Diseases and treatments related to skin

It is in Act V, that Rājayakṣmā is seen on the stage for the first time. But the power of Rājayakṣmā as the leader of diseases is found discussed only in the sixth Act.

The sixth Act brings in king Jīva being affected by atibubhukṣā (extreme hunger). Since the king is not able to concentrate on anything else, the minister tries to divert his attention by advising him to look at the forts around the city (body) from the balcony (i.e., upper portion of the body^[1] (face).

Bhasini (Avabhāsinī); Lohitā (Lohinī); Śvetā; Tāmrā; Vedīnī, Rohinī and Māṃsadharā (Sthūlā) are the names of the seven layers of the skin which cover the entire human body.^[2] Kuṣṭha group of diseases, acting together easily attack these layers.

Sidhmaka, one of the Kuṣtha group of diseases, Padmaka a Kṣudraroga born out of the fault of Kapha and Vāta together, and Kaṇtaka, is another variety of the skin disease,–all these, together attack the first layer, Bhasini.^[3]

For Sidhmaka and Padmaka, Guṃjāphalāgni-lepha is the remedial medicine. To get rid of Kaṇṭaka, Haridrakṣāra is applied.^[4]

Another disease known as Vyaṅga which is as red in colour as that of the blood of rabbit, too attacks the outer skin. The remedy is–Mañjiṣthā paste and oil.^[5]

On the second layer Lohinī, the bleeding is profuse; and on the third layer Śvetā,–another type of Kuṣṭha disease called Carmadala which resembles the skin of an elephant occurs. The remedy for both is–Āmrapeśī paste.^[6]

Śvitra, another type of Kuṣṭḥaroga which is white in colour, attacks the fourth layer Tamrā; It is cured by the medicine–Mahataleśvara.^[7]

Vedinī and Rohitā (the fifth and sixth layers) are the best places for Kuṣṭḥa rogas like Galagaṇḍa to develop.^[8] In the seventh layer called Sthūlā, the disease by name Vidradhi becomes powerful.^[9] All these types of Kuṣṭḥa are eradicated by the same medicine Mahātaleśvara.^[10]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The commentary (p.342) states: ātra prāsādaśabdena ūrdhvāṅgaṃ vivakṣitam |

[2]:

These seven layers are portrayed as the seven forts that protect the body. The commentary explains this (p.343): śarīrasyoparyāvaraṇatvena bhāsinī (āvabhāsinī vā), lohitā (lohinī vā), śvetā, tāmrā, vedinī, rohiṇī, māṃsadharā (sthūlā vā) iti sapta tvaco vidyante; yāḥ khalu śarīrākhyasya purasya saptaprākāratvenātra nirdiśyante ||

[3]:

See com. On p.343: "sapta tvaco bhavanti | tāsāṃ prathamā āvabhāsinī nāma yā sarvavarṇānavabhāsayati... sidhma-padmakaṇṭakādhiṣṭhānā iti suśrutaḥ |

[4]:

VI.42:
guṣjāphalāgnilepaḥ pratiyoddhā sidhma-padmayoḥ samare |
eṣa haridrākṣāraḥ kaṇḍakahṛtaye mayā prahitaḥ ||

[5]:

VI.43:
vyaṅganāmā rogaḥ ābhimukhamavekṣamāṇaṃ śaśarudhirāliptatanumimaṃ hantum | tiṣṭhati mukhamāvṛṇvanmaṣjiṣṭhāpramukhasādhano lepaḥ ||

[6]:

VI.45 cd:
āmrapeśyabhidhānena lepenākramya bhūyate ||

[7]:

VI.46 ab:
neyaṃ dugdhataraṅgiṇī pravahati śvitro'yaminduprabhaḥ prākāraṃ kila turyatāmupagataṃ tāmrākhyamākrāmati |

[8]:

VI. 46/47 (p.350):
vedinī-rohite paṣcamī-ṣaṣṭhyau tvacau | tatra kuṣṭhāderutpattiḥ |

[9]:

Loc.cit (p.351):
sthūlāyāṃ vidradhireṣa śatrumallaḥ |

[10]:

Loc.cit: The commentary explains this aspect by quoting Sārṅgadhara (Madhyamakhaṇḍa, 12.79ab) ''sarvakuṣṭhāni hantyāśu mahātāleśvaro rasaḥ'' iti rśāṅgīdharaḥ ||