A History of Indian Medical Literature v2.c29.240

v2.c29.240

⁵⁸⁴ Cf. Su.Sū.46.105. Cakra distinguishes four kinds of haṃsa (see Ca.Si.12.18). P. Rāy and H.N. Gupta (1965): Cygnus olor, the swan. Gulabkunverba: idem. P.V. Sharma: swan. R.K. Sharma and Bhagwan Dash: idem. K.N. Dave (1985): 422–460) remarks that the haṃsas and kāraṇḍavas together are about the same as the family of birds now called Anatidae. See on Cygnus olor (Gmelin), the mute swan: S. Ali and S.D. Ripley 1, 137; this bird is only observed as a very rare straggler in severe winters. See on properties of the flesh: Ca.Sū.27.65cd-66ab; Su.Sū.46.107; see on properties of the eggs (dhārtarāṣṭra is a synonym of haṃsa here): Ca.Sū.27.85. The haṃsa is an article of food forbidden to brāhmaṇas (Manusmṛti 5.12). See on the haṃsa in non-medical texts: A. de Gubernatis (1872): II, 306–309; Hopkins; C.R. Lanman (1908); J.Ph. Vogel (1962), who proved that it cannot be but the barheaded goose, Anser indicus (Latham).