Hindu Medicine c7.290

c7.290

Auspicious visions in dreams [Suśruta goes on], are gods, Brahmins, “ twice-born ” people of the three upper-castes, living friends and kings; a brightly burning fire or flawless, clear water promises luck and the vanishing of disease. Meat, fish, fruit, white garlands and clothes purport financial success and the vanishing of disease. If the dreaming person ascends stately terraces, climbs trees laden with fruit, mounts elephants and ascends mountains, this points to material gain and the vanishing of disease. If he achieves the crossing of streams, great rivers and oceans full of turbulent and muddy water, this is a sign of good fortune and the vanishing of disease. If a snake or leech or insect bites him, a clever man should interpret this dream as denoting freedom from disease and gain of money. A patient who sees auspicious dreams of this kind may be diagnosed as possessed of long life (dīrghā-yus), and the doctor should accept the treatment of the case.