൩൬. നൈഗമേഷപ്രതിഷേധാധ്യായഃ

Meaning of the śloka

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Meaning of the śloka

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.