A History of Indian Medical Literature v2.c33.167

v2.c33.167

261 The term upasarga may denote an infectious disease, eventually giving rise to an epidemic; it is used in this sense here according to Cakra and Daḷhaṇa. Cakra interprets the term deśaviparyaya (Ca.Sū.17.10) as a country afflicted by an upasarga. Indu (ad A.S.Sū.3.112) regards an upasṛṣṭa deśa as a country where an epidemic disease (upasarga = māraka) rages. The term upasarga also means an affliction caused by malevolent beings (Sū.Śā.10.50; Daḷhaṇa ad Su.U.1.6; Pālakāpya IV.35); it is a synonym of upadrava in other contexts (Ca. Sū.13.71; Ci.22.17). Compare the dictionaries on other meanings. See on upasarga and upadrava also: J.J. Meyer (1937): II, 129–131; III, 41. An aupasargika roga or vyādhi is an upadrava at Su.Sū.35.18, an infectious disease at Su. Ni.5.34. Later treatises describe aupasargika (infectious) types of meha and upadaṃśa. Terms designating an epidemic are maraka (A.H.U.35.31; Bṛhatsaṃhitā 5.27; 11.12, 29, 30, 31; 12.21; 35.4; 45.79), māra (Bṛhatsaṃhitā 3.31), māraka (see P.V. Sharma, 1972d: 52), mārī (Bṛhatsaṃhitā 86.33; Daḷhaṇa ad Su.Ci.24.91; Tantrasārasaṃgraha 15.51), mārikā, and mahāmārī (see J. Filliozat, 1937: 109–110); these terms are found in many types of texts, both Hindu and Buddhist.