౧౦. పిత్తాభిష్యందప్రతిషేధాధ్యాయః

Meaning of the śloka

Now we shall explain the treatment of pittābhiṣyanda, an ocular disorder attributed to pitta. Thus spoke the revered Dhanvantari.

Key terms

pittābhiṣyanda

An ocular condition described here as arising from pitta.

pratiṣedha

Treatment or therapeutic management.

Dhanvantari

The revered authority to whom the teaching is attributed.

Meaning of the śloka

For pittābhiṣyanda and the pitta-associated form of adhimantha, the text prescribes bloodletting and sraṃsana. It also prescribes ocular irrigation, external applications, and añjana, together with the regimen stated for pitta-related visarpa.

Key terms

pittābhiṣyanda

An ocular disorder attributed to pitta.

adhimantha

A severe ocular disorder discussed here in its pitta-associated form.

sraṃsana

A downward-cleansing measure, identified by the commentary as vireka or purgation.

sirāmokṣa

Therapeutic bloodletting described in the commentary.

añjana

A medicinal eye application.

Meaning of the śloka

The text lists gundrā, śāli, śaivala, śailabheda, dārvī, elā, utpala, rodhra, abhra, lotus leaf, sugar, darbha, sugarcane, tāla, rodhra, vetasa, padmaka, grapes, honey, candana, yaṣṭikāhva, human breast milk, rātrī, and anantā. Having ground these, medicated ghee is described for tarpaṇa, and goat’s milk processed with them is described for irrigation and nasal use. This group may be employed separately or together and is also stated for the four kinds of nasya.

Key terms

tarpaṇa

A classical procedure in which a medicinal preparation is retained in contact with the eye.

nasya

Administration of a medicinal substance through the nose.

yoṣitkṣīra

Human breast milk, according to the commentary.

vyasta

Use of the listed substances separately rather than as one complete group.

anantā

A listed substance identified by the commentary as utpalasārivā.

Meaning of the śloka

After three days, all measures that reduce pitta are recommended. Milk and ghee are indicated, and nasya is also prescribed.

Key terms

pittaharī kriyā

A therapeutic measure described as reducing or counteracting pitta.

nasya

Nasal administration, used here by implication to include related local measures.

āścyotana

A classical procedure involving instillation of liquid into the eye.

doṣapratyanīka

A measure selected as being opposed to the implicated doṣa.

Meaning of the śloka

For use as añjana, the text describes the red substance from palāśa, or a preparation of śallakī combined with sugar and honey.

Key terms

añjana

A medicinal application to the eye.

palāśa

The plant source of the red substance, interpreted in two different ways by the commentary.

kiṃśuka-rasa

Juice of kiṃśuka, one interpretation of the red palāśa substance.

śallakī

A plant substance offered as an alternative ingredient.

rasakriyā

A concentrated medicinal extract used here as an eye preparation.

Meaning of the śloka

A rasakriyā combined with sugar and honey may be prepared from pālindī or from madhuka.

Key terms

rasakriyā

A concentrated extract described as having a thick syrup-like consistency.

phāṇita

A thickened syrup-like consistency used to characterize rasakriyā.

pālindī

A plant substance identified as śyāmā or trivṛt, with sārivā given as an alternative identification.

madhuka

An alternative plant substance named for this rasakriyā.

Meaning of the śloka

A preparation is described using musta, sea-foam, utpala, and the expressed liquid or decoction of krimighna, ela, dhatri, and bija.

Key terms

rasakriyā

A concentrated preparation made from the expressed liquid or decoction of the ingredients, intended here as collyrium.

kṛmighna

Identified by the commentary as viḍaṅga.

dhātrī

Identified by the commentary as āmalaka.

bīja

Explained here as the yellow-hearted timber called bījaka.

Meaning of the śloka

In the same manner, a collyrium is to be prepared from talisa, ela, gairika, usira, and sankha, ground with breast milk.

Key terms

vartyañjana (varty-añjana)

A collyrium prepared in wick form.

gairika

The red ochre ingredient named in the formula.

uśīra

An aromatic plant ingredient in the collyrium.

kāśīśa

A mineral ingredient found in an alternative reading reported by the commentary.

Meaning of the śloka

For use as a collyrium, a powder—or alternatively a liquid preparation combined with breast milk—is to be made from dhataki and syandana.

Key terms

cūrṇāñjana

A powdered preparation intended for use as collyrium.

rasakriyā

The concentrated liquid preparation offered by the commentary as an alternative to powder.

dhātakī

One of the named ingredients.

syandana

A plant or substance said by the commentary to be known by this name; some read candana instead.

Meaning of the śloka

Gold rubbed with a woman's breast milk is described, as is a kimsuka flower preparation combined with honey.

Key terms

śātakumbha

Identified by the commentary as gold.

kaiṃśuka puṣpa

The flower of kiṃśuka named for the alternative collyrium.

kṣaudra

Honey used with the kiṃśuka flower.

añjana

A preparation applied to the eye as collyrium.

Meaning of the śloka

Lodhra, draksa, sugar, utpala, the substance called yastika, and vaca are ground in breast milk. The bark of varnaka is likewise ground in milk. A further preparation is described with candana and udumbara mixed with water.

Key terms

varṇaka

Identified as rocanikā; an alternative interpretation takes it as karṇikāra bark, which Gayī rejects.

toyonmiśra

Explained by the commentary as mixed with water and containing bālaka.

kucandana

The type of candana intended according to one explanation.

āścyotana

Administration of a liquid preparation into or over the eye.

Meaning of the śloka

For collyrium, sea-foam is rubbed with breast milk or honey. Yastimadhu, lodhra, draksa, sugar, and utpala are kept in breast milk, tied in linen, and regarded as suitable for ascyotana. Alternatively, yastimadhu with lodhra is rubbed with ghee. Kasmari, dhatri, and pathya mixed with water are also said to be used in the same way, as is katphala with water alone.

Key terms

āścyotana

A liquid eye application or instillation described in this passage.

yaṣṭikāhva

The substance identified in the commentary as yaṣṭimadhu.

pathyā

An ingredient named with kāśmarī and dhātrī in a water-mixed preparation.

kṣauma

Linen cloth used to enclose the finely powdered ingredients.

Meaning of the śloka

For the condition called Amlākhya, and also for Śukti, the entire sequence of treatment just described should be carried out, except for sirāmokṣa (bloodletting from a vein).

Key terms

अम्लाख्य (amlākhya)

A named ocular condition for which the preceding treatment sequence is extended.

अम्लाध्युषित (amlādhyuṣita)

The classical ocular condition named by the commentary alongside Śukti.

शुक्ति (śukti)

A named ocular disorder addressed together with Amlādhyuṣita in this passage.

सिरामोक्ष (sirāmokṣa)

The classical procedure of releasing blood from a vein, explicitly excluded in the transmitted reading.

अशस्त्रकृत्य (aśastrakṛtya)

Not requiring treatment with a surgical instrument or operative procedure.

Meaning of the śloka

One should drink either ghee prepared with Triphalā, ghee prepared with Tailvaka, or simply old ghee.

Key terms

त्रैफल सर्पिस् (traiphala sarpis)

Ghee prepared with Triphalā, described here as a cleansing preparation.

तैल्वक (tailvaka)

A named ghee preparation described by the commentary as cleansing.

पुराण घृत (purāṇa ghṛta)

Old or aged ghee, described here as pacifying.

संशोधन (saṃśodhana)

Cleansing or evacuative treatment, the function assigned to the first two preparations.

संशमन (saṃśamana)

Pacifying treatment, the function assigned to old ghee.

Meaning of the śloka

In Śukti, after the doṣa has been expelled downward, an añjana made from cooling substances should be applied promptly.

Key terms

शुक्तिका (śuktikā)

The named ocular condition for which this specific sequence is stated.

दोष (doṣa)

The pathogenic factor said here to be expelled downward before local treatment.

विरेचन (virecana)

The evacuative procedure supplied by the commentary as the means of downward expulsion.

शीत द्रव्य (śīta dravya)

Substances characterized as cooling and used in the described eye application.

अञ्जन (añjana)

A classical preparation applied to the eye.

Meaning of the śloka

An añjana is described from a very fine powder of vaidūrya, crystal, coral, pearl, conch shell, silver, and gold, combined with sugar and honey; the text says that it quickly removes Śukti.

Key terms

वैदूर्य (vaidūrya)

A precious mineral or gem included among the cooling substances in the eye preparation.

स्फाटिक (sphāṭika)

Crystal, included as an ingredient in the described powder.

वैद्रुम (vaidruma)

Coral, included as an ingredient in the described preparation.

मौक्त (maukta)

Pearl or a pearl-derived substance used in the formula.

शाङ्ख (śāṅkha)

Conch-shell material included in the described powder.

राजत (rājata)

Silver included in the historical eye preparation.

शातकुम्भ (śātakumbha)

Gold included in the historical eye preparation.

अञ्जन (añjana)

A preparation intended for direct application to the eye.

Meaning of the śloka

A person experiencing Dhūmadarśin should use ghee. The remaining regimen prescribed for Raktapitta should also be followed, together with every other measure that reduces pitta and the regimen prescribed for paittika Visarpa.

Key terms

धूमदर्शिन् (dhūmadarśin)

A classical visual condition whose name conveys seeing as though through smoke.

रक्ताभिष्यन्द (raktābhiṣyanda)

A classical ocular disorder whose previously stated treatment is referenced here.

पित्ताभिष्यन्द (pittābhiṣyanda)

The pitta-associated ocular disorder and treatment context of this chapter.

पित्तविदग्धदृष्टि (pittavidagdhadṛṣṭi)

A classical disorder of vision whose regimen is included among the pitta-reducing measures.

पैत्तिक विसर्प (paittika visarpa)

Pitta-associated Visarpa, whose previously taught regimen is referred to by analogy.

सर्पिस् (sarpis)

Ghee, stated as part of the regimen for Dhūmadarśin.

Meaning of the śloka

Thus ends the tenth chapter of the Śālākya-tantra within the Uttaratantra of the Suśruta Saṃhitā, entitled 'Prevention and Treatment of Pittābhiṣyanda.'

Key terms

पित्ताभिष्यन्दप्रतिषेध (pittābhiṣyanda-pratiṣedha)

The chapter title, concerning the prevention and treatment of Pittābhiṣyanda.

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.

दशमोऽध्यायः (daśamo 'dhyāyaḥ)

The tenth chapter.