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AYANAACADEMYby Dr Vijaya Dwarampudi
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३२. पूतनाप्रतिषेधाध्यायः

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Adhikarana १ (१-२) · Śloka २

अथातः पूतनाप्रतिषेधं व्याख्यास्यामः ||१|| यथोवाच भगवान् धन्वन्तरिः ||२||

Meaning of the śloka

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

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रेवतीप्रतिषेधानन्तरं स्त्रीग्रहसामान्यात् पूतनाप्रतिषेधारम्भो युज्यत इत्याह- अथात इत्यादि||१-२||

Meaning of the commentary

The commentary explains that the chapter on Pūtanā appropriately begins after the chapter on Revatī because both are classed as female grahas. It identifies the opening formula beginning with ‘now, therefore’ as the introduction to this subject.

Key terms

Pūtanāpratiṣedha
The prevention or treatment associated with Pūtanā, which is the subject of this chapter.
strīgraha
A female graha within the historical classificatory framework used by the commentary.
Dhanvantari
The revered authority to whom the teaching is attributed.

Adhikarana २ (३-४) · Śloka ४

कपोतवङ्काऽरलुको वरुणः पारिभद्रकः | आस्फोता चैव योज्याः स्युर्बालानां परिषेचने ||३|| वचा वयःस्था गोलोमी हरितालं मनःशिला | कुष्ठं सर्जरसश्चैव तैलर्थे वर्ग इष्यते ||४||

Meaning of the śloka

Kapotavaṅkā, Araluka, Varuṇa, Pāribhadra and Āsphoṭā are prescribed for pariṣecana of children. Vacā, Vayaḥsthā, Golomī, haritāla, manaḥśilā, kuṣṭha and sarjarasa constitute the group prescribed for preparing an oil.

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कपोतवङ्केत्यादि| कपोतवङ्का कबडवङ्केति लोके प्रसिद्धा ब्रह्मसुवर्चलापरपर्याया| आस्फोता सारिवा| वयस्था ब्राह्मी, अन्ये गुडूचीमाहुः| गोलोमी दूर्वा| वर्ग इष्यते इति वर्गग्रहणं यथालाभं प्रक्षेपार्थम्| वचादीनां कल्ककषायाभ्यां तैलसाध्यम्||३-४||

Meaning of the commentary

The commentary says that Kapotavaṅkā is popularly known as Kabaḍavaṅkā and is another name for Brahmasuvarcalā, and that Āsphoṭā means Sārivā. It identifies Vayaḥsthā as Brāhmī, while noting that others understand it as Guḍūcī, and identifies Golomī as Dūrvā. The word ‘group’ indicates that ingredients may be added according to availability. It states that the oil is prepared with the paste and decoction of Vacā and the other listed substances.

Key terms

pariṣecana
Pouring or sprinkling a liquid over the body, here described for children.
Vayaḥsthā
An ingredient identified as Brāhmī by the commentary, with Guḍūcī preserved as an alternative interpretation.
Golomī
An ingredient identified by the commentary as Dūrvā.
haritāla
A mineral substance listed as an ingredient of the oil.
manaḥśilā
A mineral substance listed as an ingredient of the oil.
kalka-kaṣāya
The paste and decoction forms that the commentary says are used in preparing the oil.

Adhikarana ३ (५-७) · Śloka ७

हितं घृतं तुगाक्षीर्यां सिद्धं मधुरकेषु च | कुष्ठतालीशखदिरचन्दनस्यन्दने तथा ||५|| देवदारुवचाहिङ्गुकुष्ठं गिरिकदम्बकः | एला हरेणवश्चापि योज्या उद्धूपने सदा ||६|| गन्धनाकुलिकुम्भीके मज्जानो बदरस्य च | कर्कटास्थि घृतं चापि धूपनं सर्षपैः सह ||७||

Meaning of the śloka

Ghee prepared with tugākṣīrī and substances of the sweet group is said to be beneficial, as is ghee prepared with a decoction of kuṣṭha, tālīśa, khadira, and candana. Devadāru, vacā, hiṅgu, kuṣṭha, girikadambaka, elā, and hareṇu are prescribed for fumigation. Gandhanākulī, kumbhī, the kernels of badara, karkaṭāsthi, ghee, and mustard are also used together for fumigation.

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हितमित्यादि| तुगाक्षीरी वंशलोचना, मधुरकेषु काकोल्यादिषु; काकोल्यादिपाठात्तुगाक्षीरी प्राप्ता, पृथक्पाठो भागद्वयार्थं कुष्ठतालीशादीनां यथालाभनिषेधार्थो वा, ये तुगाक्षीरीं वंशरोचनानुकारिपार्थिवद्रव्यं मन्यन्ते तन्मते द्विरुक्तिर्नास्ति| कल्ककषायाभ्यां सिद्धं घृतं हितमिति सम्बन्धः| गिरिकदम्बको महाकदम्बः| गन्धनाकुली सुगन्धा रास्ना| कुम्भिका जलजा| जेज्जटाचार्यस्तु न पठत्येतद्देवदार्वादियोगद्वयमपि, गयी तु पठति||५-७||

Meaning of the commentary

The commentary explains that tugākṣīrī means vaṃśalocanā, and that the 'sweet substances' are those beginning with kākolī. Because tugākṣīrī is already included in the kākolī group, its separate mention may indicate that it is to be used in two portions, or may show that the substances beginning with kuṣṭha and tālīśa are to be used according to availability. Those who understand tugākṣīrī as an earthy substance resembling vaṃśarocanā do not regard this as repetition. The construction is that ghee prepared with both a paste and a decoction is beneficial. Girikadambaka is identified as mahākadamba; gandhanākulī as fragrant rāsnā; and kumbhikā as an aquatic plant. Jejjaṭācārya does not read either of the two formulations beginning with devadāru, whereas Gayī includes them.

Key terms

तुगाक्षीरी (tugākṣīrī)
Identified by the commentary as vaṃśalocanā; its separate listing is interpreted in more than one way.
मधुरकेषु (madhurakeṣu)
The group of sweet substances, explained here as the group beginning with kākolī.
उद्धूपन (uddhūpana)
Fumigation within the historical treatment described by the passage.
कल्ककषाय (kalka-kaṣāya)
A paste and a decoction used in preparing the ghee.

Adhikarana ४ (८) · Śloka ८

काकादनीं चित्रफलां बिम्बीं गुञ्जां च धारयेत् | मत्स्यौदनं च कुर्वीत कृशरां पललं तथा | शरावसम्पुटे कृत्वा बलिं शून्यगृहे हरेत् ||८||

Meaning of the śloka

One should wear kākādanī, citraphalā, bimbī, and guñjā. An offering should be prepared with rice and fish, kṛśarā, and palala, enclosed between two earthen dishes, and taken to an empty house.

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काकादनीमित्यादि| काकादनी काकतिन्दुकः, ‘काला’ इत्यन्ये; चित्रफला इन्द्रवारुणी, चित्राण्डिकेत्यन्ये| मत्स्यौदनं मत्स्यभक्तं; पललं तिलपिष्टम्| ‘शून्यगृहे हरेत्’ इत्यत्र ‘शून्यगृहेतरे’ इत्यन्ये, तत्रेतरे खण्डगृहे| केचिदत्रेदृशं पठन्ति ‘हरेद्बलिं चोत्कुरटे’ इत्यादि; तत्रोत्कुरटः शून्यागारः, शून्याराम इत्यन्ये||८||

Meaning of the commentary

The commentary identifies kākādanī as kākatinduka, while another reading gives kālā. Citraphalā is identified as indravāruṇī, though others identify it as citrāṇḍikā. Matsyaudana means rice or a meal with fish, and palala means sesame paste. For the phrase 'take it to an empty house,' another reading has 'to another empty or broken house.' Some authorities instead read a phrase meaning that the offering should be taken to an utkuraṭa; this is explained either as an empty dwelling or as a deserted garden.

Key terms

काकादनी (kākādanī)
A plant identified as kākatinduka, with kālā recorded as an alternative reading.
चित्रफला (citraphalā)
Identified as indravāruṇī, with citrāṇḍikā preserved as an alternative identification.
पलल (palala)
Sesame paste in this passage.
बलि (bali)
A ritual offering described as part of the historical graha treatment framework.
उत्कुरट (utkuraṭa)
In an alternative reading, a place for the offering, explained either as an empty dwelling or a deserted garden.

Adhikarana ५ (९-११) · Śloka ११

उच्छिष्टेनाभिषेकेण शिशोः स्नपनमिष्यते | पूज्या च पूतना देवी बलिभिः सोपहारकैः ||९|| मलिनाम्बरसंवीता मलिना रूक्षमूर्धजा | शून्यागाराश्रिता देवी दारकं पातु पूतना ||१०|| दुर्दर्शना सुदुर्गन्धा कराला मेघकालिका | भिन्नगाराश्रया देवी दारकं पातु पूतना ||११||

Meaning of the śloka

The infant is to be bathed with the water left from ritual sipping. The goddess Pūtanā should be honoured with bali offerings and accompanying gifts. A protective invocation follows: may Pūtanā, clothed in soiled garments, herself unclean, with dry or rough hair, and dwelling in an empty house, protect the child. May the fearsome, intensely foul-smelling and grim goddess Pūtanā, dark like a rain cloud and dwelling in a ruined house, protect the child.

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उच्छिष्टेनेत्यादि| उच्छिष्टेनाभिषेकेण आचमनोदकेनेत्यर्थः| पूर्वकल्पेन स्नानम्| रक्षामन्त्रः- मलिनेत्यादि||९-११||

Meaning of the commentary

The commentary explains the water called ucchiṣṭa in this context as ācamana water, the water associated with ritual sipping. The bathing is to be performed according to the procedure described previously. It identifies the verses beginning with the description of soiled garments as a protective mantra.

Key terms

ucchiṣṭenābhiṣeka
Sprinkling or bathing with water left from ritual sipping, according to the commentary.
ācamanodaka
Water connected with the ritual act of sipping.
bali
A ritual offering made here in honour of Pūtanā.
rakṣāmantra
A protective invocation, as the commentary classifies the verses.
Pūtanā
The goddess invoked and asked to protect the child in this historical ritual framework.

Adhikarana पुष्पिका · Śloka ३२

इति सुश्रुतसंहितायामुत्तरतन्त्रान्तर्गते कुमारतन्त्रे (षष्ठोऽध्यायः, आदितः) द्वात्रिंशोऽध्यायः ||३२||

Meaning of the śloka

Thus ends the chapter entitled 'Prevention or Treatment of Pūtanā' in the Kumāratantra section within the Uttara-tantra of the Suśruta-saṃhitā. It is the sixth chapter of that subsection and the thirty-second chapter in the overall sequence.

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इति श्रीडल्ह(ह्ल)णविरचितायां निबन्धसङ्ग्रहाख्यायां सुश्रुतव्याख्यायामुत्तरतन्त्रान्तर्गते कौमारभृत्यतन्त्रे पूतनाप्रतिषेधो नाम द्वात्रिंशत्तमोऽध्यायः||३२||

Meaning of the commentary

Thus ends the thirty-second chapter, entitled 'Prevention or Treatment of Pūtanā,' in the Kaumārabhṛtya-tantra portion of the Uttara-tantra, according to the Nibandhasaṅgraha commentary on the Suśruta-saṃhitā composed by Śrī Dalhaṇa. The source preserves a variant form of the commentator's name as Dalha or Dalhla.

Key terms

Pūtanāpratiṣedha
The chapter title, concerning prevention or treatment associated with Pūtanā.
Kumāratantra
The subsection concerned with children in which the chapter is placed.
Kaumārabhṛtyatantra
The designation used by the commentary for the textual division concerned with the care of children.
Nibandhasaṅgraha
The title of Dalhaṇa's commentary on the Suśruta-saṃhitā.
← 31. rēvatīpratiṣēdhādhyāyaḥ33. andhapūtanāpratiṣēdhādhyāyaḥ →