8. Ratricarya (conduct during night)

Sleep When the mind gets exhausted or becomes inactive and the sensory as well as the motor organs are fatigued, the individual gets sleep. Sleep is nothing but the location of the mind in a place unconnected with sensory and motor organs. In the event of the exhaustion of the mind, the individual also gets exhausted because the actions of the individual are dependent upon that of the mind. Therefore, when the mind dissociates itself from its objects, the individual also dissociates himself from the objects of perception. As a result of this, the sensory and motor organs become inactive which leads to sleep. Proper sleep endows the individual with happiness, nourishment, strength, virility, knowledge and longevity. On the other hand, improper sleep causes miseries, emaciation, weakness, sterility, ignorance and even early death. Untimely and excessive sleep as well as prolonged vigil take away both happiness and longevity. Prohibition of sleep during daytime: Sleeping during the daytime in the seasons other than summer, is not advisable as it causes vitiation of kapha and pitta. Persons with excessive fat, addicted to taking unctuous substance, those with slaismika constitution, those suffering from dusivisa (artificial poisoning) should never sleep during daytime. If one violates the prescription regarding sleep during the daytime, he would subject himself to halimaka (serious type of jaundice), headache, timidness, heaviness of the body, malaise, loss of digestive power, hrdayopalepa (a feeling as if phlegm is adhered to the heart), oedema, anorexia, nausea, rhinitis, hemicrania, urticaria, eruption, abscess,

183 pruritus, drowsiness, coughing, diseases of the throat, impairment of the memory and intelligence, obstruction of the circulating channels of the body, fever, weakness of sensory and motor organs and enhancement of the toxic effects of artificial poisons. So one should keep in view the merits and demerits of sleep in various seasons and situations in order that it may bring happiness to him. Indications of daytime sleep Sleeping during the daytime in all seasons is prescribed for those who are exhausted by singing, study, alcoholic drinks, sexual acts, elimination therapy, carrying heavy weight, walking long distance; those suffering from phthisis, wasting, thirst, diarrhoea, colic pain, dysphonia, hiccup, insanity, those who are too old, too young, weak and emaciated; those injured by fall and assault; those exhausted by journey by a vehicle, vigil, anger, grief and fear, and those who are accustomed to day sleep. By this, the equilibrium of dhatus and strength are maintained and the kapha nourishes the organs and ensures longevity. In summer season, nights become shorter and vata gets aggravated in the body due to the absorption of fluid (adana). Therefore, during this season, sleep during day time is prescribed for all. The above-mentioned factors alongwith overwork, old age, diseases, specially those due to the vitiation of vata like colic pain, etc., are known to cause sleeplessness even in normal individuals. Some are insomniac even by nature. Measures to induce good sleep: If for some reason or the other, one is subjected to sleeplessness, he can be cured by massage, unction, bath, intake of soup of domestic, marshy and aquatic animals, sali rice with curd, milk, unctuous substance and alcohol, psychic pleasure, smell of scent and hearing of sounds of one's own taste, samvahana (kneading the body by hand), application of soothing ointment to the eyes, head and face, comfortable bed and home and in proper time.

184 Conduct during night meal: Food should be taken as early as possible during night. There should be sufficient gap between the time of intake of food and the time of going to bed. This will help in proper digestion of food which will result in good sleep also. The food should as far as possible, be light and easily digestible. pathyam rucyam manohari suci vrsyam ca bhojanam | masacurnena samklaptam bhaksyam nanavidham ca yat || 5.20.1148 ksirena pacitam pascatsitaya ca samagvinam | bhaksyayet sundaram raja bhaksyam bhojyam manoharam || 5.20 1153 Use of curds at night : Intake of curd during night is strictly prohibited. Curd is otherwise good for health. But it has a bad effect on the channels of circulation which are obstructed. This results in impairment of sleep and disturbance in metabolism. It is unsuitable specially for patients who are suffering from asthma, bronchitis and rheumatism. Reading during night: With proper light, one can read books for sometime. But it should be clearly remembered that the artificial light of night is not at all harmonious with the requirements of the eyes. They ultimately affect the eye sight seriously. Thus, as far as possible, reading during night should be avoided or one should have light reading only. Writing during night seriously affects the eye sight. Sex: Manasollasa states the qualifications of women whom a king should marry. Then it says, among the women, the beautiful one in full youth is the best and among the music-knowing, the dancer is the best. But at the same time, Somesvara says that it is difficult to get one with all the qualities mentioned. One should not indulge in sexual intercourse with a woman during her menses or a woman who is suffering from a disease or is impure or

185 is having infection or a woman with an ugly appearance or with bad conduct or manners or with the one devoid of skill.49 One should not indulge in sexual intercourse with a woman who is not friendly or has not passionate desire or is passionately attached to somebody else or is married to somebody else or a woman of another caste. Sexual activity in any organ other than the genital organ is prohibited. Sexual activities are also prohibited under religious trees, in a public courtyard, on a crossroad in a garden, at cemetery, at slaughter house, in water, in medical clinic or in the houses of Brahmanas or teachers or in temples. Such activities are again to be avoided during the dawn and dusk and on inauspicious days (that is, on full moon day, pratipat, etc.) One should not indulge in such activities while impure or without having taken aphrodisiacs or without intense desire or without erection or without having taken food or with excessive intake of food or in an uneven place or while under the pressure of the urge for micturition, after exertion, after physical exercise, in fasts, having exhaustion and in places having no privacy. One should make a habit to take a glass of milk added with sugar before and after sexual act.