Shishupala-vadha (Study)

by Shila Chakraborty | 2018 | 112,267 words

This page relates ‘Knowledge of Ayurveda in the Shishupalavadha’ of the study on the Shishupala-vadha (in English) in the light of Manusamhita (law and religious duties) and Arthashastra (science of politics and warfare). The Shishupalavadha is an epic poem (Mahakavya) written by Magha in the 7th century AD. It consists of 1800 Sanskrit verses spread over twenty chapters and narrates the details of the king of the Chedis.

Knowledge of Āyūrveda in the Śiśupālavadha

Maghā was also well versed in the Āyūrvedaśāstra. He was well aware obout disease and its remedies. Āyūrveda is included in the Atharvaveda. In this context we come to know the treatment skill of the two Aśvinīs in the Ṛgveda.

Āyūrveda is divided into eight categories (aṅgas). They are Śalya, Śālākya, Kāyacikitsā, Bhūtavidyā, Kaumārabhṛtyā, Agadatantra, Biṣayacikitsā, Rasāyaṇana. And Bājīkaraṇa (vājīkaraṇa).

Preventive measures of āmajvara (āmajvara) is discussed in the carakasaṃhitā. Māgha discussed this beautifully in his epic. He clearly mentioned that water sponge increases that āmajvara.

“caturthopāyasādhye tu ripau sāntcamapakriyā |
svedyamāmajvaraṃ prājñaḥ ko'mbhasā pariṣiñcati ||” 2. 54 |[1]

Tuberculosis is considered as king of diseases. This has been discussed in the Suśruta saṃhitā.

Māgha said about this—

“rājayakṣmeva rogāṇāṃ samūhaḥ sa mahībhṛtām ||” (2/96)

And:

“samadoṣakāla iva dehinaṃ jvaraḥ” (15/2)—

This statement indicates flaw increase of fever. Fever increases when flaw and time is not in favour. It is discussed about the three faults of cough, bile and rheumatism in the Carakasaṃhitā. Beside this among the rule for consumption of chemicals (2/93), utility of Yoga (2/94) rules of fasting which one is useful for which disease are wholly discussed in the Śiśupālavadha.

A picture of fainting is given by Māgha in in the Śiśupālavadha.

“aśliṣṭabhūmiṃ rasitāramuccairloladbhūjākāravṛhattaraṅgam |
phe nāyamānaṃ patimāpagānāmasāvapasmāriṇamāśaśaṅke ||” 3. 72 |[2]

Medical discussions are found in the verses 2/84, 12/25, 15/2, 20/76

“kṛtāpacāro'pi parairanāviṣkṛtavikriyaḥ |
asādhyaḥ kurute kopaṃ prāpte kāle gado yathā ||” 2. 84 |[3]

srastāṅgasandhī vigatākṣapāṭave rujā nikāmaṃ vikalīkṛte rathe |
āptena takṣṇā bhiṣajeva tatkṣaṇaṃ pracakrame laṅghanapūrvakaḥ kramaḥ ||”12. 25 ||[4]

pura. eva śārṅgini savairamatha punaramuṃ tadarcayā |
manyurabhajadavagāḍhataraḥ samakāladoṣakāla iva dehinaṃ jvaraḥ ||” 15. 2 ||[5]

And

“iti narapatirastraṃ yadyadāviścakāra prakupita iva rogaḥ kṣriprakārī vikāram |
bhiṣagiva gurudoṣacchedinopakrameṇa kramavidatha murāriḥ pratyahaṃstattadāśu ||” 20. 76 |[6]

From this Māgha seemed as an Āyūrveda doctor.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

ibid., p. 72.

[2]:

ibid., p. 142.

[3]:

ibid., p. 87.

[4]:

ibid., p. 482.

[5]:

ibid., p. 597.

[6]:

ibid., p. 868.

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