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AYANAACADEMYby Dr Vijaya Dwarampudi
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३६. नैगमेषप्रतिषेधाध्यायः

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Adhikarana १ (१-२) · Śloka २

अथातो नैगमेषप्रतिषेधं व्याख्यास्यामः ||१|| यथोवाच भगवान् धन्वन्तरिः ||२||

Meaning of the śloka

Now we shall explain the prevention or treatment associated with Naigameṣa, as taught by the venerable Dhanvantari.

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मुखमण्डिकाप्रतिषेधानन्तरं परिशिष्ठत्वान्नैगमेषप्रतिषेधारम्भो युक्त इत्याह- अथातो नैगमेषप्रतिषेधमित्यादि||१-२||

Meaning of the commentary

The commentary states that it is appropriate to begin the account of Naigameṣa after the chapter on Mukhamaṇḍikā because this topic remains as a supplementary matter. It then indicates the customary opening words, ‘Now, therefore, we shall explain the prevention or treatment of Naigameṣa,’ and the attribution to Dhanvantari.

Key terms

naigameṣapratiṣedha
The chapter topic: prevention or treatment associated with Naigameṣa in the historical graha framework.
pariśiṣṭa
A supplementary or remaining topic, which the commentary gives as the reason for placing this chapter here.
Dhanvantari
The revered authority to whom the teaching is attributed.

Adhikarana २ (३-४) · Śloka ४

बिल्वाग्निमन्थपूतीकाः कार्याः स्युः परिषेचने | सुरा सबीजं धान्याम्लं परिषेके च शस्यते ||३|| प्रियङ्गुसरलानन्ताशतपुष्पाकुटन्नटैः | पचेत्तैलं सगोमूत्रैर्दधिमस्त्वम्लकाञ्जिकैः ||४||

Meaning of the śloka

Bilva, Agnimantha and Pūtīka are to be used for sprinkling or bathing. Surā and fermented grain liquid together with its bīja are also commended for this sprinkling. Oil is to be cooked with Priyaṅgu, Saralā, Anantā, Śatapuṣpā and Kuṭannaṭa, along with cow urine, curd whey, sour liquid and kāñjika.

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बिल्वाग्निमन्थेत्यादि| पूतीकः चिरबिल्वः| ‘सुरा सबीजं धान्याम्लं’ इत्यत्रान्ये ‘सुरासबीजधान्याम्लैः’ इति पठन्ति; तथापाठे सबीजं धान्याम्लं बीजेन सह काञ्जिकमिति| अन्ये तु सुरास्थाने तथेति पठन्ति| सबीजमप्यत्र सौवीरमिति केचित्| प्रियङ्गुसरलेत्यादि| सरला शुक्ला त्रिवृत्, अनन्ता उत्पलसारिवा, कुटन्नटं तगरं; तत्र प्रियङ्ग्वादिकल्कं चतुर्थांशं, दध्यादिद्रव्यैश्चतुर्भिः प्रत्येकं समं तैलं पचेदिति क्रमः||३-४||

Meaning of the commentary

The commentary identifies Pūtīka as Cirabilva. For the wording concerning surā, bīja and dhānyāmla, it preserves several readings and explanations. Some read a compound meaning ‘with surā, bīja and dhānyāmla’; under that reading, dhānyāmla with bīja is explained as kāñjika together with bīja. Others read tathā in place of surā, while some understand the bīja-containing liquid here as sauvīra. In the second verse, Saralā is identified as white Trivṛt, Anantā as Utpala-sārivā, and Kuṭannaṭa as Tagara. The stated sequence is to use a paste of Priyaṅgu and the other listed substances amounting to one quarter, and to cook the oil with each of the four liquids beginning with curd whey in a quantity equal to the oil.

Key terms

pariṣecana
Sprinkling, pouring or bathing with a prepared liquid in this historical regimen.
Pūtīka
A listed plant identified by the commentary as Cirabilva.
dhānyāmla
A sour fermented grain liquid; its precise relation to bīja varies with the preserved reading.
sauvīra
An alternative identification proposed by some commentators for the bīja-containing liquid.
Kuṭannaṭa
A listed ingredient identified by the commentary as Tagara.

Adhikarana ३ (५) · Śloka ५

पञ्चमूलद्वयक्वाथे क्षीरे मधुरकेषु च | पचेद्घृतं च मेधावी खर्जूरीमस्तकेऽपि वा ||५||

Meaning of the śloka

A knowledgeable person should cook ghee in a decoction of the two Pañcamūla groups, with milk and the sweet-group substances, or alternatively with date-palm kernel.

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पञ्चमूलद्वयक्वाथे इति पञ्चमूलद्वयक्वाथे दशमूलक्वाथे त्रिगुणे, क्षीरे घृतसमे, काकोल्यादिकल्कचतुर्थांशं, खर्जूरीमज्जचतुर्थांशं वा घृतं पानार्थं पचेदित्यर्थः||५||

Meaning of the commentary

The commentary explains ‘decoction of the two Pañcamūla groups’ as Daśamūla decoction in three times the quantity. Milk is used in a quantity equal to the ghee, and the paste may consist either of the Kākolī group or of date-palm kernel, each at one quarter of the ghee. The ghee is cooked for oral administration.

Key terms

pañcamūladvaya
The two groups of five roots, explained by the commentary collectively as Daśamūla.
Daśamūla
The ten-root grouping used for the decoction according to the commentary.
madhuraka
The sweet-group substances referenced in the verse.
Kākolyādi-kalka
A paste of the Kākolī group offered by the commentary as one option for cooking the ghee.
kharjūrī-majja
Date-palm kernel or inner pulp, given as the alternative paste ingredient.

Adhikarana ४ (६) · Śloka ६

वचां वयःस्थां गोलोमीं जटिलां चापि धारयेत् | उत्सादनं हितं चात्र स्कन्दापस्मारनाशनम् ||६||

Meaning of the śloka

One should have the child wear vacā, vayaḥsthā, golomī, and jaṭilā. In this condition, utsādana (rubbing or anointing of the body) is also considered beneficial and is said to remove Skandāpasmāra.

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वचामित्यादि| वयःस्था गुडूची, ब्राह्मीत्यन्ये, गोलोमी दूर्वा, जटिला मांसी| उत्सादनम् उद्वर्तनम्||६||

Meaning of the commentary

The commentary identifies vayaḥsthā as guḍūcī, while noting that others interpret it as brāhmī. It identifies golomī as dūrvā and jaṭilā as māṃsī. It explains utsādana as udvartana, rubbing the body with an applied substance.

Key terms

वचा (vacā)
A substance named in the passage to be worn or carried.
वयःस्था (vayaḥsthā)
Identified by the commentary as guḍūcī, with brāhmī preserved as an alternative interpretation.
गोलोमी (golomī)
Identified by the commentary as dūrvā.
जटिला (jaṭilā)
Identified by the commentary as māṃsī.
उत्सादन (utsādana)
Explained here as udvartana, rubbing the body with an applied substance.
स्कन्दापस्मार (Skandāpasmāra)
The condition named in the source's traditional pediatric graha framework.

Adhikarana ५ (७) · Śloka ७

सिद्धार्थकवचाहिङ्गुकुष्ठं चैवाक्षतैः सह | भल्लातकाजमोदाश्च हितमुद्धूपनं शिशोः ||७||

Meaning of the śloka

Fumigation of the child is described as beneficial using siddhārthaka, vacā, hiṅgu, kuṣṭha, akṣata, bhallātaka, and ajamodā.

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सिद्धार्थकेत्यादि| अक्षता यवाः||७||

Meaning of the commentary

The commentary explains that akṣata here means barley grains.

Key terms

सिद्धार्थक (siddhārthaka)
A substance included in the fumigation mixture.
हिङ्गु (hiṅgu)
A substance included in the fumigation mixture.
कुष्ठ (kuṣṭha)
A substance included in the fumigation mixture.
अक्षत (akṣata)
Interpreted by the commentary in this context as barley grains.
भल्लातक (bhallātaka)
A potentially hazardous substance named in the historical fumigation mixture.
उद्धूपन (uddhūpana)
Fumigation, here described for a child.

Adhikarana ६ (८) · Śloka ८

मर्कटोलूकगृध्राणां पुरीषाणि नवग्रहे | धूपः सुप्ते जने कार्यो बालस्य हितमिच्छता ||८||

Meaning of the śloka

For a child affected by Navagraha, one who seeks the child's welfare is instructed to perform fumigation with the excreta of a monkey, owl, and vulture while the people are asleep.

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मर्कटेत्यादि| मर्कटादिपुरीषेण रात्रौ सुप्ते लोके बालस्य धूपनम्||८||

Meaning of the commentary

The commentary clarifies that the child is to be fumigated at night, when the people are asleep, using the excreta of the monkey and the other animals named in the verse.

Key terms

नवग्रह (Navagraha)
The graha affliction named within the passage's historical pediatric framework.
पुरीष (purīṣa)
Excreta; here that of the monkey, owl, and vulture.
धूप (dhūpa)
Fumigation or exposure to smoke from the substances named.
सुप्ते जने (supte jane)
When the people are asleep, clarified by the commentary as nighttime.

Adhikarana ७ (९) · Śloka ९

तिलतण्डुलकं माल्यं भक्ष्यांश्च विविधानपि | कुमारपितृमेषाय वृक्षमूले निवेदयेत् ||९||

Meaning of the śloka

Sesame, rice, a garland, and various kinds of food should be offered at the foot of a tree to Meṣa, the father of children.

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तिलेत्यादि| विविधान् स्वस्तिकमोदकादीन्| कुमारपितृमेषायेति कुमाराणां पिता रक्षणात्मकत्वात्, मेषो नैगमेषः, तस्मै नैगमेषाय| वृक्षमूले क्षीरवृक्षमूले| निवेदयेत्तिलादिकं बलिम्||९||

Meaning of the commentary

The commentary explains that the various foods include items such as svastika and modaka. The expression "father of children" refers to his protective role toward children; Meṣa is identified as Naigameṣa, and the offering is therefore made to Naigameṣa. The tree is specified as a milky-sapped tree, at whose foot the offering of sesame and the other prescribed items is to be presented.

Key terms

tilataNDulakaM (tilataṇḍulakam)
Sesame and rice included in the offering.
kumArapitRumeShAya (kumārapitṛmeṣāya)
To Meṣa, described here as the father and protector of children.
naigameShaH (Naigameṣaḥ)
The protective deity to whom the commentary directs the offering.
kShIravRukShamUle (kṣīravṛkṣamūle)
At the foot of a milky-sapped tree.

Adhikarana ८ (१०-११) · Śloka ११

अधस्ताद्वटवृक्षस्य स्नपनं चोपदिश्यते | बलिं न्यग्रोधवृक्षेषु तिथौ षष्ठ्यां निवेदयेत् ||१०|| अजाननश्चलाक्षिभ्रः कामरूपी महायशाः | बालं बालपिता देवो नैगमेषोऽभिरक्षतु ||११||

Meaning of the śloka

Bathing beneath a banyan tree is prescribed, and an offering should be presented among banyan trees on the sixth lunar day. May the greatly renowned deity Naigameṣa—the father of children, whose face is not known, whose eyes and brows move, and who can assume forms at will—protect the child.

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रक्षामाह- अधस्तादित्यादि| स्नपनं गायत्र्यभिमन्त्रिताभिरद्भिः| बलिमपि तिलतण्डुलमित्यादिकं वटमूले षष्ठ्यां निवेदयेत्||१०-११||

Meaning of the commentary

Introducing a protective rite, the commentary explains that the bathing is performed with water consecrated by the Gāyatrī mantra. It also states that the offering described earlier, beginning with sesame and rice, is to be presented at the foot of a banyan tree on the sixth lunar day.

Key terms

vaTavRukShasya (vaṭavṛkṣasya)
Of the banyan tree, beneath which the bathing is prescribed.
snapanaM (snapanam)
Ritual bathing.
ShaShThyAM (ṣaṣṭhyām)
On the sixth lunar day.
gAyatryabhimantritAbhiradbhiH (gāyatryabhimantritābhiradbhiḥ)
With water consecrated by recitation of the Gāyatrī mantra.
naigameShaH (Naigameṣaḥ)
The protective deity invoked for the child in this passage.

Adhikarana पुष्पिका · Śloka ३६

इति सुश्रुतसंहितायामुत्तरतन्त्रान्तर्गते कुमारतन्त्रे नैगमेषप्रतिषेधो नाम(दशमोऽध्यायः, आदितः) षट्त्रिंशोऽध्यायः ||३६||

Meaning of the śloka

Thus ends the chapter entitled "Prevention concerning Naigameṣa" in the Kumāratantra section of the Uttara-tantra of the Suśruta-saṃhitā; it is the thirty-sixth chapter overall, with a parenthetical reading identifying it as the tenth chapter within this sequence.

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इति श्रीडल्ह(ह्ल)णविरचितायां निबन्धसङ्ग्रहाख्यायां सुश्रुतव्याख्यायामुत्तरतन्त्रान्तर्गते कौमारभृत्यतन्त्रे नैगमेषप्रतिषेधाध्यायः षट्त्रिंशत्तमः||३६||

Meaning of the commentary

Thus ends the thirty-sixth chapter, entitled "Prevention concerning Naigameṣa," in the Kaumārabhṛtya-tantra section of the Uttara-tantra in the Nibandhasaṅgraha commentary on the Suśruta-saṃhitā composed by Śrī Dalhaṇa. The supplied source preserves a spelling variant in Dalhaṇa's name.

Key terms

kumAratantre (kumāratantrē)
In the section concerned with the care of children.
naigameShapratiShedhaH (naigamēṣapratiṣēdhaḥ)
The chapter topic concerning prevention or protective measures related to Naigameṣa.
ShaTtriMsho~adhyAyaH (ṣaṭtriṃśō'dhyāyaḥ)
The thirty-sixth chapter.
nibandhasa~ggrahAkhyAyAM (nibandhasaṅgrahākhyāyām)
In the commentary entitled Nibandhasaṅgraha.
← 35. mukhamaṇḍikāpratiṣēdhādhyāyaḥ37. grahōtpattyadhyāyaḥ →