A History of Indian Medical Literature v1.c26.s3.80

v1.c26.s3.80

The second quotation from Caraka (Śā.10.31) deals with the essential character of a riṣṭa as a certain sign of approaching death; those without an accurate knowledge of the matter make mistakes in not recognizing a riṣṭa or seeing one where none is present. The same verse forms part of the *Hṛdaya* (Śā.5.2), where it is not ascribed to Caraka. The stanza is absent from the *Carakasaṃhitā*, as already suggested by the use of riṣṭa instead of ariṣṭa, but has a parallel there, though quite differently worded (I.2.6). Again, the source of the verse remains unknown.