A History of Indian Medical Literature v3.c47.146

v3.c47.146

Elephants of good qualities are said to be found in eight forests, named and described by Someśvara (2.172–179).814 The typology of elephants is more elaborate than in other treatises (4.230–235).815 Their characteristics are described on the basis of their anūka (size), aṃśaka, sattva, and kula (2.221). Seven types are distinguished as to size (2.222–225), nine with regard to aṃśaka (2.234–262),816 three chief (sāttvika, rājasa, tāmasa) and nine secondary types with regard to sattva (2.263–272), and eight types with regard to kula or anvaya (2.274–281).817 The various means of capturing (bandha) wild elephants (2.180–220)818 and their training (śikṣā; 2.282–331) are dealt with by Someśvara. Causes of diseases in elephants are bandhana (capturing), tāḍana (beating), vyādhi, vanasaukhyavicintana (thinking about the pleasures of the forest), asātmya, ajīrṇa, āyāsa (strain), and jāgaraṇa (waking) (2.628–629). Someśvara enumerates the names of fever in various living beings and inanimate substances (2.639–643).