੨੮. ਸ੍ਕਨ੍ਦਗ੍ਰਹਪ੍ਰਤਿਸੇਧਾਧ੍ਯਾਯਃ

Meaning of the śloka

Now the prevention and treatment of Skanda-graha will be explained, as taught by the venerable Dhanvantari.

Key terms

Skandagraha (skanda-graha)

The graha named first in the classical pediatric framework and treated in this chapter.

pratiṣedha

Prevention or treatment in the context of this chapter.

Dhanvantari

The revered authority to whom the teaching is attributed.

Meaning of the śloka

For children described as affected by Skanda-graha, a decoction of the leaves of trees that alleviate vāta is recommended for sprinkling or bathing.

Key terms

upasṛṣṭa

Affected or seized, as explained by the commentary.

vātaghna

Described as alleviating vāta.

druma

A tree; the commentary says this wording excludes shrubs.

pariṣecana

Sprinkling or pouring a liquid over the body.

Meaning of the śloka

Oil prepared with the roots of those trees is considered beneficial for anointing, with the addition of all fragrant substances, the clear upper portion of surā, and Kaiḍarya.

Key terms

abhyañjana

External anointing with oil.

surāmaṇḍa (surā-maṇḍa)

The clear upper portion of surā, according to the commentary.

Kaiḍarya

A plant identified by the commentary as Mahānimba.

Elādi

The classical group cited for the fragrant substances used in the preparation.

Meaning of the śloka

Ghee prepared with Devadāru, Rāsnā, and trees described as sweet, together with milk, should be administered to the child as a drink.

Key terms

Devadāru

A medicinal substance named as an ingredient in the prepared ghee.

Rāsnā

A medicinal substance named as an ingredient in the prepared ghee.

madhuradruma (madhura-druma)

Trees classified here as sweet.

annāda bāla

A child who has begun eating solid food.

Meaning of the śloka

Mustard seeds, shed snakeskin, vacā, kākādanī, ghee, and hair from camels, goats, sheep, and cows are prescribed for fumigating the child.

Key terms

sarṣapa

Mustard seeds included among the materials for fumigation.

sarpanirmoka

The shed skin of a snake.

vacā

A named medicinal substance included in the fumigation mixture.

kākādanī

A plant identified by the commentary as kākajaṅghā.

uddhūpana

Fumigation, here directed toward the child.

Meaning of the śloka

One should have the child wear, tied together, somavallī, indravallī, śamī, thorns of bilva, and roots of mṛgādanī.

Key terms

somavallī

A plant identified in the commentary as guḍūcī.

indravallī

A plant identified as matsāṇḍaka and said to be locally called gaṇḍadūrvā.

mṛgādanī

A plant whose roots are prescribed here, identified by the commentary as indravāruṇī.

grathita

Tied or fastened together for wearing.

Meaning of the śloka

Red garlands, a red banner, red fragrances, various foods, a bell, and a fine cock are to be presented as an offering to the deity for the child's welfare in the condition described as Skanda-graha.

Key terms

bali

A ritual offering presented to the deity in this passage.

Skanda-graha (skandagraha)

The graha category named in the historical pediatric framework.

kuṅkuma

An example supplied by the commentary of a red fragrant substance.

śuci

Ritually pure; applied by the commentary to the physician making the offering.

Meaning of the śloka

For three nights, at night, bathing is to be performed at crossroads. A pura is to be made with fresh rice and barley, the bathing water is to be consecrated with the Gāyatrī, and the fire is to be kindled with the vyāhṛtis.

Key terms

catvara

The ritual location, primarily explained as a four-way crossing, with alternative interpretations as a three-way crossing or gathering place.

pura

A ritual maṇḍala or the dwelling within it, according to the commentary.

Gāyatrī (gāyatrī)

The mantra used in the text to consecrate the bathing water.

vyāhṛti

Sacred ritual utterances used for kindling or addressing the fire, counted here as three, seven, or ten.

Meaning of the śloka

I shall now state a protective benediction for children, said to remove misfortune, which attentive physicians should perform every day. May the imperishable god Skanda, repository of austerity, brilliance, fame, and bodily forms, be gracious to you. May the mighty Guha—commander of the hosts of grahas and of the divine army, destroyer of the enemies of that army—protect you. May he who is described as the son of the great god, of Pāvaka, and of Gaṅgā, Umā, and the Kṛttikās grant you well-being. May the glorious, divinely formed, red-garlanded and red-clad god, adorned with red sandalwood and destroyer of Krauñca, protect you.

Key terms

rakṣā

A mantra-based protective benediction or rite for well-being in this passage.

grahasenāpati

Commander of the host of grahas, an epithet of Skanda here.

Guha (guha)

A name of Skanda invoked for the child's protection.

Krauñcasūdana (krauñcasūdana)

Destroyer of the mountain Krauñca, an epithet applied to Skanda.

Meaning of the śloka

Thus ends the twenty-eighth chapter, called ‘Prevention of Skanda,’ identified in the supplied text as the second chapter of Kumāra-tantra within the Uttara-tantra of the Suśruta-saṃhitā.

Key terms

Kumāra-tantra (kumāra-tantra)

The section concerned with children, in which this is identified as the second chapter.

skandapratiṣedha

The chapter title, concerning prevention or treatment related to Skanda in the classical framework.

Kaumārabhṛtya-tantra (kaumārabhṛtya-tantra)

The pediatric section named in the commentary colophon.

Nibandhasaṅgraha (nibandhasaṅgraha)

The title of Dalhaṇa's commentary.