൮. ചികിത്സിതപ്രവിഭാഗവിജ്ഞാനീയാധ്യായഃ

Meaning of the śloka

Now we shall explain the chapter that teaches the classification of treatments. Thus spoke the venerable Dhanvantari to Suśruta.

Key terms

चिकित्सितप्रविभागविज्ञानीय (cikitsita-pravibhāga-vijñānīya)

That which teaches knowledge of the distinct classification of treatments.

प्रविभाग (pravibhāga)

A thorough division or separation into distinct categories.

नयनामय (nayanāmaya)

A disorder of the eye.

भिषज् (bhiṣaj)

The physician discussed by the commentary.

Meaning of the śloka

Listen now to the treatment of the seventy-six disorders previously described by their names and defining features, presented both briefly and in detail.

Key terms

षट्सप्तति (ṣaṭsaptati)

Seventy-six, the number of disorders referred to in the passage.

लक्षण (lakṣaṇa)

The defining features of a disorder, expanded by the commentary to include its diagnostic factors.

समास (samāsa)

A concise or summarized presentation.

व्यास (vyāsa)

A detailed or extended presentation.

सम्प्राप्ति (samprāpti)

The account of how a disorder develops, included here under its defining features.

Meaning of the śloka

Among these disorders, eleven are said to be treated by excision, nine by scraping, five by opening, and fifteen by puncturing. Twelve are treated without instruments, and seven are manageable rather than fully curable. A knowledgeable physician should avoid treating fifteen disorders. The two disorders called āgantu may, according to their condition, be either incurable or manageable.

Key terms

छेद्य (chedya)

Classified in the text as eligible for excision.

लेख्य (lekhya)

Classified as eligible for scraping.

भेद्य (bhedya)

Classified as eligible for opening or incision.

व्यध्य (vyadhya)

Classified as eligible for puncturing.

अशस्त्रकृत्य (aśastrakṛtya)

To be treated without a surgical instrument.

याप्य (yāpya)

Manageable or maintainable, rather than described as fully curable.

आगन्तु (āgantu)

Externally caused; the two such disorders may be manageable or incurable depending on their condition.

Meaning of the śloka

The disorders classified as excisable are an eyelid affected by arśas, dry arśas, arbuda, the vascular piḍakās, sirājāla, the five varieties of arma, and the disorder parvaṇikā.

Key terms

छेद्य (chedya)

Placed in the text’s historical category of disorders treated by excision.

वर्त्म-अर्शस् (vartma-arśas)

Arśas affecting the eyelid; the precise disease referent requires specialist review.

अर्बुद (arbuda)

A named swelling or mass in this classical ocular classification.

सिराजाल (sirājāla)

A named disorder characterized in the source by a network of vessels.

अर्म (arma)

A class of ocular growths divided here into five named varieties.

पर्वणिका (parvaṇikā)

A named eye disorder included in the excisable group.

Meaning of the śloka

The following disorders are classified as suitable for lekhya treatment: Utsaṅginī, Bahalavartma, Kardamavartma, Śyāvavartma, Baddhavartma, Kliṣṭavartma, Pothakī-associated eyelid disease, Kumbhīkinī, and Śarkarā.

Key terms

लेख्याः (lekhyāḥ)

Disorders classified in this passage for the historical procedure termed lekhya.

उत्साङ्गिनी (utsaṅginī)

A named eyelid disorder included in the lekhya category.

बहलवर्त्म (bahalavartma)

A named eyelid disorder obtained by linking vartman separately with bahala.

कर्दमवर्त्म (kardamavartma)

A named eyelid disorder obtained by linking vartman separately with kardama.

शर्करा (śarkarā)

A named ocular disorder placed in the lekhya category.

Meaning of the śloka

Śleṣmopanāha, Lagaṇa, Bisavartma, a granthi produced by organisms described as kṛmi, and Añjananāmikā are classified as suitable for bhedya treatment.

Key terms

भेद्याः (bhedyāḥ)

Disorders classified for the historical procedure termed bhedya.

श्लेष्मोपनाह (śleṣmopanāha)

A named ocular disorder included in the bhedya category.

लगण (lagaṇa)

A named eyelid disorder included in the bhedya category.

बिसवर्त्म (bisavartma)

The disorder meant by bisa according to the commentary.

कृमिकृत ग्रन्थि (kṛmikṛta granthi)

A nodular swelling described in the classical text as produced by kṛmi.

अञ्जननामिका (añjananāmikā)

A named ocular disorder placed in the bhedya category.

Meaning of the śloka

The two disorders for which sirā treatment was stated first—Śirotpāta and Sirāharṣa—together with the two forms of ocular pāka, Anyatovāta, Pūyālasa, Anilaviparyaya, the disorders called adhimantha, and the forms of abhiṣyanda are described as subsiding through sirāvyadha.

Key terms

व्यध्याः (vyadhyāḥ)

Disorders assigned to the historical puncturing or venesection category.

सिराव्यध (sirāvyadha)

Historical puncturing of a vessel, stated here as the treatment category.

सिरोत्पातसिराहर्ष (śirotpāta-sirāharṣa)

The two named disorders for which the commentary says sirā treatment was prescribed first.

अधिमन्थ (adhimantha)

A group of four classical eye-disorder varieties referred to by mantha in the commentary.

अभिष्यन्द (abhiṣyanda)

A group of four corresponding classical eye-disorder varieties referred to by syanda.

Meaning of the śloka

Experts say that surgical instruments should not be applied when dṛṣṭi is affected in Śuṣkākṣipāka, the kapha- and pitta-affected forms of vision, Amlākhya, Śukra, Arjuna, Piṣṭaka, Aklinnavartma, Dhūmadarśin, Śukti, Praklinnavartma, Balāsa, and the pair of disorders caused by external factors.

Key terms

अशस्त्रकृत्य (aśastrakṛtya)

A condition classified as not suitable for treatment with surgical instruments.

शस्त्रपतन (śastrapatana)

Application or use of a surgical instrument, which the verse excludes for the listed conditions.

कफपित्तविदग्धदृष्टि (kapha-pitta-vidagdha-dṛṣṭi)

The classical forms of impaired vision attributed separately to kapha and pitta.

धूमदर्शिन् (dhūmadarśin)

One who sees objects as if associated with smoke; the commentary's explanation of Hutabhugdhvajadarśin.

आगन्तु आमययुग (āgantu āmaya-yuga)

The pair of externally caused disorders mentioned at the end of the list.

Meaning of the śloka

All six varieties of kāca described earlier, when accompanied by pakṣmakopa in a person who still has sight, are yāpya—that is, manageable but not fully curable within the text’s classical prognosis.

Key terms

काच (kāca)

A named group of six ocular disorders referred to from the preceding classification.

पक्ष्मकोप (pakṣmakopa)

A condition involving the eyelashes or eyelid margin, stated here as accompanying the kāca disorders.

सम्पश्यतः (sampaśyataḥ)

Of a person who is still able to see.

याप्य (yāpya)

Classically classified as controllable or maintainable, rather than fully curable.

Meaning of the śloka

The disorders declared incurable comprise four arising from pavana, two arising from pitta, one caused by kapha, four arising from blood, four arising from all three doṣas, and two arising from external causes.

Key terms

असाध्य (asādhya)

Incurable within the text’s classical prognostic classification.

पवनप्रभव (pavana-prabhava)

Arising from pavana or vāta; four disorders are counted in this group.

रुधिरज (rudhiraja)

Arising from blood; four disorders are counted in this group.

त्रिदोष (tridoṣa)

Involving all three doṣas; four disorders are placed in this category.

बाह्यज (bāhyaja)

Arising from an external cause, explained by the commentary as āgantuja.

अष्टार्धक (aṣṭārdhaka)

Literally half of eight, interpreted by the commentary here as four.

Meaning of the śloka

Thus ends the eighth chapter of the Śālākya-tantra within the Uttaratantra of the Suśruta Saṃhitā, entitled ‘Knowledge of the Classification of Conditions According to Treatment.’

Key terms

चिकित्सितप्रविभागविज्ञानीय (cikitsita-pravibhāga-vijñānīya)

The chapter title, concerning knowledge of classification according to treatment or therapeutic status.

उत्तर तन्त्र (uttaratantra)

The division of the Suśruta Saṃhitā containing this chapter.

शालाक्यतन्त्र (śālākya-tantra)

The specialized subject division named in the colophon.

निबन्धसङ्ग्रह (nibandhasaṅgraha)

The title of Dalhaṇa’s commentary.

अष्टमोऽध्यायः (aṣṭamo ’dhyāyaḥ)

The eighth chapter.