A History of Indian Medical Literature v1.c8.134

v1.c8.134

Ātreya Punarvasu decides that there are six tastes: madhura, amla, lavaṇa, kaṭu, tikta and kaṣāya. Their common source (yoni) is water. Chedana and upaśamana are actions of the tastes; the same applies to sādhāraṇa. Palatability and unpalatability depend on subjective preferences (bhakti); wholesomeness and unwholesomeness are effects of prabhāva (specific action). The products (vikāra) of the five mahābhūtas form the substratum of the tastes. The six tastes of Vāryovida are qualities (guṇa) of substances (dravya). Kṣāra is a substance, endowed with a number of tastes. Indistinctness is found in the source of the tastes (i.e., water) and in (substances) with an after-taste (anurasa) (26.9).