The commentary explains why the chapter on eyelid diseases appropriately follows the chapter on diseases of the ocular junctions. The preceding account stated that agents moving at the junction of the eyelid and the white of the eye affect the interior of the eye; because the eyelid was mentioned there immediately afterward, the present topic is introduced next.
Key terms
वर्त्मगतरोगविज्ञानीय (vartmagatarogavijñānīya)
Knowledge of diseases located in the eyelids; the subject of this chapter.
वर्त्म (vartma)
The eyelid in this ophthalmic context.
धन्वन्तरि (Dhanvantari)
The authoritative teacher to whom the chapter is attributed.
पृथग्दोषाः समस्ता वा यदा वर्त्मव्यपाश्रयाः |
सिरा व्याप्यावतिष्ठन्ते वर्त्मस्वधिकमूर्च्छिताः ||३||
विवर्ध्य मांसं रक्तं च तदा वर्त्मव्यपाश्रयान् |
विकाराञ्जनयन्त्याशु नामतस्तान्निबोधत ||४||
Meaning of the śloka
When the doṣas, acting separately or together and becoming greatly aggravated, take their seat in the eyelids and spread through their vessels, they increase the local flesh and blood and quickly produce disorders dependent on the eyelids. Their names are now to be learned.
The commentary presents this as the samprāpti, or account of disease development. It glosses adhikamūrcchita as excessively aggravated and interprets vartmavyapāśraya as situated within the eyelid, explaining the prefix in that sense. The resulting eyelid disorders arise quickly after the doṣas occupy the eyelids through the vessels. It also preserves a textual disagreement: the Pañjikākāra does not read these verses, whereas the commentator includes them because Jejjaṭa read them.
Key terms
दोषाः (doṣāḥ)
The classical pathogenic factors described as acting singly or collectively.
अधिकमूर्च्छिताः (adhikamūrcchitāḥ)
Greatly or excessively aggravated, according to the commentary.
वर्त्मव्यपाश्रयाः (vartmavyapāśrayāḥ)
Situated in or dependent upon the eyelids.
सिरा (sirā)
The vessels through which the doṣas are said to spread in this account.
सम्प्राप्ति (samprāpti)
The classical account of how the disorders develop.
The eyelid disorders are named as Utsaṅginī, Kumbhīkā, Pothakī, Vartmaśarkarā, Arśovartma, Śuṣkārśas, Añjananāmikā, Bahalavartma, Vartmāvabandhaka, Kliṣṭavartma, Kardamavartma, Śyāvavartma, Praklinnavartma, Apariklinnavartma, Vātahatavartma, Arbuda, Nimiṣa, Śoṇitārśas, Lagaṇa, Biśa, and Pakṣmakopa. These are stated to be twenty-one disorders located in the eyelids; after naming them, the text proceeds to their characteristics.
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તે ચ વર્ત્માશ્રયા રોગા એકવિંશતિરભિહિતાઃ, અતસ્તાનેવ નામ્ના નિર્દિશન્નાહ- ઉત્સઙ્ગિનીત્યાદિ||૫-૮||-
Meaning of the commentary
The commentary says that twenty-one diseases dependent on the eyelids have been declared and that the verses therefore first identify them by name before describing them by their characteristics.
Key terms
वर्त्मसंश्रयाः (vartmasaṃśrayāḥ)
Disorders situated in or dependent upon the eyelids.
एकविंशति (ekaviṃśati)
Twenty-one, the stated number of eyelid disorders.
पक्ष्मकोप (pakṣmakopa)
One of the named eyelid disorders; its features are not explained in this passage.
शोणितार्शस् (śoṇitārśas)
One of the named eyelid disorders; the term is retained because this passage only enumerates it.
...लक्षणैस्तान् प्रचक्ष्महे |
अभ्यन्तरमुखी बाह्योत्सङ्गेऽधो वर्त्मनश्च या ||९||
विज्ञेयोत्सङ्गिनी नाम तद्रूपपिडकाचिता |१०|
Meaning of the śloka
Utsaṅginī is identified as a lesion on the lower eyelid whose opening faces inward, while it appears raised externally, and which is surrounded by eruptions resembling itself.
The commentary explains that the lesion faces the inner surface of the eyelid but appears externally because its elevation also projects outward. It arises in the recessed lower part of the eyelid and is surrounded by similar eruptions. The commentator classifies it as arising from the combined doṣas and as treatable within the text's system. He adds that features stated by Videha but omitted here, such as hardness, should also be understood. The quoted account describes a large, hard lesion with mild pain, visible externally and surrounded by smaller lesions; when it breaks, it releases material compared to the fluid of a hen's egg.
Key terms
उत्सङ्गिनी (utsaṅginī)
The named eyelid lesion described in this passage.
अभ्यन्तरमुखी (abhyantaramukhī)
Having its opening or orientation toward the inner surface of the eyelid.
पिडका (piḍakā)
A raised lesion or eruption on the eyelid.
सन्निपातजा (sannipātajā)
Classified by the commentary as arising from the combined doṣas.
मन्दवेदना (mandavedanā)
Mild pain, a feature in the account quoted from Videha.
The commentary identifies kumbhīkā as a terrestrial plant bearing a pomegranate-shaped fruit. Because the verse uses the plural ‘arising on the eyelid,’ it interprets these lesions as occurring externally. Although classified as arising from the combined doṣas, they are regarded as treatable within the text's system.
Key terms
कुम्भीकपिडका (kumbhīkapiḍakā)
The named eyelid eruptions compared with kumbhīkā seeds.
कुम्भीकबीजप्रतिमाः (kumbhīkabījapratimāḥ)
Resembling the seeds of the kumbhīkā plant.
आध्मापयन्ति (ādhmāpayanti)
Produce swelling or distension, here described after rupture.
वर्त्मजाः (vartmajāḥ)
Arising on the eyelid; interpreted by the commentary as external lesions.
The commentary explains that ‘discharging’ means producing abundant discharge and that kaṇḍurā means accompanied by itching. It emphasizes that these lesions are painful even though they are classified as kaphaja. They are considered treatable within the text's system.
Key terms
पोथकी (pothakī)
The named eyelid eruption described here by discharge, itching, heaviness, and pain.
स्राविण्यः (srāviṇyaḥ)
Discharging; glossed by the commentary as producing abundant discharge.
कण्डुरा (kaṇḍurā)
Accompanied by itching.
रक्तसर्षपसन्निभाः (raktasarṣapasannibhāḥ)
Resembling red mustard seeds.
कफजा (kaphajā)
Classified in the commentary as arising from kapha.
A large, rough eyelid lesion densely covered with numerous very small eruptions is known as Vartmaśarkarā.
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પિડકાભિરિત્યાદિ| ઇયં સન્નિપાતજા સાધ્યા ચ||૧૨||
Meaning of the commentary
The commentary classifies this condition as arising from the combined doṣas and as treatable within the text's system; it supplies no further descriptive detail here.
Key terms
वर्त्मशर्करा (vartmaśarkarā)
The named rough eyelid lesion covered by many minute eruptions.
The commentary identifies ervāru as grīṣmakarkaṭī. It explains that these eyelid lesions may be situated on both the inner and outer surfaces. Although classified as arising from the combined doṣas, the condition is regarded as treatable within the text's system.
Key terms
अर्शोवर्त्म (arśovartma)
The named eyelid disorder characterized here by small rough eruptions.
एर्वारुबीजप्रतिमाः (ervārubījapratimāḥ)
Resembling ervāru seeds.
मन्दवेदनाः (mandavedanāḥ)
Mildly painful.
ग्रीष्मकर्कटी (grīṣmakarkaṭī)
The plant used by the commentary to identify ervāru.
The commentary glosses dāruṇa as extremely troublesome or severe and states that the growth occurs only on the inner side of the eyelid. Although classified as arising from the combined doṣas, it is regarded as treatable within the text's system.
Key terms
शुष्कार्शस् (śuṣkārśas)
The named inner-eyelid growth described in this passage.
अङ्कुर (aṅkura)
A sprout-like projection or growth.
खर (khara)
Rough in texture.
स्तब्ध (stabdha)
Rigid or stiff.
दारुण (dāruṇa)
Severe or extremely troublesome, according to the commentary.
A small, soft, copper-coloured lesion arising on the eyelid, accompanied by burning and pricking pain but only mild overall discomfort, is known as Añjananāmikā.
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દાહેત્યાદિ| રક્તજેયં સાધ્યા ચ||૧૫||
Meaning of the commentary
The commentary classifies Añjananāmikā as a disorder arising from rakta and states that it is treatable within the text's classical framework.
Key terms
अञ्जननामिका (añjananāmikā)
The named eyelid disorder described in this passage.
दाह (dāha)
A burning sensation associated with the lesion.
तोद (toda)
Pricking or piercing pain.
ताम्रा (tāmrā)
Copper-coloured in appearance.
रक्तज (raktaja)
Classified by the commentary as arising from rakta.
When an eyelid becomes thickened all around by evenly raised lesions that are the same colour as the surrounding tissue, the condition is identified as Bahalavartma, ‘thick eyelid.’
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વર્ત્મેત્યાદિ| એતદપિ સન્નિપાતજં સાધ્યં ચ||૧૬||
Meaning of the commentary
The commentary states that this condition too is sannipātaja, involving all three doṣas, and is treatable within the text's classical framework.
Key terms
बहलवर्त्म (bahalavartma)
The named condition characterized by thickening of the eyelid.
पिडका (piḍakā)
Small raised lesions occurring around the eyelid.
सवर्ण (savarṇa)
Having the same colour as the surrounding eyelid tissue.
सन्निपातज (sannipātaja)
Classified as arising from the combined involvement of the three doṣas.
The commentary records a variant reading, ‘blood flows without apparent cause,’ but says that the Pañjikā author does not accept it. Under the accepted reading, both eyelids become red without an evident cause. It then cites Videha: when rakta affected by śleṣman makes both eyelids appear like distressed flesh and resemble the bandhujīva flower, the condition is called Kliṣṭavartma. The commentary classifies it as raktaja and treatable within the classical framework.
Key terms
क्लिष्टवर्त्म (kliṣṭavartma)
The named eyelid condition marked here by softness, mild pain, and unexplained redness.
ताम्र (tāmra)
Copper-coloured.
श्लेष्मदुष्ट रक्त (śleṣmaduṣṭa rakta)
Rakta described in the cited explanation as affected by śleṣman.
बन्धुजीवनिभ (bandhujīvanibha)
Resembling the bandhujīva flower in colour or appearance.
रक्तज (raktaja)
Classified by the commentary as arising from rakta.
The commentary explains that śleṣman-affected rakta underlying Kliṣṭavartma, when joined with pitta and subjected to vidāha, makes that same condition wet or moist; it is then termed Vartmakardama. Because the condition is said to arise from kapha, pitta, and rakta, it is classified as sannipātaja and treatable within the classical framework. Some read ‘it becomes black’ instead of ‘it becomes moist,’ but the Pañjikā author rejects that reading.
Key terms
वर्त्मकर्दम (vartmakardama)
The named moist eyelid condition described as developing from Kliṣṭavartma.
विदाह (vidāha)
A burning or inflammatory transformation described in the classical account.
क्लिन्नत्व (klinnatva)
Wetness or moistness of the affected eyelid.
कफपित्तरक्त (kapha-pitta-rakta)
The three classical factors said by the commentary to underlie the condition.
कृष्णत्व (kṛṣṇatva)
Blackness; a variant reading explicitly rejected by the Pañjikā author.
An eyelid that is dusky in colour both externally and internally, swollen and painful, with burning, itching, and excessive moisture, is regarded as Śyāvavartma.
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યદ્વર્ત્મેત્યાદિ| એતદપિ સન્નિપાતજં સાધ્યં ચ||૨૦||
Meaning of the commentary
The commentary states that this condition too is sannipātaja and is treatable within the text's classical framework.
Key terms
श्याववर्त्म (śyāvavartma)
The named eyelid disorder characterized here by dusky discoloration and swelling.
श्याव (śyāva)
Dusky or dark discoloration.
शून (śūna)
Swollen.
दाहकण्डूपरिक्लेद (dāha-kaṇḍū-parikleda)
The combined features of burning, itching, and excessive moisture.
An eyelid that is externally swollen with little or no pain, while internally it is moist and discharging and has prominent itching and pricking sensations, is called Klinnavartma.
The commentary clarifies that aruja here means little pain: the swelling and mild pain are external, whereas the moisture, discharge, itching, and frequent pricking sensations are internal. Some call this disorder Pillā, but the Pañjikā author does not accept that identification. The commentary classifies it as kaphaja and treatable within the classical framework.
Key terms
क्लिन्नवर्त्म (klinnavartma)
The named eyelid condition characterized by internal moisture and discharge.
अरुज (aruja)
Explained by the commentary here as having little pain rather than necessarily none.
कण्डू (kaṇḍū)
Itching, prominent on the inner aspect of the eyelid.
निस्तोद (nistoda)
Pricking sensations described as frequent or prominent.
पिल्ला (pillā)
An alternative name proposed by some authorities but rejected here by the Pañjikā author.
कफज (kaphaja)
Classified by the commentary as arising from kapha.
यस्य धौतानि धौतानि सम्बध्यन्ते पुनः पुनः |
वर्त्मान्यपरिपक्वानि विद्यादक्लिन्नवर्त्म तत् ||२२||
Meaning of the śloka
When eyelids repeatedly stick together even after being washed, although they have not developed suppuration, the condition is identified as Aklinnavartma.
The commentary explains that in Aklinnavartma the eyelids, which are the site of the disorder, repeatedly adhere again after washing because of a coating called pilla on their inner and outer surfaces, even though suppuration is absent. It classifies the condition as sannipātaja, treatable, and also called Pillā. A verse attributed to Videha similarly says that eyelids which repeatedly become bound together after washing and wiping, without being moist, should be designated Pillā. Jejjaṭācārya reads both this illustrative verse and its application in the root text, whereas Gayadāsa rejects that reading.
Key terms
अक्लिन्नवर्त्म (aklinnavartma)
The named condition in which eyelids repeatedly adhere despite washing and without the described moistness or suppuration.
सम्बध्यन्ते (sambadhyante)
They become joined or stick together repeatedly.
पिल्लोपदेह (pillopadeha)
A coating called pilla said to occur on the inner and outer eyelid surfaces.
पिल्ला (pillā)
An alternative designation accepted here for this condition.
जेज्जटाचार्य (Jejjaṭācārya)
The authority said to include both readings in the root text.
विमुक्तसन्धि निश्चेष्टं वर्त्म यस्य न मील्यते |
एतद्वातहतं विद्यात् सरुजं यदि वाऽरुजम् ||२३||
Meaning of the śloka
When a person's eyelid has a loosened junction, remains motionless, and does not close, the condition is to be known as Vātahata. It may be painful or comparatively free from pain.
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વિમુક્તેત્યાદિ| નિશ્ચેષ્ટં નિષ્ક્રિયમ્| અત એવ ન નિમીલ્યતે ન સઙ્કુચતીત્યર્થઃ| અરુજમ્ અલ્પરુજમ્| ઇદં વાતજમસાધ્યં ચ||૨૩||
Meaning of the commentary
The commentary explains niśceṣṭa as inactive: because the eyelid is without movement, it does not close or contract. It interprets aruja here as having only slight pain rather than necessarily no pain. The disorder is classified as vātaja and described as incurable within the text's historical prognostic system.
Key terms
विमुक्तसन्धि (vimukta-sandhi)
Having a loosened or separated junction, said here of the eyelid.
निश्चेष्ट (niśceṣṭa)
Motionless or inactive.
वातहत (vātahata)
The named eyelid disorder attributed to vāta in this passage.
अरुज (aruja)
Interpreted by the commentary in this context as having little pain.
The commentary takes vartmāntarastha to mean situated on the inner side of the eyelid, viṣama to mean troublesome, and granthibhūta to mean resembling a nodule. It attributes the slight redness to pitta and the pendent character to its nature as an arbuda. Some read the phrase as ‘avalambi ca’ (‘and pendent’). It classifies the disorder as sannipātaja while regarding it as treatable within the text's historical system.
Key terms
वर्त्मान्तरस्थ (vartmāntarastha)
Situated within or on the inner side of the eyelid.
ग्रन्थिभूत (granthibhūta)
Having formed into, or resembling, a nodule.
अर्बुद (arbuda)
The classical name applied here to this eyelid growth; it should not be mapped automatically to a modern lesion.
सन्निपातज (sannipātaja)
Classified by the commentary as involving all three doṣas.
When vāyu enters the vessels called Nimeṣaṇī that are associated with the eyelids and makes the eyelids move excessively, the disorder is considered Nimeṣa.
The commentary connects the sentence as follows: vāyu, having entered the Nimeṣiṇī vessels located in the eyelids, moves the eyelids. These vessels are so called because blinking and opening of the eyes occur through their power. Some read ‘so 'gado mataḥ’; under that reading, agada is explained as ‘without distress.’ The condition is classified as vātaja and described as incurable within the text's historical system.
Key terms
निमेषणीः सिराः (nimeṣaṇīḥ sirāḥ)
Vessels associated by the commentary with blinking and opening the eyes.
वायु (vāyu)
The doṣic factor said to enter these vessels and produce excessive eyelid movement.
निमेष (nimeṣa)
The named disorder characterized here by excessive eyelid movement.
अगद (agada)
A variant reading explained in the commentary as being without distress or pain.
Soft, sprout-like growths arising on the eyelid from śoṇita repeatedly grow again after being cut. Accompanied by burning, itching, and pain, they are called Śoṇitārśas.
The commentary links the description as follows: soft, sprout-like eyelid growths arising from śoṇita and repeatedly enlarging after being cut are termed arśas, specifically Śoṇitārśas. It classifies this condition as raktaja and describes it as incurable within the text's historical prognostic system.
Key terms
मृदवोऽङ्कुराः (mṛdavo 'ṅkurāḥ)
Soft, sprout-like growths on the eyelid.
शोणितसम्भव (śoṇita-sambhava)
Described as arising from śoṇita, or blood, in the classical account.
शोणितार्श (śoṇitārśa)
The named eyelid disorder formed by the described recurrent growths.
दाहकण्डूरुजा (dāha-kaṇḍū-rujā)
Burning, itching, and pain accompanying the growths.
A large, hard, non-suppurating, painless nodule arising in the eyelid, with itching and a slimy quality and about the size of a kola fruit, is called Lagaṇa.
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અપાક ઇત્યાદિ| શ્લેષ્મજોઽયં સાધ્યશ્ચ||૨૭||
Meaning of the commentary
The commentary classifies Lagaṇa as śleṣmaja and regards it as treatable within the text's historical system; it adds no further explanation of the descriptive features.
Key terms
अपाक (apāka)
Not suppurating or not undergoing maturation in the description.
ग्रन्थि (granthi)
A nodule or localized lump in the eyelid.
कोलप्रमाण (kola-pramāṇa)
Measured by comparison with a kola fruit; the exact size depends on the intended fruit and needs review.
लगण (lagaṇa)
The classical name for the eyelid nodule described here.
The commentary explains the comparison as resembling a bisa—specified as a lotus stalk or lotus structure—within water. It classifies the condition as sarvaja and regards it as treatable within the text's historical system.
Key terms
शूनं वर्त्म (śūnaṃ vartma)
A swollen eyelid.
सूक्ष्मैश्छिद्रैः (sūkṣmaiś chidraiḥ)
Furnished with many fine openings.
बिस (bisa)
A lotus stalk or related lotus structure used as the comparison in the passage.
बिसवर्त्म (bisavartma)
The named eyelid condition likened to a lotus stalk in water.
सर्वज (sarvaja)
Classified as arising from all the doṣas in the commentary.
दोषाः पक्ष्माशयगतास्तीक्ष्णाग्राणि खराणि च |
निर्वर्तयन्ति पक्ष्माणि तैर्घुष्टं चाक्षि दूयते ||२९||
उद्धृतैरुद्धृतैः शान्तिः पक्ष्मभिश्चोपजायते |
वातातपानलद्वेषी पक्ष्मकोपः स उच्यते ||३०||
Meaning of the śloka
When the doṣas lodge in the seat of the eyelashes, they produce lashes with sharp tips and a rough character; as these rub against the eye, the eye becomes distressed. Relief occurs whenever the lashes are removed, but the condition recurs, and the person is intolerant of wind, sunlight, and fire. This is called Pakṣmakopa.
The commentary explains nirvartayanti as ‘produce,’ pakṣmāṇi as individual eyelash hairs, and dūyate as the eye being afflicted or tormented by them. ‘Removed again and again’ means repeatedly uprooted, and the repetition indicates that the hairs repeatedly regrow. It records Upapakṣmamālā as another name not stated in the root verse and Parivāla as a popular name. The disorder is classified as sarvaja and yāpya—manageable rather than definitively curable—within the text's historical system.
Key terms
पक्ष्माशय (pakṣmāśaya)
The seat or root region of the eyelashes in this passage.
The named recurrent eyelash disorder described in these verses.
उपपक्ष्ममाला (upapakṣmamālā)
An alternative name supplied by the commentary.
परिवाल (parivāla)
A popular or vernacular name recorded by the commentary.
याप्य (yāpya)
Historically classified as controllable or manageable rather than fully curable.
Adhikarana પુષ્પિકા · Śloka ૩
ઇતિ સુશ્રુતસંહિતાયામુત્તરતન્ત્રે વર્ત્મગતરોગવિજ્ઞાનીયો નામ તૃતીયોઽધ્યાયઃ ||૩||
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इति सुश्रुतसंहितायामुत्तरतन्त्रे वर्त्मगतरोगविज्ञानीयो नाम तृतीयोऽध्यायः ||३||
Meaning of the śloka
Thus ends the third chapter of the Uttaratantra in the Suśruta Saṃhitā, entitled ‘Knowledge of Diseases Situated in the Eyelids’ (Vartmagatarogavijñānīya).
The commentary colophon states that the third chapter of the Śālākyatantra section within the Uttaratantra is complete in the Nibandhasaṅgraha, Śrī Dalhaṇa's commentary on Suśruta. The supplied form ‘Dalha(hla)ṇa’ preserves an editorial variation in the commentator's name.
Key terms
वर्त्मगतरोगविज्ञानीय (vartmagatarogavijñānīya)
The chapter title, concerning knowledge of diseases situated in the eyelids.
उत्तरतन्त्र (uttaratantra)
The division of the Suśruta Saṃhitā containing this chapter.
शालाक्यतन्त्र (śālākyatantra)
The specialty section identified by the commentary colophon.
निबन्धसङ्ग्रह (nibandhasaṅgraha)
The title of Dalhaṇa's commentary on the Suśruta Saṃhitā.