyā jātiḥ.77

Contributions of Caraka

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The determination of Caraka’s contributions to the Agniveśatantra depends on one’s views concerning the dates of Agniveśa and Caraka, the type of relationship between their works, etc. In spite of the almost unsurmountable problems, some scholars made serious attempts at identifying features and elements that may be due to Caraka.

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P.V. Sharma79 expressed the opinion that Agniveśa’s treatise, written in sūtra style, was enlarged with Caraka’s annotations (bhāṣya).80 In his view,81 the Agniveśatantra may have resembled the Bhelasaṃhitā. He is inclined to attribute to Caraka passages in prose and verse that are composed in a mature style.82

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P.V. Sharma83 and Sūramcandra84 claim that Caraka made Agniveśa’s tantra into a saṃhitā consisting of sūtra, bhāṣya and saṃgraha. The activities of such a reviser (saṃskartar) are outlined by Dṛḍhabala (Si.12.36cd–37ab).

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Some regard the verses, introduced by bhavati cātra,85 bhavataś cātra,86 or bhavanti cātra,87 as deriving from Caraka, while others consider them forming part of the original Agniveśatantra.88 This type of stanza is often found towards the end of a chapter, preceding verses, introduced by tatra ślokaḥ, ślokau or ślokāḥ, which give a summary of the contents.89 The latter type is usually regarded a forming part of Caraka’s text.90

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Cakrapāṇidatta, undoubtedly preceded by earlier commentators, distinguished a type of statement, called pratisaṃskartṛsūtra, thought to derive from the pen of a reviser (pratisaṃskartar), who, though not mentioned by name, is probably Caraka.91

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Apart from the pratisaṃskartṛsūtra, Cakra distinguished three other types, called guru-,92 śiṣya-93 and ekīyasūtra94 respectively.95

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More specific contributions of Caraka are, according to P.V. Sharma: the elaboration of the discussions among groups of sages;96 yukti as a pramāṇa; yuktivyapāśraya methods of treatment; the importance of parīkṣā and jñāna;97 the description of the descent of āyurveda (Sū.1);98 various types of sveda (Sū.14);99 the importance of saṃśamana and saṃśodhana (Sū.22 and 23);100 the description of new diseases;101 the description of the eight branches of āyurveda (Sū.30);102 the introduction of articles of food growing in the northwestern regions of India.103

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The concepts related to those of Sāṃkhya, Nyāya and Vaiśeṣika are generally assumed to belong to Caraka’s contributions.104

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False attributions to Caraka

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Caraka became a revered authority to whom in later times much was attributed that is completely absent from the treatise going under his name.

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Caraka's name is associated with nāḍījñāna-vidhi¹⁰⁵ and Toḍara's Āyurvedasaukhya.¹⁰⁶

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A number of texts regard Caraka as an authority on rasaśāstra. Raghunātha Paṇḍita's Cikitsāmañjarī contains a series of rasayogas said to belong to the domain of Caraka.¹⁰⁷ Iatrochemical formulae attributed to Caraka in other treatises are: a śivaguṭikā,¹⁰⁸ somanātharasa,¹⁰⁹ and varuṇādyalauha.¹¹⁰

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Recipes ascribed to Caraka which contain ingredients added to the materia medica in post-classical times are also found. An example is kuṅkumādicūrṇa.¹¹¹

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Toḍara's Āyurvedasaukhya attributes part of the description of the kalās, found in the Suśrutasaṃhitā, to Caraka.¹¹²

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The text of the Carakasamhitā

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P. Cordier is one of the early scholars who noticed that the text of the Carakasamhitā must have been subject to considerable variations, as is obvious from quotations found in commentaries.¹¹³

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The text of the Carakasamhitā presents a number of problems which deserve serious attention. A critical edition, highly desirable, does not exist so far.¹¹⁴ References and quotations in commentaries testify that once several recensions were known which differed in their readings. Commentators also express their views on the genuineness or spuriousness of particular verses or groups of verses.¹¹⁵ Later works quoting Caraka contain verses which deviate from the edited text¹¹⁶ or are not found there at all.¹¹⁷ Some verses belonging to the text of the Carakasamhitā as accepted by Cakrapāṇidatta are attributed to other authorities by later authors.¹¹⁸ The text of many editions incorporates numerous verses, placed between brackets, which are probably interpolations.¹¹⁹

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Other passages regarded as interpolations are, for example, Sū.17.41-44, 25.48-49, Vi.3.39-40, Vi.7.8-30.¹²⁰

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P.V. Sharma proposed a number of emendations of Yādavaśarman's text of the Carakasamhitā.¹²¹ His corrections relate to: Sū.1.57 (sāttvika instead of mānasa); 1.115a (vamane 'śmantakakṣīram instead of vamane 'śmantakaṃ vidyāt); 1.122a (the edited version is not correct); 3.15 (sakuṣṭhā instead of sakuṣṭhāt);¹²² 4.14 (yaṣṭika should be ṣaṣṭika; cf. 4.16);¹²³ 5.12 (śāliṣaṣṭikamudgāṃś ca instead of ṣaṣṭikāñ chālimudgāṃś ca); 10.4 (upakrānta is preferable to anuṣṭhita); 13.72ab (these pādas ought to be deleted, because they are also found at Ci.15.202ab);¹²⁴ 14.72 (snehasamiddhasya is preferable to snehasamṛddhasya); 18.36 (upakrānta instead of anukrānta); 21.12 (rūkṣam udvartanam instead of rūkṣasyodvartanam; snānābhyāsaḥ instead of snānasyābhyāsaḥ); 21.32 (rūkṣam udvartanam instead of snigdham udvartanam);¹²⁵ 21.50 (āsīnaṃ pracalāyitam instead of āsīnapracalāyitam);¹²⁶ 22.8 (kṛtākṛtīkṛtānām is preferable to kṛtākṛtivṛttānām); 22.41 (tadauṣadhānāṃ rogāṇām instead of tadauṣadhānāṃ dhātūnām);¹²⁷ 25.38 (sthāvarasnehānām instead of sthāvarajātānāṃ snehānām); 25.39 (ālukam kandānāṃ should precede nikucaṃ phalānām); 25.40 (lāmajjakosīre is preferable to lāmajja kośīram and nir vṛttiḥ puṣṭikaraṇānām to nivṛttiḥ puṣṭikaraṇānām; the second niḥsaṃśayakaraṇānām should be replaced by nirbhayakaraṇām); 26.3 (Hiraṇyākṣa Kuśika should be substituted for Hiraṇyākṣa Kauśika); 26.43(4) (mohayati instead of mohayanti); 26.84 (sarṣapatailabhrṣṭān instead of sarṣapatailabhrṣṭān);

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27.4 (vetrāgramṛtā- instead of vegāgramṛtā-); 27.25 (sa svāduḥ is preferable to tat svāduḥ); 127 27.55 (jaṅgalacāriṇaḥ instead of jāṅgalacāriṇaḥ); 27.92 (kālākhyam instead of kālāyam); 129 27.101 (-nālikāsuryaḥ instead of -nālikāsūryaḥ); 27.122 (sārṣapaṃ śākam is odd among the group of kandaśākas); 130 27.128 (vātapitte praśasyate is better than vātapitte ca śasyate); 27.163 (madhurāny anupākīni instead of madhurāny amlapākīni); 27.216 (varuṇālaye instead of varuṇālayam); 28.4 (prasādākhyāḥ malākhyāś ca instead of malākhyāḥ prasādākhyāś ca); Ni.3.10 (sabubhukṣasya instead of abubhukṣasya); 131 Ni.4.14 (ikṣvālīrasasaṃkāśa should be read instead of śāṇḍekṣurasasaṃkāśa); 132 Vi.3.45 (tīvrādharmarucer instead of tīvrādharmārucer); 4.5 (jñānasamudayena instead of jñānasamudāyena); 5.8 (arocakavipākau instead of arocakavipākau); 5.26 (a-nnavahānāṃ instead of annavāhānāṃ); 133 7.17 trirātraṃ instead of trivāram); 134 8.11 (mādhukībhir instead of mādhukībhir); 8.169 (śikharadaśanāḥ is preferable to śikharadaśanāḥ); 135 Śā.1.¹⁴³ (vratacaryopavāsaś ca instead of vratacaryopavāsau ca); 136 Śā.5.4 (ṣaḍdhātavaḥ samuditaḥ loka iti śabdam labhante instead of puruṣa iti śabdam labhante); 8.3 (strīpuṃsayor avyāpannaśukraṣoṇitagarbhāśayoḥ should be replaced by strīpuṃsayor avyāpannaśukraṣoṇitagarbhāśayoḥ); 137 8.24 (viśamāsana should replace viśamāśana); 8.47 (kṣemaka instead of kṣaumaka; kaṇakaṇikendhana instead of kaṇakakaṇṭakendhana;

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138 I.2.19 (kaścid evāsya vairasyam instead of kaścid evāsyavairasyam); 5.17 (piban instead of pibet); I.5.34 (pādavarmaṇoḥ instead of pādacarmaṇoḥ); 11.21 (āhvayantaḥ is preferable to āhvayams tam); 12.19 (varma vīcyutam is preferable to carma vicyutam); Ci.11.36b (āmalakeṣv api is better than āmalakīṣv api); 139 12.15 (aṣṭabhāgena instead of akṣabhāgena); 140 22.8ab (sāndrībhūtaṃ taṃ kuryāt prabhūtamadhusarkarāḥ instead of sāndrībhūtaṃ ca kuryāt prabhūtamadhusarkaram); 141 3.54cd (saptāhaṃ vā daśāhaṃ vā dvādaśāhaṃ suduḥsahaḥ is preferable to daśāhaṃ dvādaśāhaṃ vā saptāhaṃ vā suduḥsahaḥ); 142 5.77c (śūlānāhaharāḥ instead of śūlānāhaharī); 6.26 (surāhvaṃ instead of surāhvāṃ); 143 6.40 (savalkāṃ instead of sakalkām); 7.111 (sailā instead of śailā); 7.120 (rajas instead of payas); 7.123 (pakvasurā is to be replaced by śakrasurā); 144 7.¹⁴⁰ (ardhapalāṃśaṃ is more correct than ardhadalāṃśam); 8.58 (śleṣṇāśayastham is preferable to āmāśayastham); 145 9.22 (-pāṇiḥ instead of vāṇiḥ); 146 13.48 (anudakaprāptam udaram is better than anudakam aprāptam udaram); 13.88-89ab (the correct order is 88ab, 89ab, 88cd); 13.119cd-124ab (iti paṭolādicūrṇam should be inserted after the formula); 14.43 (iṣṭakasya should be replaced by dīpyakasya); 14.228-229 (iti picchābastiḥ should come after 228); 14.243 (śītoṣṇāni ca yajayan instead of yojayet); 14.252 (saśārkarāḥ instead of saśarkarāḥ); 14.253ab (dvāvidhyam instead of dvividhaṃ); 14.253cd (peyāś ca instead of peyāś ca);

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15.35 (sthalaṃ nimnam ivodakam is preferable to sthalān nimnād ivodakam); 15.89 (kolāmla instead of kolāmbu); 15.97 (cānalam instead of cālanam); 15.205 (sa ghṛtaṃ instead of saghṛtaṃ); 15, colophon (grahaṇīdoṣacikitsitam is more correct than grahaṇīcikitsitam); 17.69 (śuṣkam vṛkṣam ivānalaḥ instead of śuṣkam kakṣam); 17.145–146 (iti manaḥśilādighṛtam should be read after 17.145); 18.60 (lehyād is preferable to lihyād); 147 18.87 (nīlī vāraṇapippalī instead of nīlīsārāṇi pippalī); 18.101 (the second jīvaka should be replaced by vṛddhika); 18.¹⁵⁹ (śṛte instead of śṛtair); 148 19.34 (amlasnehādhyāyaḥ instead of amlasnehādyaḥ); 149 19.113 (līḍhvā instead of pītvā); 150 21.86 (kalkitair instead of tvakkalkair); 22.11 (22.11 and 12 should be read together because both deal with vā-tikatṛṣṇā); 22.19 (tṛṣyati is preferable to tṛṣyate); 22.42 (pakvāmaloṣṭaje jale instead of pakvaloṣṭam eva ca jale); 151 22.49 (lehyam instead of leham); 22.51 (prapibet instead of tṛṣitaḥ); 23.9 (kṛkalāsakaḥ instead of sakṛkaṇṭakaḥ); 23.15 (jāngamam instead of jaṅgamam); 23.42 (viṣādhmānam is preferable to viṣadhānam); 23.84 (vicarcikām instead of visūcikām); 23.91 (vijaye instead of vijayo); 152 23.135 (gādhasamīpaditam ūrdhvam instead of gūdhasampāḍitam vṛttam); 153 23.143 (prāṇaharārditaḥ is preferable to dūṣīviṣārditaḥ); 23.¹⁵¹ (daṣṭo ’sādhyena instead of daṣṭo ’sādhyas tu); 154 23.188 (khadirāriṣṭakauṭajam mūlam ambhasā instead of khadirāriṣṭam kauṭajam mūlam ambhasā);

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23.231 (ikṣurako instead of ikṣuraso); 23.234 (naraś instead of garaś); 23.245 (śvetabhaṇḍyaśvakhurakau instead of śvetabhaṇḍāśvakhurakau); 24.71 (made cottamake ’dhikām instead of madhye cottamamadhyayoḥ); 155 24.77 (rājasamāpānam instead of rājasamāpannam); 24.159 (hemapuṣpakuṭaṇṇatam is preferable to hemapattraṃ kuṭaṇṇatam); 24.¹⁶² (vyajanānām is more correct than vyañjanānām); 25.41 (śodhanaropaṇīyau instead of śodhanau ropaṇīyau); 25.55 (lekhanam instead of lepanam); 25.109 ((kāṭhinyam instead of śaithilyam); 156 26.17 (sa mūtravaryo ’nilasaṅgam asyan instead of sa mūtravarco ’nilasaṅgam āsu); 157 26.74 (katakādīkānām instead of kanakādīkānām); 26.96 (kaulatthayūṣaiś is preferable to kaulatthadhānyaiś); 158 26.127 (asravaṇam instead of aśravaṇam; pūtisravaṇam instead of pūtiśravaṇam); 26.128 (snighasruṭiḥ instead of snigdhaśruṭiḥ); 26.132–133 (iti khālityaroganidānam should come after 26.132); 26.144 (the second pibet should be replaced by tataḥ); 159 26.181 (śaṅkhayo instead of śeṣayo); 26.187ab (iti śirorogacikitsā should come after 26.180); 26.261 (śaśvetamaricāḥ instead of syur alpamaricāḥ); 26.264 (sāhacarād bhṛṅgarājāc ca instead of sahacarād bhṛṅgarājāc ca); 27.29 (śalmalam instead of śālmalīm); 160 28.10 (antrāṇi instead of antrasthaḥ); 161 28.41 (bhugnā jihvā instead of dīnā jihmā); 28.49cd–50ab (correct reading: vivṛtāsyatvam athavā kuryāt saṃvṛtavaktratām/ hanugraham ca saṃsthabhya hanum stabdham avedanam); 28.53cd–54 (the correct order is: 54cd, 53cd, 54ab);

v1.c16.s2.19.6

28.94 (praharṣo ’nṇam ca instead of harṣo ’nnapānam); 162 29.101 (śirāvedhāgnikarma ca instead of sirā bastyagnikarma ca); 163 28.202 (jñānasınṛtibalakṣayam instead of jñātvā sṃṛtibalakṣayam); 29.110 (padmakotpalayaṣṭyāhvaphenilāpadmavetasaḥ instead of padmavetasayaṣṭyāhvaphenilāpadmakotpalaiḥ); 29.113 (the correct name of the recipe is mahāpadmakam tailam); 29.140 (kṣirapiṣṭam umālepam instead of kṣirapiṣṭam umālepam); 29.151 (dhānyāmlapeṣitam instead of dhānyāmlasaṃyutam); 164 30.116 (pāṇḍure pradare instead of pāṇḍure ’sṛgdare); 165 30.236 (kuryur aṣṭavidham doṣam liṅgatas tān nibodha me instead of kuryur aṣṭavidham bhūyo doṣatas tān nibodha me); 30.250cd–251ab (proposed reading: anye ca vividhā rogā doṣaiḥ kṣīrasamāśritaiḥ/ kṣīre vātādibhir duṣṭe saṃbhavanti tadātmakāḥ); 30.261cd (kvātham ca nāgarāt instead of kvāthaṃ caiva sanāgaram); 30.293 (samyagyoge instead of samyagyogo); 166 30.305 (vyākhyātam etat kālasya savikalpam avekṣaṇam instead of vyākhyātam abalānāṃ savikalpānām avekṣaṇe); 167 30.310 (vardhante instead of varṣānte); Ka.12.37 (caika instead of caiva); 168 12.88 (bhavet tābhyāṃ instead of bhaved eko); 12.93 (praśrtau dvau instead of kuḍavau dvau; caturguṇapalaṃ instead of palaṃ caturguṇam); Si.1.41 (kṛtaḥ instead of sa yaḥ); 3.32 (paraṃ syāt instead of paraṃ syuḥ); 3.53 (drākṣarddhi- instead of drākṣādi-); 169 7.46 (śīrṣavirecanam instead of asya virecayet); 8.31 (pitte 'sre kaphe instead of pitte vā kaphe);

v1.c16.s2.19.7

9.16 (dhamanīḥ kaphavātābhyāṃ ruddhās instead of śvasanaṃ kaphavātābhyāṃ ruddham); 10.48 (mehe ca tv ekas triṃśac ca instead of mehe ca ekatriṃśac ca); 170 11.9 (kṛtavedhanam asty avātalam is preferable to kṛtavedhanam āha vātalam); 11.22 (govājino instead of gavādiṣu); 12.11 (aticaṅkramaṇāsane instead of avicaṅkramaṇāsane); 12.13(6) (gātrāvasādā instead of gātrāvasāda-); 12.16(1) rajovisarga- instead of rajovisarpa-) 12.18(15) (jānujaṅghā instead of jānūru); 171 12.31 (kṣāra instead of kṣīra); 12.41 (ṣaṭtriṃśatā instead of ṣaḍviṃśatā).

v1.c16.s2.20

¹²⁷ 27.25 (sa svāduḥ is preferable to tat svāduḥ);

v1.c16.s2.21

¹²⁹ 27.92 (kālākhyam instead of kālāyam);

v1.c16.s2.22

¹³⁰ 27.122 (sārṣapaṃ śākam is odd among the group of kandaśākas);

v1.c16.s2.23

¹³¹ Ni.3.10 (sabubhukṣasya instead of abubhukṣasya);

v1.c16.s2.24

¹³² Ni.4.14 (ikṣvālīrasasaṃkāśa should be read instead of śāṇḍekṣurasasaṃkāśa);

v1.c16.s2.25

¹³³ 5.26 (a-nnavahānāṃ instead of annavāhānāṃ);

v1.c16.s2.26

¹³⁴ 7.17 trirātraṃ instead of trivāram);

v1.c16.s2.27

¹³⁵ 8.169 (śikharadaśanāḥ is preferable to śikharadaśanāḥ);

v1.c16.s2.28

¹³⁶ Śā.1.143 (vratacaryopavāsaś ca instead of vratacaryopavāsau ca);

v1.c16.s2.29

¹³⁷ 8.3 (strīpuṃsayor avyāpannaśukraṣoṇitagarbhāśayoḥ should be replaced by strīpuṃsayor avyāpannaśukraṣoṇitagarbhāśayoḥ);

v1.c16.s2.30

¹³⁸ 8.47 (kṣemaka instead of kṣaumaka; kaṇakaṇikendhana instead of kaṇakakaṇṭakendhana;

v1.c16.s2.31

¹³⁹ Ci.11.36b (āmalakeṣv api is better than āmalakīṣv api);

v1.c16.s2.32

¹⁴⁰ 12.15 (aṣṭabhāgena instead of akṣabhāgena);

v1.c16.s2.33

¹⁴¹ 22.8ab (sāndrībhūtaṃ taṃ kuryāt prabhūtamadhusarkarāḥ instead of sāndrībhūtaṃ ca kuryāt prabhūtamadhusarkaram);

v1.c16.s2.34

¹⁴² 3.54cd (saptāhaṃ vā daśāhaṃ vā dvādaśāhaṃ suduḥsahaḥ is preferable to daśāhaṃ dvādaśāhaṃ vā saptāhaṃ vā suduḥsahaḥ);

v1.c16.s2.35

¹⁴³ 6.26 (surāhvaṃ instead of surāhvāṃ);

v1.c16.s2.36

¹⁴⁴ 7.123 (pakvasurā is to be replaced by śakrasurā);

v1.c16.s2.37

¹⁴⁵ 7.140 (ardhapalāṃśaṃ is more correct than ardhadalāṃśam);

v1.c16.s2.38

¹⁴⁶ 9.22 (-pāṇiḥ instead of vāṇiḥ);

v1.c16.s2.39

¹⁴⁷ lehyād is preferable to lihyād

v1.c16.s2.40

¹⁴⁸ śṛte instead of śṛtair

v1.c16.s2.41

¹⁴⁹ amlasnehādhyāyaḥ instead of amlasnehādyaḥ

v1.c16.s2.42

¹⁵⁰ līḍhvā instead of pītvā

v1.c16.s2.43

¹⁵¹ lehyam instead of leham

v1.c16.s2.44

¹⁵² vijaye instead of vijayo

v1.c16.s2.45

¹⁵³ gādhasamīpaditam ūrdhvam instead of gūdhasampāḍitam vṛttam

v1.c16.s2.46

¹⁵⁴ daṣṭo ’sādhyena instead of daṣṭo ’sādhyas tu

v1.c16.s2.47

¹⁵⁵ made cottamake ’dhikām instead of madhye cottamamadhyayoḥ

v1.c16.s2.48

¹⁵⁶ kāṭhinyam instead of śaithilyam

v1.c16.s2.49

¹⁵⁷ sa mūtravaryo ’nilasaṅgam asyan instead of sa mūtravarco ’nilasaṅgam āsu

v1.c16.s2.50

¹⁵⁸ kaulatthayūṣaiś is preferable to kaulatthadhānyaiś

v1.c16.s2.51

¹⁵⁹ iti khālityaroganidānam should come after 26.132

v1.c16.s2.52

¹⁶⁰ śalmalam instead of śālmalīm

v1.c16.s2.53

¹⁶¹ antrāṇi instead of antrasthaḥ

v1.c16.s2.54

¹⁶² praharṣo ’nṇam ca instead of harṣo ’nnapānam

v1.c16.s2.55

¹⁶³ śirāvedhāgnikarma ca instead of sirā bastyagnikarma ca

v1.c16.s2.56

¹⁶⁴ dhānyāmlapeṣitam instead of dhānyāmlasaṃyutam

v1.c16.s2.57

¹⁶⁵ pāṇḍure pradare instead of pāṇḍure ’sṛgdare

Schools of interpretation

v1.c16.s3.1

A number of schools which adhered to particular interpretations of the Carakasaṃhitā or to their own text of the treatise are mentioned by commentators. 172 The schools referred to are the Dākṣiṇātyas, 173 Gauḍas, 174 Hārīścandras, 175 Kāśmīras, 176 Maitreyas, 177 Paitāmahas, 178 Saindhavas, 179 Śivasaindhavas, 180 Udīcyas, 181 and Vaiṣṇavas. 182

The Carakottaratantra

v1.c16.s4.1

A Carakottaratantra 183 is quoted in Candraṭa's Yogaratnasamuccaya, Niścala's Ratnaprabhā, 184 Śivadāsasena's Tattvabodha on the Uttarasthāna of the Aṣṭāṅgahṛdayasaṃhitā, 185 and by the unknown commentator on an interpolated portion of the Cakradatta. 186

v1.c16.s4.2

Verses from the Carakottaratantra form part of Vṛnda's Siddhayoga and Cakrapāṇidatta's Cikitsāsaṃgraha. 187

v1.c16.s4.3

Some of these stanzas are related to verses found in the Suśrutasaṃhitā, 188 and to verses from unknown sources in Siddhayoga and Cakradatta. 189

v1.c16.s4.4

All the quotations from this Carakottaratantra, with one exception, 190 are concerned with the treatment of diseases belonging to śalya and śālākya, which conveys the impression that it was a supplement to the Carakasaṃhitā of the same type as the Uttaratantra of the Suśrutasaṃhitā 191 in covering divisions of āyurveda which are not the main subject of the treatise. 192

v1.c16.s4.5

The Uttaratantra is mentioned in a verse that is found towards the end of the Carakasaṃhitā (Si.12.50). This verse, 193 considered as spurious by Cakrapāṇidatta on the authority of the ancient physicians (vṛddhāḥ), says that the tantrayuktis will be described in extenso in the Uttaratantra in order to provide right knowledge on the merits (guṇa) and defects (doṣa) of the treatise (tantra). Cakra states that the Uttaratantra of the *Agniveśatantra* ought to be regarded as unauthoritative. In spite of this, he refers to it (in his comments ad Si.12.41cd-44), remarking that the fifteen kinds of vyākhyā, seven kinds of kalpanā, twenty-one kinds of arthāśraya, seventeen kinds of tācchīlya, 194 and fourteen kinds of tantradoṣa are not dealt with here, because they will be discussed in the Uttaratantra, a section obviously known to him.

v1.c16.s4.6

This information on the contents of the Uttaratantra of the *Agniveśatantra* does not tally with the available quotations from the *Carakottaratantra*, 195

Caraka's region

v1.c16.s5.1

The region where the *Carakasamhitā* may have been written is often supposed to be the northwestern part of India. 196 The evidence that can be drawn upon for the determination of this region is meagre and depends entirely on the identification of passages due to the author called Caraka and his identity.

v1.c16.s5.2

An Indian tradition claims that the *Carakasamhitā* is the work of those pupils of Vaiśampāyana who went to the northern parts of India. 197 Those convinced that the Kāśmīrapātha is due to Caraka assume Kaśmīr to have been the region where he lived. 198 Hoernle also regarded him as a native of Kaśmīr. 199 Others, accepting the identity of the author of the samhitā with the court-physician of Kaniṣka, are sure on that ground that he belonged to the North-west. Others again base themselves on the descriptions of the Himālayas, etc., which are thought to indicate that he roamed through northern or northwestern India, not far from the mountains. 200 One author is confident that Caraka lived in Benares. 201

v1.c16.s5.3

P.V. Sharma adduces in support of the thesis that Caraka was a resident of northwestern India the mention of articles of food that were much used there and exported to other regions. 202 Examples are: abhiṣuka, 203 akṣoṭa, 204 canaka, 205 grñjanaka, 206 kharjūra, 207 laśuna, 208 mṛdvīkā, 209 mukūlaka, 210 nikocaka, 211 palāṇḍu, 212 rājamāṣa, 213 urumāṇa, 214 vātāma, 215 and yavānī 216. Some more items of the same type are āruka, 217 bhavya, 218 cīnaka, 219 and ṭaṅka. 220 Condiments popular in the same region are hiṅgu 221 and kuṅkuma. 222

Plant names and names of vegetable substances

v1.c16.s6.1

Plant names and names of vegetable substances found in the *Carakasamhitā*, but absent from the *Suśrutasamhitā*, are: abhayā 223 (Sū.3.29; Ci.4.81; 12.69; Si.3.47); abhīrupattrī 224 (Vi.8.139); ādānī 225 (Śā.8.47); adhoguḍā 226 (Sū.1.77); adhyaṇḍā 227 (Ci.3.267); ādityavallī 228 (Ci.26.268); agnimukhī 229 (Sū.4.9); ajaḍā 230 (Ci.22.18; 24.15 and 31); ākhuparṇī 231 (Ci.26.70; Si.3.61; 8.9); ākhuparṇikā 232 (Sū.4.11; Ci.30.107; Si.4.18; 10.32); akṣīva 233 (Sū.4.11; Ci.3.267); ambhaḥśyāmākā 234 (Sū.27.17); amburuha 235 (Ci.22.37); amlapākin 236 (Sū.27.163); amlikākanda 237 (Sū.27.121); amoghā 238 (Sū.4.18; Śā.8.20); amṛṇāla 239 (Sū.3.26); 240 amṛtaphala 241 (Ci.7.147); amṛtaphalā (Ci.18.88); 242 añjanābhaka 243 (Ci.23.12); aṅkalodya 244 (Sū.27.117); annapākin 245 (Si.12.19); antaḥkoṭarapuṣpī 246 (Sū.1.82); ariṣṭā 247 (Sū.4.18; Śā.8.20); asanaparṇī 248 (Vi.8.139; Ci.26.70); āsurī 249 (Sū.27.101); aśvahana 250 (Sū.3.17; Ci.29.

v1.c16.s6.2

142; Si.9.51); aśvakhuraka²⁵¹ (Ci.23.245); aśvāvarohikā²⁵² (Si.10.37); atirasā²⁵³ (Sū. 4.10 and 18; Ci.10.35); ātmajā²⁵⁴ (Ci.3.267); avaghāta²⁵⁵ (Ci.7.129); avaghātaka²⁵⁶ (Ka.8.3); avākpuṣpī²⁵⁷ (Vi.8.151; Ci.7.114; 14.234; 29.62); avarohā²⁵⁸ (Ci.3.267); avyathā²⁵⁹ (Sū.4.18; Śā.8.20 and 58); bahulā²⁶⁰ (Ci.8.103); bahuphenarasā²⁶¹ (Ka. 11.3); balāhaka²⁶² (Ci.23.11); balbaja²⁶³ (Śā.8.41; Ci.1⁴.7; 5.138); bhadraparṇī²⁶⁴ (Vi.8.135); bhadraudanī²⁶⁵ (Sū.4.9); bhaṇḍī²⁶⁶ (Sū.27.107); bhāradvājī²⁶⁷ (Sū.4.9; Vi.8.139); bilvaparṇī²⁶⁸ (Sū.27.107); bodhivṛkṣa²⁶⁹ (Ci.29.158); bṛhatpattra²⁷⁰ (Ka.9.3); buṭa²⁷¹ (Ci.30.82); cakramudgaka²⁷² (Sū.21.25); cañcu²⁷³ (Ci.19.32); cāraṇī²⁷⁴ (Ci.9.45); carmakaṣā²⁷⁵ (Ci.23.66); carmasāhvā²⁷⁶ (Ka.11.3); chattra²⁷⁷ (Sū.27.123); cīnā²⁷⁸ (Sū.27.14); cīnaka²⁷⁹ (Ni.4.5; 5.6); cirbhaṭa²⁸⁰ (Sū.27.112; Ci. 19.32); cukrilā²⁸¹ (Ci.8.131; 14.199 and 202; 15.89; 24.151); cukrīkā²⁸² (Ci.15.114; 24.151); cuñcuparṇikā²⁸³ (Sū.27.100); daṇḍairaka²⁸⁴ (Ci.26.51; Ka.1.25); dardura²⁸⁵ (Sū.27.14); dāruṇiśā²⁸⁶ (Ci.6.40); devatādaka²⁸⁷ (Ka.2.3); dhanañjaya²⁸⁸ (Ci.4.75); dhanvayāsa(ka)²⁸⁹ (Sū.4.11 and 14; Ci.3.204 and 207; 4.46; 7.145; 18.178; 21.58; 26.170); dhavayavāsa²⁹⁰ (Ci.14.186); dhāvanī²⁹¹ (Ci.3.187 and 224); dugdhikā²⁹² (Ci.8.131; 14.198; 21.83; 26.266); dvāradā²⁹³ (Vi.8.139; Ci.1⁴.15); dvīpī²⁹⁴ (Vi.8. 135); dvīpikā²⁹⁵ (Ka.1.22); dvīpiśatru²⁹⁶ (Vi.8.135); eḍagaja²⁹⁷ (Sū.3.3, 13, 15; 27.33; Ci.7.93, 103, 113, 126, 127, 160, 161); ekāṣṭhīla²⁹⁸ (Si.10.23); elāparṇī²⁹⁹ (Vi.8.135); erakā³⁰⁰ (Sū.3.24 and 27; Ci.29.134); gandhana³⁰¹ (Sū.27.14); gandhaphalā³⁰² (Ci.23.57); gandhapriyaṅgu³⁰³ ((Sū.25.40; Śā.8.24; Ci.21.90); garāgarī³⁰⁴ (Ka.2.3; Si.11.12); garmuṭī³⁰⁵ (Sū.27.18); gaura³⁰⁶ (Sū.27.8 and 13); girimallikā³⁰⁷ (Ka.5.4); gopī³⁰⁸ (Vi.8.135); guḍā³⁰⁹ (Ka.10.8); hāridraka³¹⁰ (Sū.26.84); hastiparṇī³¹¹ (Sū.1. 82); hastiparṇinī (Sū.1.84); hastiśyāmāka³¹² (Sū.27.17); hayagandhā³¹³ (Ci.28.173); hemadughā³¹⁴ (Ka.12.23); heman³¹⁵ (Sū.3.29; Ci.11.40; 12.36; 21.74; 24.159; 25.116 and 117); hiṅguparṇī³¹⁶ (Ci.9.57); hiṅgupattrikā³¹⁷ (Ci.9.66); hiṅguśivātika³¹⁸ (Ci.10.37; 19.109); hintāla³¹⁹ (Ka.1.8); ikṣuvālā³²⁰ (Ci.26.73); ikṣuvālikā³²¹ (Sū. 4.12; 25.49; Ni.4.10; Vi.8.135; Śā.8.29; Ci.2¹.24; Ka.1.25); ikṣvālikā (Ci.1¹.18); indrā³²² (Ka.1¹.19); indrāhvā³²³ (Ci.14.160); indrāṇī³²⁴ (Ci.21.85 and 90); indrasāhvā³²⁵ (Ci.6.42); indrāyudha³²⁶ (Ci.23.12); jālamālinī³²⁷ (Ci.23.206); jalapippalī³²⁸ (Sū.27.171); japā³²⁹ (Ci.1³.57); jayā³³⁰ (Ci.9.45); jhiṇṭī³³¹ (Sū.27.18); joṅgaka³³² (Ci.1⁴.15); jīrṇahvā³³³ (Sū.21.25; 27.18); kākāhvā³³⁴ (Ci.21.90); kākāṇḍa³³⁵ (Sū. 27.34); kalaniba³³⁶ (Sū.27.101); kālaṅkataka³³⁷ (Ka.1.25); kālaṅkṛta³³⁸ (Vi.8.135); kanaka³³⁹ (Ci.7.74; 23.78); kanakapuṣpī³⁴⁰ (Ci.7.167); kāṇḍīra³⁴¹ (Ci.3.267; Ka. 1.25); kapikacchu³⁴² (Ci.9.80; 11.62; 28.125 and 160); kapolavallī³⁴³ (Vi.8.139); kapotavallī³⁴⁴ (Vi.8.139); karkaśa³⁴⁵ (Sū.27.97; Vi.8.143); karkaṭāhvayā³⁴⁶ (Ka.7. 18); karkaṭakī³⁴⁷ (Ci.18.51 and 153); karkoṭakī³⁴⁸ (Ka.4.3); karṇikāra³⁴⁹ (Ka.8.3); kaṣṭhagodhā³⁵⁰ (Ci.1⁴.7); kaṭambharā³⁵¹ (Ci.9.47); kaṭuphalā (Ci.23.66; 352 Ka.4. 3); 353 kauntī³⁵⁴ (Ci.9.35; 12.65; 23.55; Si.8.13); kāyasthā³⁵⁵ (Ci.9.46 and 57; 10.46 and 48; 17.14¹.1; 26.83); kelūṭā³⁵⁶ (Sū.27.114); khaṇḍikā³⁵⁷ ((Sū.27.28); kharāhvā³⁵⁸ (Sū.23.15; 27.172; Ci.14.43); kharāśvā³⁵⁹ (Ci.26.60; Si.9.8); kilima³⁶⁰ (Vi.8.142; Śā.8.34 and 4.1; Ka.7.15); kokanada³⁶¹ (Vi.6.17); kolavallī³⁶² (Ci.3.210); kośātaka³⁶³ (Ka.6.9; Si.3.56); koṭhaphala³⁶⁴ (Si.1 1.12); koṭhaphalā³⁶⁵ (Ka.4.3); krauñca³⁶⁶ (Ci.23.11); krauñcādana³⁶⁷ (Sū.27.116; Ci.3.258; 14.9); kṛmihara³⁶⁸ (Ci.7.153); kṛṣṇacitraka (Ci.26.272); kṛṣṇapiṇḍita³⁶⁹ (Ci.26.272); kṛṣṇaśaireyaka³⁷⁰ (Ci.26.268);

v1.c16.s6.3

kṛṣṇaśana³⁷¹ (Ci.26.269); kṣaudraparṇī³⁷² (Ci.7.123); kṣemaka³⁷³ (Ci.3.267); kṣīrapuṣpī³⁷⁴ (Ci.14.6); kṣīravallī³⁷⁵ (Vi.8.139); kṣīrikā³⁷⁶ (Ci.2³.8); kṣveḍa³⁷⁷ (Ka.6.3, 10, 12); kucelā³⁷⁸ (Sū.27.95); kulaka³⁷⁹ (Sū.27.97; Ci.3.189; 17.97; 23.225; 26.156; 27.27 and 34; 30.74 and 259); kuliṅga³⁸⁰ (Sū.4.12); kuliṅgā³⁸¹ (Vi.8.139); kuliṅgākṣī³⁸² (Vi.8.139); kulīraśṛṅgī³⁸³ (Sū.4.14); kumārajīva³⁸⁴ ((Sū.27.100); kuñcikā³⁸⁵ (Sū.27.307; Ci.14.72; 15.108; 30.54 and 57); kuśapuṣpaka³⁸⁶ (Ci.23.12); kuṣkuṇḍa³⁸⁷ (Śā.6.11); kuṣṭhaghna³⁸⁸ (Ci.23.54); kutaraṇa³⁸⁹ (Ka.7.4); kuvala³⁹⁰ (Sū.4.10 and 13; 25.49; Ni.2.4; Vi.8.136 and 140); lāṅgula³⁹¹ (Sū.27.8); lohavālā³⁹² (Sū.27.9); lohitacandana³⁹³ (Ci.4.102); lauhitya³⁹⁴ (Sū.27.17); loṭṭāka³⁹⁵ (Sū.27.100); mācīka³⁹⁶ (Vi.8.144); madhukapuṣpī³⁹⁷ (Vi.8.139); madhuvallī³⁹⁸ (Vi.8.139); mahājālinī³⁹⁹ (Ka.3.17; 4.3); mahāpattra⁴⁰⁰ (Ci.14.124); mahāpuruṣadantā⁴⁰¹ ((Ci.9.46); mahāvrīhi⁴⁰² (Ni.4.5); maṇḍukapippalī⁴⁰³ (Śā.8.41); māriṣa⁴⁰⁴ (Sū.27.100); markaṭa⁴⁰⁵ (Ci.23.13); marubaka⁴⁰⁶ (Ka.1.23); masūravidalā⁴⁰⁷ (Vi.8.136; Ci.7.137; 21.60; Ka.11.14); meghaka⁴⁰⁸ (Ci.23.12); mṛdaṅgaphala⁴⁰⁹ (Ka.6.3); mṛgaliṇḍikā⁴¹⁰ (Sū.25. 49); mṛṇālī⁴¹¹ (Ci.8.129); mṛṣṭaka⁴¹² (Sū.27.170); muktā⁴¹³ (Sū.4.18); mukūlaka⁴¹⁴ (Sū.27.157; Ci.25.53; Ka.7.46; 12.3); mūlakaparṇī (Vi.7.21;⁴¹⁵ Ci.3.267⁴¹⁶); nadīmāṣaka⁴¹⁷ (Sū.27.114); nāgaraṅga⁴¹⁸ (Sū.27.156); nalikā⁴¹⁹ (Ci.28.152); nandā⁴²⁰ (Ka.10.8); nanditaka⁴²¹ (Vi.8.140); nārī⁴²² (Ci.1⁴.7); nikuca⁴²³ (Sū.25.39; 26.84; 27.132); nīlā (Ci.1⁴.7);⁴²⁴ nistrirṇśapattraka⁴²⁵ (Ka.10.8); nyagrodha⁴²⁶ (Ka.12.3); odanapākin⁴²⁷ (Ci.3.258; 29.96); padmacāraṭī⁴²⁸ (Ci.23.55); padmottarikā⁴²⁹ (Sū. 26.84); pākala⁴³⁰ (Ci.7.161; 23.196); pakvasurā⁴³¹ (Ci.7.123); palāśa⁴³² (Si.3.38); pāṃsuvāpya⁴³³ (Sū.27.12); parivyādha⁴³⁴ (Śā.8.29); parṇāsa⁴³⁵ (Ni.2.4; Vi.7.17 and 21; 8.142 and 151; Ci.3.267); parṇāsaka⁴³⁶ (Ka.1.25); parpaṭakī⁴³⁷ (Sū.27.162); parvaṇī⁴³⁸ (Sū.27.108); parvapuṣpī⁴³⁹ (Sū.27.108); pataṅga⁴⁴⁰ (Sū.27.9); phalapūra(ka)⁴⁴¹ (Ci.4.95; 20.36 and 39; 26.84); pīluparṇī⁴⁴² (Ci.3.267; 27.41; 30.50); pīluparṇikā⁴⁴³ (Sū.27.102); piṇḍī⁴⁴⁴ (Ci.14.10); pītadru⁴⁴⁵ (Ci.10.43; 12.25; 17.110; Si.4.29); poṭā⁴⁴⁶ (Ka.1.25); poṭagalā⁴⁴⁷ (Vi.8.135; Si.10.33); praśātikā⁴⁴⁸ (Sū.21.25; 27.17; Ci.4.36); pratyakśreṇī⁴⁴⁹ (Sū.1.77; additional verse between Ka.12.3 and 4); puṇḍraka⁴⁵⁰ (Sū.25.49); pūtanā⁴⁵¹ (Ci.9.45); pūtanakeśī⁴⁵² (Ci.10.34 and 39); rājakaśeru(ka)⁴⁵³ (Vi.8.139 and 144; Si.10.37); rājakośatakī⁴⁵⁴ (Ka.4.3); rājamāṣa⁴⁵⁵ (Sū.27.25); raktamūlī⁴⁵⁶ (Ci.10.31); raṇḍā⁴⁵⁷ (additional verse between Ka.12.3 and 4); rādhā⁴⁵⁸ (Ci.26.14); rohā⁴⁵⁹ (Ci.3.267); rohiṣa⁴⁶⁰ (Ci.23.12); rudhira⁴⁶¹ (Sū.4.18; 75; 29.131); śaikharika⁴⁶⁵ (Vi.7.19); śakra⁴⁶⁶ (Ka.5.4); śakulādanī⁴⁶⁷ (Sū.4.9; 27.96); śālakalyāṇī⁴⁶⁸ (Sū.27.102); śaleya⁴⁶⁹ (Sū.27.170; Ci.4.75); śālmalikā⁴⁷⁰ (Vi.8.135; Si. 10.36); śambarī⁴⁷¹ (additional verse between Ka.12.3 and 4); saṃharṣa⁴⁷² (Vi.8.139); saṃkoca⁴⁷³ (Ci.2³.28); saṃvartaka⁴⁷⁴ (Ci.3.258); śanapuṣpī⁴⁷⁵ (Sū.1.78 and 79; 4.13; Vi.8.135; Ka.1.14); śārada⁴⁷⁶ (Sū.27.14; Ci.14.95); sārivākhya⁴⁷⁷ (Sū.27.9); sarpā⁴⁷⁸ (Ci.1⁴.7); sarpacchattraka⁴⁷⁹ (Sū.27.123); sarvānubhūti⁴⁸⁰ (Ka.7.4); śatāhvaka⁴⁸¹ (Sū.27.145); śatakusumā⁴⁸² (Si.12.16 and 18); śataparvan⁴⁸³ (Ci.3.258); śatapattra⁴⁸⁴ (Sū.4.15; 25.49; Ci.3.258; Si.10.21); saumanasyāyanī⁴⁸⁵ (Vi.8.135; Ka.4.16); sauvarṇī (tvac)⁴⁸⁶ (Ci.7.77); śibira⁴⁸⁷ (Sū.27.18); śilodbheda⁴⁸⁸ (Ci.15.113; 30.90); śitagiri⁴⁸⁹ (Ci.23.95); śitaka⁴⁹⁰ (Vi.8.140); śitakumbhikā⁴⁹¹ (Ci.3.258); śitivāraka⁴⁹² (Ci.26.56 and 60; Si.9.8); śivā⁴⁹³ (Sū.4.18; Śā.8.20); śrīnivāsaka⁴⁹⁴ (Ci.28.153);

v1.c16.s6.4

śṛṅgaverika⁴⁹⁵ (Sū.27.171); śryāhva⁴⁹⁶ (Sū.3.3; Ci.30.107); śubhā⁴⁹⁷ (Ci.8.145); śukabarha⁴⁹⁸ (Sū.5.23); śūkarī⁴⁹⁹ (Ci.9.46); śuklasurasa⁵⁰⁰ (Ci.23.101); śukti⁵⁰¹ (Sū.25.49; Ni.2.4; Ci.25.67); śūrpaparṇī⁵⁰² (Ci.1¹.43; 2².5; 19.50; 28.151); sūryakāntā⁵⁰³ (Ci.1⁴.7); śuṣā⁵⁰⁴ (Sū.27.88); śuṣkaśāka⁵⁰⁵ (Ci.19.33); sutaśreṇī⁵⁰⁶ (additional verse between Ka.12.3 and 4); svarṇayūthikā⁵⁰⁷ (Si.10.31); śvasana⁵⁰⁸ (Ka.1.27); śvetabhaṇḍa⁵⁰⁹ (Ci.23.245); śvetabhaṇḍī⁵¹⁰ (Ci.23.210); śvetakaravīra⁵¹¹ (Ci.7.105 and 106); śvetamarica⁵¹² (Ci.26.245 and 246); śvetanāman⁵¹³ (Sū.1.77); śvetavacā⁵¹⁴ (Ci.23.70; Si.3.62); śvetavallī⁵¹⁵ (Ci.3.267); tāḍaka⁵¹⁶ (Sū.4.18; Śā.23.12); tapanīya⁵¹⁷ (Sū.27.9); taruṭa⁵¹⁸ ((Sū.27.116; Ci.14.9); thauṇeyaka⁵¹⁹ (Ci.12.65); tiktalā⁵²⁰ (Ka.11.3); tiktekṣvāku⁵²¹ (Ci.23.206); ṭiṇṭikera⁵²² (Ci.14.10); tirīṭaka⁵²³ (Ka.9.3); tridaśāhva⁵²⁴ (Ci.28.162); tṛṇamūla⁵²⁵ (Ci.4.103); tūda⁵²⁶ (Sū.27.135); tūrṇaka⁵²⁷ (Sū.27.8); udumbaraparṇī⁵²⁸ (Ka.12.3); ujjvala⁵²⁹ (Sū.27.14); ulūpa⁵³⁰ (Vi.3.7); umā⁵³¹ (Sū.14.36; 27.34; Ci.12.70; 17.84; 25.53; 29.140); upacitrā⁵³² (additional verse between Ka.12.3 and 4); vanatiktaka⁵³³ (Sū.4.18; Śā.8.20 and 58); vanatrapuṣī⁵³⁴ (Vi.8.139); vānīra⁵³⁵ (Ci.3.258; 4.102; Ka.1.8; Si.10.21); vanya⁵³⁶ (Sū.3.8; 5.22 and 64; Ci.3.258; 21.74; 23.77); vāpya⁵³⁷ (Ci.7.130); vārija⁵³⁸ (Ci.4.107); vārtākī⁵³⁹ (Vi.8.151; Ci.15.183); vātapotha⁵⁴⁰ (Ci.3.258); vātyapuṣpī⁵⁴¹ (Sū.4.18; Śā.8.20 and 58); vātyāyanī⁵⁴² (Sū.4.9); vāyasapīlukā⁵⁴³ (Ci.23.217); veṇī⁵⁴⁴ (Ka.2.3); vetasāmla⁵⁴⁵ (Ci.12.55); vikasā⁵⁴⁶ (Ci.8.175); vīrā⁵⁴⁷ (Vi.8.139; Ci.2¹.25 and 34; 5.119; 8.79 and 101; 9.43 and 45; 11.35 and 62; 14.123 and 236; 15.127 and 156; 21.78, 79, 90; 25.47; 26.93; 28.161; 29.65, 114, 131; 30.50; Ka.4.13; Si.3.49); vīraṇa⁵⁴⁸ (Sū.4.12; Śā.8.29 and 57); viṣvaksenakāntā⁵⁴⁹ (Sū.4.18; Śā.8.20); vitunnaka⁵⁵⁰ (Ci.18.176; 29.94); vṛddharuhā⁵⁵¹ (Sū.4.12); vṛkadhūmaka⁵⁵² (Sū.27.101); vṛkṣaruhā⁵⁵³ (Sū.4.12); vṛṣakarṇikā⁵⁵⁴ (Ci.21.84); vṛṣaparṇikā⁵⁵⁵ (Sū.4.11); vyāghrī⁵⁵⁶ (Sū.5.65; Ci.3.211 and 236; 5.106; 8.111); yāmānī⁵⁵⁷ (Ci.6.41; 8.126); yātuka⁵⁵⁸ (Sū.27.102); yavaśāka⁵⁵⁹ (Sū.27.102).

Inorganic substances

v1.c16.s7.1

Inorganic substances⁵⁶⁰ are grouped together as pārthiva or bhauma in character.⁵⁶¹ A list of these substances (Sū.1.70–71a) comprises gold (suvarṇa),⁵⁶² the five metals (loha)⁵⁶³ along with their impurities (mala),⁵⁶⁴ sikatā,⁵⁶⁵ sudhā,⁵⁶⁶ manaḥśilā,⁵⁶⁷ ālā,⁵⁶⁸ (seni-)precious stones (maṇi),⁵⁶⁹ salt (lavaṇa),⁵⁷⁰ gairika,⁵⁷¹ and añjana.⁵⁷²

v1.c16.s7.2

Other inorganic substances are: agāradhūma (Ci.23.51; Si.7.25; 9.58);⁵⁷³ adrijatu (Ci.13.78);⁵⁷⁴ amṛtasaṃjña (Ci.7.114);⁵⁷⁵ amṛtasaṅga (Sū.3.10; Ci.14.55; 25.117);⁵⁷⁶ aśmajatu (Ci.12.49; 16.81);⁵⁷⁷ dhūma (Si.7.24);⁵⁷⁸ gandha (Ci.17.125);⁵⁷⁹ gandhaka (Ci.7.71);⁵⁸⁰ girija (Ci.1³.64; 21.130; 30.148);⁵⁸¹ gṛhadhūma (Sū.3.5; Ci.7.87; 23.41, 197, 198, 213; 26.194; 29.149);⁵⁸² kāca (Śā.8.41; Ci.17.125);⁵⁸³ kāṅkṣī (Ci.23.54; 30.121);⁵⁸⁴ kardama (Ci.21.81);⁵⁸⁵ kāsīsa (Sū.3.5 and 10; Ci.7.102, 109, 114, 117, 167; 21.126; 25.115 and 117; 26.254 and 271; 30.79 and 121);⁵⁸⁶ kṛṣṇamṛd (Ci.19.82; 22.44); kṛṣṇamṛttikā (Sū.27.200; Ci.19.64); kṛṣṇasikatā (Ci.22.44); lelītaka (Ci.7.70);⁵⁸⁷ lohitamṛd (Ci.23.101);⁵⁸⁸ lomaśa (Sū.3.4 and 15);⁵⁸⁹ loṣṭa (Sū.18.6; 25.40; I.12.20; Ci.3.112; 4.80; 20.30; 22.45; 23.25; Si.7.14);⁵⁹⁰ mākṣika (Ci.7.70; 16.73, 82, 83; 21.130);⁵⁹¹ mṛd (Sū.4.18; 9.13; 18.6; Śā.1.43; 3.20; Ci.4.79 and 104;

v1.c16.s7.3

16.28 and 121; 20.42; 26.224);593 mṛttikā (Sū.14.46; Ci.1².11; 1⁴.21; 2⁴.26; 4.66; 16.27 and 117; 19.65; 27.49, 51, 54; Ka.1.9);594 pāṃśu (Vi.3.7; I.12.28; Ci.1⁴.59; 23.39 and 174); pāṣāṇa (Sū.14.26 and 58; 27.209 and 210; Ci.21.131);595 rasa (Ci.7.71);596 rasottama (Ci.25.116);597 romaśa (Ci.29.152);598 saugandhika (Sū.3.10);599 saurāṣṭrī (Ci.7.114; 15.138);600 saurāṣṭrikā (Ci.30.79 and 98);601 śilāhvaya (Ci.1³.65; 26.99);602 śilājatu603 (Sū.21.24; 24.56; Ci.1³.48, 56, 58, 62; 5.97; 7.72; 13.152 and 153; 16.88; 23.213; 28.242; 29.159);604 sphaṭika (Ci.1⁴.22; 17.125)605 suvarcikā (Sū.2.23);606 suvarṇamākṣika (Ci.7.71);607 svarjikā (Vi.7.17; Ci.23.215);608 tāpya (Ci.16.78; 26.250);609 tuttha (Sū.3.12; Ci.7.108, 114 and 120; 26.250);610 vaigandhika (Ci.23.223);611 veśmadhūma (Ci.26.14).612

v1.c16.s7.4

This survey may be useful in facilitating an assessment of the employment of inorganic substances in the Carakasamhitā613 and comparisons with other texts.614

v1.c16.s7.5

The inorganic substances mentioned are prescribed in various forms, both externally and internally.615 Some of these substances were heated before use.616 Many of them were administered in the form of a powder (cūrṇa, rajas),617 either singly or in combination with other drugs.

v1.c16.s7.6

The intricate processes known from alchemical and later āyurvedic treatises are absent from the Carasamhitā,618 though some are convinced that distillation is mentioned.619 The term bhasman is employed in a sense that differs from its alchemical use.620

v1.c16.s7.7

Mercury is not yet known as a medicinal substance. The term rasa621 (Ci.7.71) refers back to the juice extracted (nighṛīta) from the plant called jāti (Ci.7.70).622

v1.c16.s7.8

A substance called rasottama, sometimes thought to be mercury,623 is prescribed once, for external use in a lepa (Ci.25.116).624

v1.c16.s7.9

The meaning of this term is a problematic issue. The presence of the verse that contains the prescription in a number of treatises gives the opportunity to compare the interpretations of various commentators. Cakra says that rasottama is either pārada (mercury) or ghee. Indu regards it as mercury (pārada). Among the commentators on the Hṛdaya, Aruṇadatta is silent, while the Kairalī agrees with Indu; Śivadāsasena, though identifying rasottama as pārada, adds that some are of the opinion that ghee is meant. The Hṛdayaprakāśa of the Aṣṭāngahṛdayakoṣa records that ghee is meant; though many (predecessors) identify rasottama as pārada. The Śivadīpikā considers it to be rasāñjana. The Kusumāvalī on the Siddhayoga remarks that rasottama is either pārada or ghee according to Cakra(pāṇidatta), or the juice (rasa) of sahakāra (i.e., the mango) according to Jinadāsa. Śivadāsasena comments (ad Cakradatta, vraṇaśotha 101) that rasottama is pārada, while others regard it as ghee. Niścalakara mentions that Cakra sees ghee in it, while Jinadāsa interprets it as the sweet juice of sahakāra; he himself is convinced that ghee is meant, because this is the substance corresponding to rasottama in an equivalent recipe of Jātūkarṇa quoted by him.

v1.c16.s7.10

This survey of the various interpretations makes clear that it is far from certain, even improbable, that mercury is mentioned in the Carakasamhitā.

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