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AYANAACADEMYby Dr Vijaya Dwarampudi
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३३. अन्धपूतनाप्रतिषेधाध्यायः

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Adhikarana १ (१-२) · Śloka २

अथातोऽन्धपूतनाप्रतिषेधं व्याख्यास्यामः ||१|| यथोवाच भगवान् धन्वन्तरिः ||२||

Meaning of the śloka

Now we shall explain the chapter on the management of Andhapūtanā. Thus spoke the venerable Dhanvantari.

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पूतनाप्रतिषेधानन्तरं पूतनासामान्यादन्धपूतनाप्रतिषेधारम्भो युज्यत इत्याह- अथात इत्यादि||१-२||

Meaning of the commentary

The commentator explains that, following the chapter on Pūtanā, it is appropriate to begin the management of Andhapūtanā because it belongs to the same general class as Pūtanā. The words beginning with ‘now, therefore’ introduce this chapter.

Key terms

अन्धपूतना (Andhapūtanā)
The graha entity whose management is the subject of this chapter.
प्रतिषेध (pratiṣedha)
Management or measures described for counteracting the condition.
धन्वन्तरि (Dhanvantari)
The authoritative teacher named as the speaker.

Adhikarana २ (३) · Śloka ३

तिक्तकद्रुमपत्राणां कार्यः क्वाथोऽवसेचने |३|

Meaning of the śloka

For sprinkling or washing, a decoction should be prepared from the leaves of bitter trees.

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तिक्तकेत्यादि| तिक्तकद्रुमा निम्बादयः, तत्पत्रक्वाथेन परिषेकः कार्यः|३|-

Meaning of the commentary

The commentator identifies bitter trees as trees such as Nimba and states that pariṣeka, the pouring or sprinkling application, should be performed with a decoction of their leaves.

Key terms

तिक्तकद्रुम (tiktaka-druma)
Bitter trees, explained by the commentator as trees such as Nimba.
क्वाथ (kvātha)
A decoction prepared from the specified leaves.
अवसेचन (avasecana)
A pouring, sprinkling, or washing application.
परिषेक (pariṣeka)
The application by pouring or sprinkling specified in the commentary.

Adhikarana ३ (३-४) · Śloka ५

सुरा सौवीरकं कुष्ठं हरितालं मनःशिला ||३|| तथा सर्जरसश्चैव तैलार्थमुपदिश्यते | पिप्पल्यः पिप्पलीमूलं वर्गो मधुरको मधु ||४|| शालपर्णी बृहत्यौ च घृतार्थमुपदिश्यते |५|

Meaning of the śloka

Surā, Sauvīraka, Kuṣṭha, Haritāla, Manaḥśilā, and Sarjarasa are prescribed for a medicated oil. Pippalī, Pippalīmūla, the Madhuraka group, honey, Śālaparṇī, and the two Bṛhatīs are prescribed for a medicated ghee.

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सुरेत्यादि| सौवीरकं विरेचनाध्यायोपदिष्टकाञ्जिकप्रकारः| अत्र तैले सुरासौवीरके तैलात् प्रत्येकं चतुर्गुणे, कुष्ठादीनि कल्कद्रव्याणि चतुर्थांशानि| पिप्पल्य इत्यादि| वर्गो मधुरकः काकोल्यादिः, वर्गग्रहणं यथालाभनिषेधार्थं, पिप्पल्यादीनां कल्कक्वाथाभ्यां घृतं विपाच्य शीतीभूते घृते मधु क्षिपेत्| इदं घृतं पानाय||३-४||-

Meaning of the commentary

The commentator explains that Sauvīraka is the type of sour fermented preparation described in the chapter on purgation. For the oil preparation, Surā and Sauvīraka are each taken in a quantity four times that of the oil, while Kuṣṭha and the other paste ingredients are each taken in a one-quarter proportion. Regarding the ghee, the Madhuraka group means the group beginning with Kākolī; the use of the word ‘group’ indicates that the ingredients should not merely be selected according to availability. Ghee is cooked with the paste and decoction of Pippalī and the other stated drugs, and honey is added after the ghee has cooled. This ghee is intended for oral administration.

Key terms

सुरा (surā)
A fermented liquid included in the oil preparation.
सौवीरक (sauvīraka)
A sour fermented preparation, identified here with a type of kāñjika.
हरिताल (haritāla)
A mineral substance listed as a paste ingredient in the historical oil formula.
मनःशिला (manaḥśilā)
A mineral substance listed as a paste ingredient in the historical oil formula.
मधुरक वर्ग (madhuraka-varga)
The sweet-group drugs, explained as the group beginning with Kākolī.
घृत (ghṛta)
Ghee used as the base of the second preparation.

Adhikarana ४ (५) · Śloka ५

सर्वगन्धैः प्रदेहश्च गात्रेष्वक्ष्णोश्च शीतलैः ||५||

Meaning of the śloka

A cooling external application prepared with fragrant substances should be applied over the limbs or body and around the eyes.

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सर्वेत्यादि| प्रदेहो लेपः| शीतलैरन्यैरपि द्रव्यैः||५||

Meaning of the commentary

The commentary explains pradeha as lepa, an external coating or paste. It adds that other substances possessing a cooling quality may also be used.

Key terms

sarvagandhaiḥ
with the fragrant substances mentioned collectively in this context
pradeha
an external coating or paste, explained in the commentary as lepa
śītalaiḥ
with substances regarded as cooling

Adhikarana ५ (६) · Śloka ६

पुरीषं कौक्कुटं केशांश्चर्म सर्पत्वचं तथा | जीर्णां च भिक्षुसङ्घाटीं धूमनायोपकल्पयेत् ||६||

Meaning of the śloka

Chicken excrement, hair, skin or hide, snake slough, and a worn-out mendicant's garment are described as materials to be prepared for fumigation.

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पुरीषं कौक्कुटमिति कुक्कुटपुरीषं, केशांश्चर्म च कुक्कुटस्य, केशाश्चर्म च मानुषस्येत्येके; केचित् चर्मेति सर्पस्य वदन्ति, तेन चर्म त्वक् कञ्चुलिका सर्पस्य| जीर्णां च भिक्षुसङ्घाटीमिति भिक्षुरत्र शाक्यभिक्षुर्बौद्धाख्यः परिव्राजकश्च, तयोर्जीर्णसङ्घाटी जीर्णवस्त्रं; तदेकदेशो गृह्यते, एकदेशेऽपि समुदायप्रवृत्तेः; भिक्षुरत्र शाक्यभिक्षुरेवेति जेज्जटः||६||

Meaning of the commentary

The commentary identifies kaukkuṭa purīṣa as chicken excrement. One interpretation takes the hair and skin as belonging to the cock, while another takes the hair and skin as human. Some interpret carma as belonging to a snake, in which case it means the snake's outer skin or cast-off slough. The worn saṅghāṭī is explained as the old garment of either a Śākya Buddhist monk or another wandering mendicant; only a portion is taken, because a word denoting the whole may also refer to one of its parts. Jejjaṭa, however, holds that bhikṣu here means specifically a Śākya monk.

Key terms

kaukkuṭa purīṣa
chicken excrement
sarpatvac
snake skin, explained here as the cast-off slough
bhikṣusaṅghāṭī
a mendicant's garment; the commentary records differing views about which kind of mendicant is intended
dhūmana
fumigation or the production of medicinal smoke in the historical procedure
Jejjaṭa
the commentator cited for the view that bhikṣu refers specifically to a Śākya monk

Adhikarana ६ (७-९) · Śloka ९

कुक्कुटीं मर्कटीं शिम्बीमनन्तां चापि धारयेत् | मांसमामं तथा पक्वं शोणितं च चतुष्पथे ||७|| निवेद्यमन्तश्च गृहे शिशो रक्षानिमित्ततः | शिशोश्च स्नपनं कुर्यात् सर्वगन्धोदकैः शुभैः ||८|| कराला पिङ्गला मुण्डा कषायाम्बरवासिनी | देवी बालमिमं प्रीता संरक्षत्वन्धपूतना ||९||

Meaning of the śloka

One should keep Kukkuṭī, Markaṭī, Śimbī and Anantā. Raw meat, cooked meat and blood should be offered at a crossroads and also inside the house for the protection of the child. The child should be bathed with auspicious water scented with all fragrant substances. The invocation says: may the pleased goddess Andhapūtanā—fierce-faced, tawny, shaven-headed and dressed in ochre garments—protect this child.

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कुक्कुटीमित्यादि| कुक्कुटी स्फटिकरचितकुक्कुटाण्डसदृशकन्दा कुक्कुटीशरीरवत् कुसुमचित्रा वल्ली| मर्कटी कपिकच्छुः, मर्कटमूलीत्यन्ये, शुकशिम्बीत्यपरे| अनन्ता सारिवा| अन्तश्च खण्डगृहाभ्यन्तरे| शिशोश्चेति चकारात् धात्र्याश्च स्नपनम्| सर्वगन्धा एलादिकाः| देवी प्रीता सती इमं बालं रक्षत्विति सम्बन्धः||७-९||

Meaning of the commentary

The commentary identifies Kukkuṭī as a creeper whose tuber resembles a crystal-made hen's egg and whose flowers are variegated like a hen's body. Markaṭī is explained as Kapikacchu; others understand it as Markaṭamūlī, while still others read it as Śukaśimbī. Anantā is identified as Sārivā. The word 'inside' is explained as within a ruined or broken house. The conjunction in the instruction about bathing the child indicates that the wet nurse is also to be bathed. 'All fragrant substances' includes items such as Elā. The grammatical connection of the final invocation is: may the goddess, being pleased, protect this child.

Key terms

Kukkuṭī
A creeper described by the commentary through the appearance of its tuber and flowers.
Markaṭī
A plant identified as Kapikacchu, with alternative identifications as Markaṭamūlī or Śukaśimbī.
Anantā
A plant identified by the commentary as Sārivā.
sarvagandhodaka
Water prepared with fragrant substances, including Elā according to the commentary.
Andhapūtanā
The goddess invoked for the child's protection in this historical graha framework.

Adhikarana पुष्पिका · Śloka ३३

इति सुश्रुतसंहितायामुत्तरतन्त्रान्तर्गते कुमारतन्त्रेऽन्धपूतनाप्रतिषेधो नाम (सप्तमोऽध्यायः, आदितः) त्रयस्त्रिंशोऽध्यायः ||३३||

Meaning of the śloka

Thus ends the chapter entitled 'Prevention or Treatment of Andhapūtanā' in the Kumāratantra section within the Uttara-tantra of the Suśruta-saṃhitā. It is the seventh chapter of that subsection and the thirty-third chapter in the overall sequence.

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इति श्रीडल्ह(ह्ल)णविरचितायां निबन्धसङ्ग्रहाख्यायां सुश्रुतव्याख्यायामुत्तरतन्त्रान्तर्गते कौमारभृत्यतन्त्रेऽन्धपूतनाप्रतिषेधो नाम त्रयस्त्रिंशत्तमोऽध्यायः||३३||

Meaning of the commentary

Thus ends the thirty-third chapter, entitled 'Prevention or Treatment of Andhapūtanā,' in the Kaumārabhṛtya-tantra portion of the Uttara-tantra, according to the Nibandhasaṅgraha commentary on the Suśruta-saṃhitā composed by Śrī Dalhaṇa. The source preserves a variant form of the commentator's name as Dalha or Dalhla.

Key terms

Andhapūtanāpratiṣedha
The chapter title, concerning prevention or treatment associated with Andhapūtanā.
Kumāratantra
The subsection concerned with children in which this chapter is placed.
Kaumārabhṛtyatantra
The designation used by the commentary for the textual division concerned with the care of children.
Nibandhasaṅgraha
The title of Dalhaṇa's commentary on the Suśruta-saṃhitā.
← 32. pūtanāpratiṣēdhādhyāyaḥ34. śītapūtanāpratiṣēdhādhyāyaḥ →