২০. কর্ণগতরোগবিজ্ঞানীযাধ্যাযঃ

Meaning of the śloka

Now we shall explain the chapter concerned with knowledge of diseases situated in the ear, as declared by the venerable Dhanvantari.

Key terms

karNagataroga (karṇagataroga)

Diseases situated in or affecting the ear.

vij~jAnIya (vijñānīya)

That which is to be known or understood.

gata

Explained here as situated in or dependent upon.

Meaning of the śloka

The ear diseases are listed as karṇaśūla, praṇāda, deafness, kṣveḍa, ear discharge, itching of the ear, karṇavarcas, kṛmikarṇa, obstruction of the ear, two kinds of vidradhi, suppuration of the ear, pūtikarṇa, four kinds of arśas, seven kinds of arbuda, and four kinds of swelling. In all, twenty-eight diseases affecting the ear are taught.

Key terms

karNashUla (karṇaśūla)

Pain in the ear; placed first because the commentary regards it as difficult to treat.

praNAda (praṇāda)

A named ear disorder characterized later in the chapter by hearing varied sounds.

vidradhi

A localized inflammatory lesion classified here as doṣa-caused or injury-caused.

arbuda

A growth or swelling category said here to have seven forms.

aShTAviMshati (aṣṭāviṃśati)

Twenty-eight, the fixed total of ear diseases in this enumeration.

Meaning of the śloka

When samīraṇa, moving abnormally within the auditory organ and obstructed according to the involvement of the respective doṣas, produces very severe pain throughout the ears, the difficult-to-treat condition is called karṇaśūla.

Key terms

samIraNa (samīraṇa)

Vāta or vāyu as the moving principle implicated in the described ear pain.

anyathAcara (anyathācara)

Moving abnormally or along an improper path.

AvRuta (āvṛta)

Obstructed or enclosed by another doṣic factor.

karNashUla (karṇaśūla)

The named condition of intense pain in the ear.

durAcara (durācara)

Difficult to treat; a variant reads durāsada, difficult to restrain.

Meaning of the śloka

When that same vāyu takes an abnormal course and remains in the channels that convey sound, the person hears various sounds. This disorder is called praṇāda.

Key terms

vimArga (vimārga)

An abnormal or opposed course of movement.

shabdAbhivahA nADI (śabdābhivahā nāḍī)

A channel described as carrying sound.

praNAda (praṇāda)

The named disorder in which varied sounds are heard.

Amaya (āmaya)

Disease or disorder, used here to affirm its pathological status despite absence of pain.

Meaning of the śloka

When that same vāyu, accompanied by kapha, spreads through and remains in the channels that convey sound, a person who does not undertake treatment certainly develops bādhirya.

Key terms

shabdAnuvahA sirA (śabdānuvahā sirā)

Channels described as conveying sound.

kaphAnuyAta (kaphānuyāta)

Accompanied or followed by kapha.

vyanusRutya (vyanusṛtya)

Explained here as spreading through and obstructing various pathways.

bAdhirya (bādhirya)

Loss or marked impairment of hearing in this passage.

apratikArasevin (apratikārasevin)

One who does not undertake treatment.

Meaning of the śloka

Following exertion, depletion, or consumption of dry and astringent food, and in a person whose head has been purged and who then takes cold exposure, samīraṇa becomes established in the pathway of sound and produces an intense kṣveḍa sound in the ears.

Key terms

kShaya (kṣaya)

Explained by the commentary as depletion of bodily tissues.

shabdapatha (śabdapatha)

The pathway of sound in which samīraṇa is said to become established.

karNakShveDa (karṇakṣveḍa)

A named ear-sound disorder distinguished by the commentary through its doṣic association and bamboo-like sound.

karNanAda (karṇanāda)

A named ear-sound disorder attributed here to vāta alone and characterized by varied sounds.

veNughoSha (veṇughoṣa)

A bamboo- or flute-like sound used in the cited comparison.

Meaning of the śloka

Following an injury to the head, immersion in water, or the suppuration of a vidradhi in the ear, the ear passage, obstructed by vata, may discharge pus. This condition is described as karna-samsrava.

Key terms

शिरोभिघात (śirobhighāta)

injury or trauma to the head

विद्रधि (vidradhi)

an abscess; interpreted here as an abscess of the ear

कर्णसंस्राव (karṇa-saṃsrāva)

the ear disorder characterized here by purulent discharge

Meaning of the śloka

When kapha accumulates in the passage called the ear canal, intense itching develops in the ears.

Key terms

कफ (kapha)

the dosha said here to accumulate in the ear passage

कण्डू (kaṇḍū)

itching

कर्णस्रोतस् (karṇa-srotas)

the passage or channel of the ear

Meaning of the śloka

When shleshma accumulated in the ear passage is dried by the heat of pitta, karna-guthaka forms.

Key terms

श्लेष्मन् (śleṣman)

kapha or a cohesive substance said here to collect in the ear passage

पित्ततेजस् (pitta-tejas)

the drying heat attributed to pitta in this account

कर्णगूथक (karṇa-gūthaka)

the compact ear substance or disorder formed through the stated drying process

Meaning of the śloka

When that ear matter becomes fluid, melts, and reaches the pathway of the nose and mouth, the disorder is called karna-pratinaha; it causes distress throughout the head.

Key terms

कर्णविट्क (karṇa-viṭka)

matter or accumulated material in the ear referred to from the preceding description

कर्णप्रतिनाह (karṇa-pratināha)

the named ear disorder in which liquefied ear matter is described as extending toward the nasal and oral pathway

स्नेहस्वेद (sneha-sveda)

oleation and fomentation, stated by the commentary as causes of liquefaction

सान्निपात (sannipāta)

combined involvement of the three doshas

Meaning of the śloka

When organisms fall into or develop within the ear, or when flies produce offspring there, the ancient physicians call the resulting disorder krimi-karnaka because the ear has become associated with such organisms.

Key terms

कृमि (krimi)

organisms or worms described as arising in decomposed tissue

कृमिकर्णक (krimi-karṇaka)

the named ear disorder characterized by the presence of krimi

मम्भणा (mambhaṇā)

the commentary's name for the dark flies mentioned in this account

सान्निपातिक (sānnipātika)

classified as involving all three doshas

Meaning of the śloka

A vidradhi of the ear may arise from a wound or trauma, while another kind is produced by the doṣas. The trauma-born condition discharges fluid that is mixed with blood and is yellowish-red; it is accompanied by pricking pain, a sensation likened to smoke, burning, and a feeling as though the part were being sucked.

Key terms

karNavidradhi (karṇavidradhi)

The named suppurative swelling of the ear discussed in this passage.

kShatAbhighAtaprabhava (kṣatābhighātaprabhava)

Arising from a wound or traumatic injury.

doShaja (doṣaja)

Arising from the doṣas and recognized through their respective signs.

dhUmAyana (dhūmāyana)

A distinctive painful sensation compared by the commentary to smoke being emitted.

coSha (coṣa)

A sensation as though the affected part were being sucked.

Meaning of the śloka

Karṇapāka arises from an aggravation of pitta and causes vikotha and vikleda in the ears—destructive change and moist disintegration described in the classical terminology.

Key terms

karNapAka (karṇapāka)

The named condition of pathological ripening or suppuration in the ear.

pittakopa

Aggravation of pitta, presented here as the cause.

vikotha

A destructive or putrefactive change attributed to the condition.

vikleda

Excessive moistening or disintegration attributed to the condition.

Meaning of the śloka

When kapha lodged in the ear channel is liquefied by the heat of pitta, there is intense heat. The condition called pūtikarṇaka may be either painless or painful and repeatedly discharges foul-smelling material.

Key terms

srotas

The ear channel in which kapha is said to be lodged.

pittatejas

The heat or fiery quality of pitta that liquefies the lodged kapha.

pUtikarNaka (pūtikarṇaka)

The named ear condition characterized here by foul discharge.

ghana

Read either as continuous or recurrent discharge, or alternatively as describing the pus as thick.

pUti (pūti)

Foul or putrid pus in this context.

Meaning of the śloka

The signs already taught for arśas, and likewise the signs described for śopha and arbuda, should be carefully recognized and applied here by a diligent and accomplished physician.

Key terms

arshas (arśas)

A named lesion whose previously taught signs are to be applied in the ear context.

shopha (śopha)

Swelling; its previously described signs are referenced here.

arbuda

A named mass or growth whose previously described signs are referenced here.

prasamIkShya (prasamīkṣya)

After carefully recognizing or assessing.

prayogaj~ja (prayogajña)

A physician skilled in practical or clinical application.

Meaning of the śloka

Thus ends the twentieth chapter, entitled Knowledge of Diseases Affecting the Ear, in the Śālākya-tantra section of the Uttara-tantra of the Suśruta-saṃhitā.

Key terms

karNagatarogavij~jAnIya (karṇagatarogavijñānīya)

Knowledge of diseases affecting the ear, the title of the chapter.

shAlAkyatantra (Śālākya-tantra)

The textual division in which this chapter is placed.

nibandhasa~ggraha (Nibandhasaṅgraha)

The title of Dalhaṇa's commentary on the Suśruta-saṃhitā.