A History of Indian Medical Literature v1.c21.31

v1.c21.31

BAḌIŚA, 111 surnamed Dhāmārgava after the plant 112 from which the instrument called baḍiśa 113 is made, 114 makes its appearance in the Carakasamhitā a number of times. Baḍiśa is a member of the group of sages mentioned in the first chapter of Caraka, but he is absent from the group in the Bhāvaprakāśa (I.1). He takes part in a discussion on the properties and actions of vāta (Ca.Sū.12), explaining which factors disturb or restore its balance. On another occasion (Ca.Sū.26), he puts forward that eight tastes should be distinguished, adding the caustic (kṣāra) and indistinct (avyakta) tastes to the usual six. 115 In the chapter dealing with the part or parts of the body which arise first in an embryo (Ca.Śā.6) he maintains that the arms and legs appear first. 116 In a chapter of the Siddhisthāna (Ca.Si.11), concerned with the question which fruits or seeds are the best for use in a non-oleaginous enema (āsthāpana), Baḍiśa, contradicting Gautama’s view that dhāmārgava seeds are the best, recommends those of kuṭaja. 117