Chapter LXIII - Different Combinations of six different Rasas

Now we shall discourse on the chapter which deals with the different combinations of the (six) different Rasas (Rasa-bheda-vikalpa-Adhyaya). 1.

The fifteen different combinations of the Doshas already spoken of (in Chapter XXI, Sutra-Sthana) are meant only for the sixty-three different combinations of the (six) Rasas (taken one, two, three, four, five or all at a time). They (viz. the different Doshas) may be manifest separately (Avidagdha) or combinedly (Vidagdha) with one another and the number of their combinations should be taken to be sixty-three pari passu with the sixty-three different combinations of the (six) different Rasas. In other words, the combinations of the Doshas with one another already spoken of should be considered by an intelligent person to be sixty-three in all (and not fifteen only, as spoken of in Chapter XXI, Sutra-Sthana). 2—3.

Enumeration— Taken two at a time:—

The Madhura Rasa (sweet taste) coming first in the order of enumeration has got five combinations (with the other five Rasas) taken two at a time. Similarly Amla Rasa (acid taste) has got four combinations and Lavana Rasa (saline taste) has got three. Katuka Rasa (pungent taste) has got two and Tikta Rasa (bitter taste) has got only one with Kasaya Rasa (astringent taste). The different combinations taken two at a time are thus fifteen in all.

They are as follows:—

1. Sweet and acid,
2. sweet and saline,
3. sweet and pungent
4. sweet and bitter
5. and sweet and astringent

—these are the five combinations of Madhura (sweet) Rasa.

6. Acid and saline,
7. Acid and pungent
8. Acid and bitter,
9. and Acid and astringent

—these are the four combinations of Amla (acid) Rasa,

10. Saline and pungent,
11. Saline and bitter,
12. and Saline and astringent

—these are the three combinations of Lavana (saline) Rasa.

13. Pungent and bitter,
14. and Pungent and astringent

—these are the two combinations of Katuka (pungent) Rasa.

15. Bitter and pungent

—this is the only combination of Tikta (bitter) Rasa.

Thus the fifteen different combinations (of the six Rases) taken two at a time have been enumerated. Now we shall speak of their combinations taken three at a time. 4.

Taken three at a time:—

The Madhura Rasa (sweet taste) coming first in the list has got ten combinations (with the other Rasas taken three at a time). Similarly Amla Rasa (acid taste) has got six; Lavana Rasa (saline taste) has got half that number i.e., three; and Katuka Rasa (pungent taste) has got only one combination.

They are as follows:—

1. Sweet, acid and saline,
2. Sweet, acid and pungent,
3. Sweet, acid, and bitter,
4. Sweet, acid and astringent,
5. Sweet, saline and pungent,
6. Sweet, saline and bitter,
7. Sweet, saline and astringent,
8. Sweet, pungent and bitter,
9. Sweet, pungent and astringent,
10. and Sweet, bitter and astringent

—these are the ten combinations of the Rasas taken three at a time and beginning with Madhura (sweet) Rasa,

11. Acid, saline and pungent,
12. Acid, saline and bitter,
13. Acid, saline and astringent,
14. Acid, pungent and bitter,
15. Acid, pungent and astringent,
16. and Acid, bitter and astringent

—these are the six combinations (taken three at a time and) beginning with Amla (acid) taste,

17. Saline, pungent and bitter,
18. Saline, pungent and astringent,
19. and Saline, bitter, and astringent

—these are the three combinations (taken three at a time) beginning with Lavana (saline) taste.

20. Pungent, bitter and astringent

—this is the only one combination (taken three at a time and) beginning with Katuka (puugent) taste. Thus the twenty different combinations (of the six Rasas) taken three at a time have been explained. Now we shall speak of their combinations taken four at a time. 5.

Taken four at a time:—

The Madhura (sweet) Rasa has got ten different combinations of four at a time. Similarly Amla (acid) Rasa has got four, and Lavana (saline) Rasa only one.

They are as follows

1. Sweet, acid, saline and pungent,
2. Sweet, acid, saline and bitter,
3. Sweet, acid, saline and astringent,
4. Sweet, acid, pungent and bitter
5. Sweet, acid, pungent and astringent,
6. Sweet, saline, pungent and bitter,
7. Sweet, acid, bitter and astringent,
8. Sweet, saline, pungent and astringent,
9. Sweet, saline, pungent and astringent,
10. and Sweet, pungent, bitter and astringent

—these are the ten combinations (taken four at a time and) beginning with Madhura (sweet) Rasa.

11. Acid, saline, pungent and bitter,
12. Acid, saline, bitter and astringent,
13. Acid, pungent, bitter and astringent,
14. and Acid, saline, pungent and astringent

—these are the four combinations beginning with Amla (acid) taste.

15. Saline, pungent, bitter and astringent

—this is the only one combination beginning with Lavana (saline) taste. Thus the fifteen different combinations (of the six Rasas) taken four at a time have been enumerated. Now we shall speak of their combinations taken five at a time. 6.

Taken five at a time:—

There would be five combinations (of the six Rasas) taken five at a time and beginning with the Madhura (sweet) Rasa, and only one with Amla (acid) Rasa.

They are as follows:—

1. Sweet, acid, saline, pungent and bitter,
2. Sweet, acid, saline, pungent and astringent,
3. Sweet, acid, saline, bitter and astringent,
4. Sweet, acid, pungent, bitter and astringent,
5. and Sweet, saline, pungent, bitter and astringent

—these are the five combinations (of the six Rasas) taken five at a time beginning with Madhura (sweet) Rasa.

6. Acid, saline, pungent, bitter and astringent

—this is the only one combination of the kind beginning with Amla (acid Rasa. Thus the six combinations taken five at a time have been enumerated. Now we shall speak of their combination with (all the) six at a time. 7.

The combination (of the six Rasas) taken (all the) six at a time is only one.

The only combination of this kind is

1. Sweet, acid, saline, pungent, bitter and astringent. 8.

Separately taken one at a time, the six Rasas will be—

1. Madhura (sweet),
2. Amla (acid),
3. Lavana (saline),
4. Katuka (pungent),
5. Tikta (bitter),
6. and Kashaya (astringent). 9.

Memorable Verse:—

Sixty-three combinations of the (six) different Rasas have been enumerated by the experts on Rasa and these sixty-three combinations should be prescribed by experienced physicians with due regard to (the aggravation or diminution of one or more of) the (three) different Doshas. 10.

 

Thus ends the sixty-third chapter of the Uttara-Tantra in the Sushruta Samhita which deals with the different combinations of the (six) different Rasas.