A History of Indian Medical Literature v2.c29.42

v2.c29.42

Pitta is said to be sasneha (slightly unctuous), uṣṇa, tīkṣṇa, drava, amla, sara, and kaṭu; the list of Ca.Vi.8.97 is slightly different again: uṣṇa, tīkṣṇa, drava, visra (compare Suśruta’s pūti), amla, and kaṭuka; compare Ca.Ni.4.26. Suśruta’s list (Sū.21.11) deviates in omitting sasneha and sara, and adding pūti, nīla and pita; the taste of pitta is kaṭu in its normal state, but amla when vidagdha (see Cakra ad Ca.Sū.1.59–61). Vāgbhaṭa (A.h.Sū.1.11cd; A.s.Sū. 1.27ab) enumerates: sasneha, tīkṣṇa, uṣṇa, laghu, visra, sara, and drava. See on pitta in Indian medicine: R.F.G. Müller (1934a).