Chapter 281 - The characteristics of the different tastes (rasa-lakṣaṇa)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

[Full title: The description of the characteristics of the different tastes and the qualities of the herbs (rasa-lakṣaṇa)]

Dhanvantari said:—

1. Listen to me! I shall describe the tastes [i.e., rasa-lakṣaṇa] and the other characteristics and merits of the herbs. A physician who knows the properties of the herbs, such as taste, strength and flavour, will be able to save kings and other people.

2. O One possessing powerful arms! The tastes such as sweet, sour and saline are stated to come from the moon. The tastes—bitter, astringent and pungent—are (known to be) from fire.

3. The herbs have three flavours—bitter, sour and saline. The strength (of the herbs) is said to be of two kinds—hot and cold.

4-5a. O Foremost among the brahmins! The effect of the herbs is indescribable. Those that are sweet, astringent and bitter are said to be having cold potency. The rest are stated to be hot.

5b-6. Although guḍuci [guḍūcī?] has the bitter taste, it is hot on account of its high potency. O One who shows respect! Pathyā, though an astringent, is (considered) hot. Although meat is sweet, it is said to be hot.

7. The saline and sweet tastes would become sweet flavour. The sour things that are hot are also said to become so. The rest would have pungent flavour.

8. One has to determine the drugs that have got modified in their potency and flavour from their efficacy. Honey, although sweet, is said to be pungent in flavour.

9. (The herb) should be boiled with water, sixteen times its proportion, until it comes down to four times the proportion. This is the general rule for (preparing) a decoction wherever (something else) has not been stated.

10-12. The decoction (thus prepared) (should be composed) of water alone. In a decoction prepared with oil, it should be four times that of the drug. A wise man should take equal quantity (of water) to that of the herb. Then the herb and oil should be added. Oil should be one-fourth the measure of the substance. The herb that is free from water would be (known as) extraction in oil. The process of preparing decoctions of the herbs in oil has been explained. O Suśruta! (The method of preparation) of the lambative is also similar.

13-15a. The decoction that is clear and having little medicinal ingredient would be as above described. (The dosage) for pulverised drugs is stated to be an akṣa (a particular measure of weight equal to 16 māṣas) and four palas (a particular weight) for the decoction. This measure is said to be middling. There is no hard and fast rule about the dosage. O Fortunate one! The measure of the dosage has to be decided according to the age, time, strength, digestive power, place, herb and disease.

15b-16a. Those tastes are known to be saumyāḥ [saumya] which increase the quality of the ingredients. Those that are madhurāḥ [madhura] are specially known to increase the quality.

16b-17a. That substance which has the qualities in equal proportion to the defects would be for betterment. The opposite would subdue the effect.

17b-20. O Foremost among men! There are said to be three functions in this body, such as, eating, sleeping and coition. One has to pay attention to these always. One would get destroyed if there is no indulgence or is over-indulgence (in any one of these). An exhausted body has to be strengthened. Obesity of a person should be reduced. The middle type has to be protected. These are considered to be the three different types of bodies. Gratification and non-gratification are said to be the two courses of action. One should moderately eat (food) that is good (for health) after the food already taken had been digested.

21-24a. O Foremost among men! The remedies are classified into five groups—juice, levigated powder, the distilled, the cold and decoction. Juice is known to be that got by pressing. Levigated powder is got by pulverising the drug after heating. The distilled is that got after boiling. The cold one is that allowed to cool the previous night. Decoction is that distilled immediately after boiling. There are one hundred and sixty ways of doing so. One who knows the ways would become inconquerable. That person is skilled in the preparation of mixtures.

24b. The purity of food is for the sake of digestion. A good digestion is the root cause of the strength of men.

25-30a. One should eat the three myrobalans together with the rock-salt, that would give good complexion to a king. (One would get similar benefit by using) the juice of venison together with rock-salt or curd or small quantities of milk. One whose constitution is windy should eat (a food) that has either more juice or the same proportion of juice. It is said that massaging (the body) (should be done) in summer. In winter it should be in equilibrium. It is known to be of middling type in the spring. The intense massaging in the summer is first done on the skin and then on the muscles, veins, blood and the body. The bones would get strengthened and become fleshy. A wise man should massage well the shoulders, arms, shanks, knees, collarbones and the chest as before as if (one is attacking) an enemy. After having massaged the joints well, one should stretch them slowly without making a violent jerk.

30b-33. One should not do any physical exercise while the food still remains undigested nor after taking food, nor after drinking (water). One should never do any exercise in the half of the prahara^[1] after a quarter part of the day. One should bathe in cold water (only) once. Bathing intrepid water would remove fatigue. One should not forcibly retain the breath in the heart. Physical exercises would remove the (excessive) phlegm. Massaging would remove the (excessive) wind. Bathing would remove the excessive bile. (One should not) expose his body to sunlight or enjoy the company of women (after doing exercises). Men should not do exercises affecting one’s body under the sunlight.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

eighth part of a day.