A History of Indian Medical Literature v2.c30.122

v2.c30.122

42 The nature of this rakta is a matter of discussion; it is often translated by ovum (R.K. Sharma and Bhagwan Dash; P.V. Sharma), which credits Caraka with modern knowledge he did not possess. The usual meaning of rakta is blood, but a female procreational fluid, resembling blood, which is transformed into the menstrual discharge (called purāṇarudhira in the Bhelasamhitā, Śā.5.5) when conception does not take place, is meant here. See on sexual fluids in Indian thought: W.D. O'Flaherty (1980): 17–61, (1980c): 331–346, (1981): 17–61.