420

9 Miscellanea
lakara, 127
12
8
129

130

131
and
Todara.
132
Some of these quotations may be from Nala's
Bhavyadatta's contained a
133

134
A is quoted in Laiighanapathyani-

1
3
5
and Vopadeva's
136
Chapter 2
Works on
by

by

is a modern
monograph on the pulse in about 500 verses, divided into seven chapters.
Chapters one to four deal with general aspects of the examination of the pulse and
the recognition of disorders of the Chapter five is about pulses which indicate a
fatal outcome within a specified peri od of time and about special cases which, although
seemingly grave, are prognostically favourable. Chapter six describes the pulses char-
acteristic for a long series of diseases and chapter seven signs indicating the approach
of death.
The author does not indicate his sources,
3
but a large part of his treatise is based
upon the works of and others.
4
The colours of the pitta- and are described as respectively dark
blue pale and white (sveta).
5
The problem of the confiicting views on
the location of the pulses of the with respect to the three fingers of the examiner
6
is solved by declaring that no importancjO should be given to this location because the
are sufficiently characterized by the movements of the pulse.
7
The list of dis-
eases together with their pulses is longer than in the works of and
8
The author was a Principa! of the Calcutta College of and wrote his book
between the years 1930 and 1934.

9
by Merutm1ga.
1
0
Il

12
is a remarkable treatise on the examination of the pulse, full of inter-
esting details on this subject and other medical topics.
The work
13
work consists of 292 verses, arranged in twelve chapters It is
composed in the form of a dialogue between Siva and The marigala is adressed
to Siva.
The introductory verse says that the will be expounded. The next few
verses (2-6ab) relate that asked Siv; for instruction in the difficult art of
Siva replies that he will transmit to her the very subtle .
The exposition begins with the statement that the are said to be 72,000 in
422 9 Miscellanea
number
14
by the great sages; authorities and works referred to are: Bhela, the Caraka-
siistra, Susruta, the Tantravistara, the
15
and the Yogaratnii-
(7).
The importance of the science of the pulse is highlighted (10-12). Three diagnos-
tic methods are mentioned: touching (sparsana), questioning (prasna) and examining
(darsana) a patient (13-14).
16
Touching, i.e., feeling the pulse at the wrist
la), ankle or both wrist and ankle, enables a physician to diagnose fever,
disorders of the dosas, the state of the digestive fire, ailments caused by fasting and
waking at night, an intensive activity of the digestive fire (atyagni), deficiency of the
semen disorders arising from fear (bhaya), grief (soka) and confusion
(bhrama), ailments arising from food of a particular taste,
17
painful conditions brought
about by (an excess of) physical exercise and sexual activity, and disorders of digestion
(15-19ab). Questioning reveals the presence
la, bhagandara, haemorrhoids the twenty urinary disorders
traroga),
18
siroroga, poisoning
19

ha,
2
o diseases of the penis, bladder and anus, and bleeding from the female genital
organs bhagotthita) (19cd-22ab). Examination discloses the presence of
eye diseases, sopha,
nasa, asthibhailga,
21
galagraha,
(haemorrhoids), udara, sakthisopha (swelling of the thighs or 1egs), gala-
granthi, the eighteen forms of c)amaru,
22
and
(22cd-25).
Finally, the pulse at the wrist is said to reveal all diseases, in the same way as the
strings of a may produce all the (26-28ab).
Chapter two (28cd-46) mentions a kan da (bu1bous structure ), located somewhat
downward from the navel, and measuring four ailgula in breadth and two allgula in
height,
23
as the p1ace of origin of the 72,000 (28cd-32), which are divided into
30,000 male, 30,000 female, and 10,000 neuter ones, distributed, respectively, over the
right, left and middle part of the body (33-34). One hundred and one among these are
of more importance; thirteen is the number of the most prominent ones (35ab ).
A main group of is formed by the pentad consisting of Su-

24
located in the upper half of the body, together with and located
in the lower half. is found on the left, Pin on the right, and in the mid-
dle. is the main carrier of the in fema1es; is its counterpart in males.
The the seat of transports the basis of breathing (38-43ab).
A human being is said to breathe 21,600 times each day and night (43cd-44ab).
25
Chapter three (47-55) describes where the main should be examined by a
physician: in males at the left, in females at the right side of the body, in cows at both
sides of the nose, in horses at the ears, and in e1ephants at the mouth, tip of the nose,
eyes, tai!, and cheeks (51-52).
Chapter four (56-65) is concerned with the way of feeling the pulse and the exact
places where to put the fingers (56-59). It describes in which disorders which pulse
should be taken (60-63), and which pulse should preferentially be examined in the var-
ious periods of life (64-65).
2 Works on 423
Chapter five (66-80) is about characteristics of the pulse during the three parts of
day and night (66) and during the six seasons (67-69ab). Each season endows the pulse
with a characteristic type of pu1sation (gati), resembling the way in which a particu1ar
animal moves about. The chapter proceeds with signs of the pulse connected with the
preponderant taste of the food enjoyed;
26
these signs consist again of ways of pulsation
resembling the gait of particular animals (69cd-72ab ). A combination of the sweet and
sour tas tes gives rise to the same signs as those attributed to kap ha, a combination of the
pungent and sa1ine tastes to the signs of pitta (72cd-73ab ).
27
The tastes which should
predominate in the food taken ina particu1ar season are mentioned (75-76ab), as well
as the relationships between the and the seasons (76cd-79ab) and those between
the and the (79cd-80).
Chapter six (81-92ab) describes the radial pu1se the way to take it, the
signs of the signs indicating curability or incurability, and conditions in which
it is either practicab1e or impracticab1e to fee] the pulse.
Chapter seven (92cd-95) instructs the physician to diagnose disorders with the
index, pitta disorders with the middle finger, and kapha disorders with the little finger.
Patients up to the age of fifty should be examined with the fingers of the right, older
patients with those of the left hand.
Chapter eight (96-1 00) specifies the types of pulsation characteristic of disorders
of one or two each or combination of two presents a type of
pulsation resernbling the rnovement of a particular animaL
Chapter nine ((101-153) describes first the pu1se that is typical ofinvolvement of
all three (101-102). Subsequent1y, it enumerates a group of ten Pi-
Alambu, Laka1a, and
( 103-1 04ab ).
28
The six cakras are mentioned,
29
their seats, and the parts of the body
where the ten are found (l04cd-108).
The remaining part of the chapter is devoted to anatomy. All the verses on this sub-
ject have been borrowed from the (1.5), with the exception of 125-
130, dealing with the seven layers of the skin and the diseases Jocated in these Jayers.
30
Chapter ten (154-182) describes the five (154-158), disorders arising
from deficiency of one of these (159-160), the connections between the
and the (161), between the and the seven bodi1y elements (162) and
the tastes (163-164), the colours of the (165), the preponder-
antly present in particu1ar constituents of the body ( 166-170), the ratios of the
in se vera! groups of anima1s (171-180), and the connections between the
and the seasons (181-182).
Chapter e1even (183-273) is devoted to a classification of diseases. Almost the
whole of this chapter has been taken from the (!.7). Exceptions
are verses 184-185,
31
186ab, 204-207,
32
and 272-273.
33
Chapter twe1ve (274-292) describes that wonders how disorders of the do-
which have their seats in various parts of the body, can be diagnosed by means of
the radial pulse. Being puzzled, she asks Siva for elucidation.
Siva informs her of some anatomical facts. He declares that the 34
contains a vidhigranthi, which is the seat of similar1y, the heart-lotus
35
has a
424 9 Miscellanea
harigranthi, the seat of pitta; at the throat one finds a haragranthi, which is the seat of
kapha.
36
The originate from the Three among them, which have the nature
of and Siva, are more important, but the is the foremost. This
very subtle runs from the seat of to the seat of pitta, thence to the seat
of kap ha, to reach finally the
37
at the top of the head. From the top of the
head it goes downwards, branches off, and passes through the forehead, ears, the region
between the eyebrows, nostrils, throat, and shoulders, ending at the wrists, where the
pulse can be examined. Other branches pass through the sides of the abdomen and the
hips, ending at the ankles, where the pulsations are perceptible.
The treatise ends with some verses explaining again that the state of the is
diagnosed by help of the three fingers of the physician.
The author is unknown. The must be later than the
on account of the large number of common to both works.
38
.

3
9

40



42
by
43
son of
44
is a treatise in 217 verses,
arranged in three chapters (avaloka).
Although stressing the importance of (1.6) and referring to var-
ious elements of this procedure (1.11, 12, 14), the work is exclusively devoted to
The author emphasizes that the examination of the pulse can be learnt by
practice only, not from books (1.24). The cause of the pulsation of the arteries is said
to be the contraction of the heart; the circulation of the blood is known to the author
(1.31-35).
Other subjects dealt with are: the three types of (vayuvaha,
1.37);
45
the total number of (thirty-five millions),
46
the
gross (1,072 in number), and the twenty-four main (1.41-45); the places
where to fee] the pulse (1.46-55); suitable and prohibited times for the exarnination of
the pulse; (2.1-3); suitable and unsuitable patients (2.6-7); the correct procedure for
examining the pulse (2.8-20); the characteristics of a norma! pulse (2.21); the deities
presiding over the various pulses (2.22); the colours of the (2.23); the character-
istics of the pulse in disturbances of the do9as (2.26-59) and the author's own opinion
on this subject (2.33-46); the pulses indicating curability and incurability or approach-
ing death (2.60-95); the articles of food to be prescribed in patients with an abnormal
pulse (2.99-106); the pulse in various disorders (3.1-28); the number of pulsebeats (3.
29-41)
47
Sources are not mentioned, but the major part of forms part
of the
The is quoted by Prabhakar Chatterjee in his

and Satyadeva in his commentary on
was a resident of Math
49
The references to the functions of heart
2 Works on 425
and lungs and to the circulation of the blood enable us to assign the to
the nineteenth century. Edition d has two additional chapters on pulse-examination ac-
cording to (twenty-four verses) and western medicine (eighteen verses).

50
5!
attributed to
52
a work on the pulse and sorne related subjects in 252 verses
by
53
The treatise covers all the subjects usual in a work on the pulse, but it deals with
other diagnostic procedures as well, namely the examination of the eyes
222-228), tongue 229-230), nose 231), faeces
232-234), urine 235-247), and rnenstrual discharge
248-252).
54
This explains that the has more verses
on general aspects of medicine than the average text on and that various
types of are referred to in its introductory part as indispensable procedures
which have to precede any therapeutic action.
The list of pulses characteristic for particular diseases (79-166) is rnuch longer than
in the monographs attributed to and The same app !ies to the list indi-
cating a fatal outcome in general or death within a specified period of time (189-220).
The author does not refer to his sources by name, but a cornparison with the treatises
of and learns that he has incorporated at !east half of work
and some verses of
Fourteen main are rnentioned by name: Sarasva-

55
V
56

57

58
YaSasvinT,
59

6

61

62

63
Alambu!a,
64
and

(30-32).
66
and are
the most important arnong these, and located in the backbone and the head,
is the foremost of the three (32-33). The frequency of the beats of the pulse in the
various periods of life is described (50-53).
67
The pulse should be examined at six
places: the hands, the feet and the ternples (55), or at eight: the hands, the feet, the
sides of the throat and near the two sides of the nose (56). The pulses felt at the sides
of the nose and at the throat reveal particular disorders (57 and 59). The span of life
as determined by the pulse is described (174-176).
The examination of the nose and of the menstrual discharge are rarely mentioned
in other treatises.
No particulars are known about the author and his date. He is later, in any case, than
the peri od of composition of the treatises attributed to and
68
69

70
The nurnber of openings
71
of the which are con-
nected with the hairs, and frorn which drops of sweat (gharrnabindu) ooze out, is thirty-
426 9 Miscellanea
five millions (3).
72
One main the origin of all the others, is the pathway of va-
yu, and has its root in the upper part of the body, while its branches reach downwards
(4). The fourteen most important which carry and are established in the
are:
Alaf!1busa, and (10-13). Ten among
these convey the ten kinds of vayu. !<;fa, and course in an up-
ward direction; and provide movement to arms and legs; Alam-
and are located in the right, and in the left half of the
body (14-16). The locations of the terminals of the ten
ends in the left nostril, in the right nostril, in the opening
(randhra) (at the top) of the spinal column (vafjlsa), in the left eye, Hasti-
in the right eye, in the right ear, in the left ear, in the
mouth, in the root of the penis, and in the crown of the skull (17-19).
7
3
The ten kinds of are:
kara, devadatta, and dhanafijaya;
74
the first five form the more important group;
and are the most important among them; is more important than
(20-21); the in the ears perceive sounds, those in the eyes forms, those in the
nose srnells; the one situated in the tongue perceives tastes, those in the skin perceive
sensations of touch; those in heart and mouth give rise to sound; manas, buddhi, etc.,
are eastablished in the heart (22-23).
is located behind !<;fa; it has the colour of a peacock's throat and runs from
the left foot to the left eye (25). li es to the front of it has the colour of
an utpala (blue water-lily) and runs from the left part of the head to the big toe of the
left foot (26). !ies behind its colour is like that of a dark cloud; it runs
from the right eye to the sole of the right foot (27). lies to the front of Pi-
and is red in colour; it runs from the right eye to the big toe of the right foot (28).
lying in front of has the hue of a conch and runs from the right
part of the head to the big toe of the right foot (29). is located between
and it is golden in colour and runs from the left foot .to the left ear
(30). is located between and it is white in colour and runs from the
big toe of the right foot to the top of the head (31). The most important among these
are and (32).
75
located in the
brahrnarandhra, on the road to finalliberation is invisible (avyakta) and
associated with (33). The three main are Piilgala and Su-
is foremost among them (34). runs on the left side, on the right side,
and in the rniddle; all three are pathways (35). has the lustre of a
conch and the rnoon, Pi is white and red (36). is a seat of the moon, of
the sun, of the wind (marut); is a seat of raj as, of tamas,
of sattva; is associated with the night, with the day (37). has the nature
of Pin that of fire, while lying on the pathway to the
( = brahmarandhra), has the nature of both (38).
The heart resembles an inverted lotus bud, decorated with perforations (39). Pi-
has the fire as its dwelling place (gocara) and is called ( 40).
7
6
!<;la has the as its dwelling place and is cal!ed ( 41 ).
77
The long
2 Works on 427
(series of) bone(s) in the back, extending from the anus to the head, and resernbling the
neck of a is called the (42). The delicate bole at its upper
end is called the subtle ]ies between and (43). The
is established in the body, which is at some places like a cakra, at other places like
a kosa, or again like a ( 48). The roams through the body, mounted on the
it resembles a spider in its web (49). The ten seats of are: the
umbilical region, ojas, the ana] region, semen, the blood, the templ es, the head, the
and the heart (51).
78
is thirty-two hasta in length; that part of it which
is present in the neck rneasures one hasta (52). The is located at a distance
of ten hasta from this (part of and the at a distance of ten
hasta from the (53). The distance between and is
ten hasta again; the guhyadeSa (region of the genitals and anus) measures one hasta;
its resembles the convolutions of a co nch (54).
The ingested food passes through and the (di-
gestive) fire is located above the (55). The rasa deri ved from the food passes
through the of the navel and goes to all parts of the body, impel!ed by (56).
The umbilical region has the form of a tortoise the eight limbs of this tor-
toise are connected with the eight four among these are in the region of
the back, four in the region of the chest (kro<;fa) (57). Two of the in the back and
two in the chest run upwards, the other four downwards; the running upwards
split into two branches (pallava) in the region of the throat; one of these splits again
into five smaller branches (58). The branches go to the eyes, nostrils, tongue, lips and
ears; one coming from the back, is called (59).
79
A coming
from the shoulder region, goes to the hand and splits into five branches; this one too
is called (60). A running downwards from the back splits into five
branches for the toes and is called (61).
80
The ninth limb of the tortoise
is called its two branches convey urine and semen (62). The tortoise ]ies ina
transverse position in the umbilical region, its head pointing to the left and its tail to the
right; its left legs point upwards, the right legs downwards (63). Two are present
in its head, two in its tai!, and five in each of its legs (64). lts mouth parts face upwards
in women, downwards in men (71). For this reason a physician should examine the
pulse of the right hand in males, that of the left hand in females (72).
by
81
a modern work.
by Gupta.
82
a treatise on the pulse in 102 verses by
da. 83
This work is in the form of a dialogue between a woman called daughter of
a Gandharva called Pampayya who lived in and a physician who answers
her questions on diagnostics by means of the pulse (5-8; 101-102).
The usual subjects are covered. Many verses are taken from the monographs on
the pulse attributed to and or are very sirnilar to verses found there,
although the author does not disclose his sources except mentioning by name
428 9 Miscellanea
(2).
The deities presiding over the pulses of pitta and kapha are Siva and
(1 0), or, according to another view, and Candra (Il). The difference
in examining the pulse in male and female patients (the pulse of the right hand in males
and that of the left in fema]es) is mentioned and explained as due to the head of the
rma (tortoise)
84
being directed upwards in females and downwards in males (16-18).
85
The pulse in diseases is hardly described (76-81 ), whereas the frequency of the pulse,
dependent on the age of the patient, is elaborately dealt with (82-90).
86
The pulse is
explained as brought about by rhythmic contractions of the heart which, with as
an intermediary, make the blood move through the vessels (91-92).
was the son of and anda pupi! of
87
was the eldest of the three sons son of the physician Govardhana
who descended from a of lineage.
88
The is a modern work as appears from its description of the
contraction of the heart as the origin of the pulse.
89


by

is a short treatise in twenty-two verses
on the characteristics of the pulse in excitement of each of the three in
ta, and in a short series of disorders. The author also describes the views of Caraka on
the pulse in disorders of one two and sal]mipata.
92

93

94

95
.
SADVIDHA.
96

97
.
.

100
The
101
situated at the root of the thumb has an exten-
sion of three fingers (ai:Igula) and the size of a barleycorn; it is connected with all parts
of the body (1). The course ofkapha in this wonderful can be found between those
of and pitta (2). The course of pitta may be detected by means of the forefinger,
that of kap ha by means of the middle finger, and that of by means of the ring finger
(3). Taking the root (of the thumb) as the point of reference, the nearest pulse is that of
pitta, followed by those ofkapha and (4). A physician should determine the nature
of the vata pulse first, subsequently that of kap ha and pitta (5).
The characteristics of the normai pulses of pitta, kapha and (6-7). Characteris-
tics of abnormal pulses kapha and pitta (8). An abnormal condition (vakragati)
of the three pulses indicates disease, a normai (sama) condition health (9). The pulse
of kap ha is called after that of pitta after that of after ( =
Siva); this is the opinion ofDhanvantati (10). The characteristics of the pulse indicat-
ing a disorder of and pitta (II), pitta and (12),
1
0
2
kapha and pitta (13), pitta
and kapha (14), kapha and (15), and kapha (16). The characteristics of the
2 Works on 429
pulse in disorders caused by (17), kapha (18) and pitta (19). The characteristics of
a particular type ofirregular pulse (20).
103
The characteristics of a particular abnormal
pulseindicating thirty-two disorders (21).
104
The characteristics of the pulse ina
disorder called (22).
105
Pulses indicating an ( external) fever, internal fever,
and a fever that has reached the bones (23 ). Characteristics of the pulse indicating a
fatal outcome (24 ). The importance of determining the five main characteristics of the
pulse (25-26).
106
Characteristics of the pulse indicating a favourable prognosis (27).
The author of the commentary, called was son of
of lineage.
107
Authorities quoted in the commentary are Amara and Visva.
or a work in twenty-seven stanzas attributed to the
ASvins.
108


liO
compiled by

by Agnivesa. li2
by
113
attributed to

by


by

by Govinda.
117
by

by Mandhara. li
9
by
12
0
by

by
122
by son of Agnicit of
123
N ascribed to
124
a treatise on the pulse in ninety-six verses.
The is addressed i.e., The second verse refers to

The subjects dealt with are: the (i.e., the radial artery), called thus by
Nandi(n),
125
located in the forearm and connected with all parts of the body; this
when examined at the base of the thumb, reveals all types of disturbances
of the dosas (3-5); the correct way of examining the pulse in men and women at the
wrist and. at the aukle (6-10); the three pulses of the in relation to the three
fingers of the examiner, their characteristics when the are in balance and when
they are excited (11-14); qualities of the pulses of the normai and the excited
(15-19); the pulse ina healthy person and in incurable diseases (20-23); the pulse in
430 9 Miscellanea
various disorders (24-38); the qualities of the pulse when the are staying in their
respective seats, when increased, decreased, or disturbed in various ways (39-45);
the pulse in various disorders ( 46-67); pulses indicating incurability or death within
a specified period of time (68-90); characteristics of a dying person (91-93); the
number of pulsations compatible with life (94); the pulse ina fever which has reached
the innermost parts of the body (95); the duty of a physician to withhold treatment
from a patient after recognizing the approach of death (96).
treatise on the pulse is less systematically arranged than that
is probably quoted by and

is mentioned in Kapilami-
sra's
A modern Sanskrit commentary on the work, called was written by Satyadeva
l
27
Authors and works quoted or referred to in this commentary are: Amara (38; 87),
(49; 63), (26), (10),
ya (5; 8; 17-18; 20; 21; 23; 29; 31-32; 74; 86; 87), (9; 10),
(1 0), ( 46), Caraka ( often), ( often), Li-
(4), Madhuk0$8 (64), (34), (83; 86), (31;
57), Pranatantra (34),
128
Patafijali (34), Rasavaise$ika (24-25),
(7; 10), (8), Susruta (often), Videha (64), Yajurveda (10; 92),
(34), and (74; 75; 77; 84-85; 87-88).
The two main teachers of the author were son of Gokula,
pupi] of and son of pupi! of Arjunami-
Sra. !29
The following elements are absent from
na:
130
the and its attribution to Nandi(n); the reference to
the differences in the examination of the pu1ses in men and women. The series of
diseases mentioned together with the characteristics of the pulse observed in them is
Ionger than in work. 131
Nothing is known about the real author of the text. 13
2
The quotations from by iffrom this text and not
from a floating tradition,
133
suggest a date anterior to the fourteenth century.
134
The
reference to seems to contradict such an early date since this subject
is not mentioned in medical treatises until the beginning of the sixteenth century. 13
5
by
136
compiled by Gupta.
137
by 138
anonymous.
1
3
9
by son of
svarasarman, patronized by Chattrasirpha of This work is a treatise on the
examination of the pulse and on therapy in 552 verses, arranged in five chapters
2 Works on 431
sa). The order of the diseases in this treatise is odd; it ends with a
It has been composed after A.D. 1550.
140

by Vajapeyin,
143
son of and pupi!
a treatise in !58 verses, composed in A.D. 1446.
144
by or Paficendra.
145
by
by in thirty-eight stanzas.
147
from the
148
or anonymous.
149
by
150
from the
151
by Govinda.
1
5
2
by

compiled by

by
155
son of Ratnadeva.
156
by Sarpkarasena
157
a work in three
158
or four
159
chapters
(uddyota), based on It quotes a large part verses,
160
frequently in a changed order, and comments on them, thereby comparing
views with those of other authorities. Sarpkarasena enlarges on some subjects, in par-
ticular the seasons and the causes of excitement of the Chapter three contains
sections on the examination of the menstrual discharge, semen, urine, nose, eyes, and
tongue, which are subjects not dealt with in work. Chapter three ends with
the statement that the art offeeling the pulse can be learnt only by concentrating one's
mind in the same way as in yoga. Chapter four is, apart from the first few verses, omit-
ted in edition b and replaced by an exposition on yoga and breathing. The full Sanskrit
text of this chapter and its translation are found in edition c; it consists of an exposition
on prognostic signs deri ved from characteristics of the breathing of the patient.
161
Sources quoted are (chapter four), the
162
(88: on the ex-
amination of the urine and other types of (the of) (20;
85), and Susruta (50: on the excitement of the dosas and blood; 86: on the menstrual
discharge; 87: on semen). The was also among Sarpkarasena's
sources.
163
Sarpkarasena's is quoted in commentary on
Sarpkarasena is referred to in Kapilamisra's
na.
164
The quoted in commentary on his Bhi$aksarvasva
and commentary on the is Sarpkarasena's
work. An unspecified is cited in Satyadeva commentary on

432 9 Miscellanea
belonged to the medical caste called
16
5 and was the son of
a descendant of Dijhisena.
166
He li ved in Bengal
167
and wrote his work for his
friend, Sananda.
1
6
8
The was composed towards the end of the nineteenth or in the begin-
ning of the twentieth century. 169






173.
by
174
SADVIDHA-.
175
ascribed to



ascribed to



180

181
.
anonymous.
182
by

by son of and grandson of
patisena.
184
ascribed to
185
is amonograph on the examination of the pulse
in 116 verses-'
86
The mailgala is addressed to Sambhu, i.e., Siva, whose five mouths revealed the five
Vedas, i.e., Yajur-, Atharva-, and Mahesa, i.e., Siva, transmitted
his knowledge of the Vaidyaka, i.e., to i.e., Brahmaor Prajapati;
gave it to i.e., Indra, and Indra in his turn to
The of the human body are said to be thirty-five millions in number and to
have the umbilical region as their place of origin; 72,000 among them transport the per-
ceptions of the five senses and 700 the fluid deri ved from the food (annarasa); twenty-
four only can distinctly be felt. The in the right hand or foot is the one to
be examined in particular.
187
A tortoise thought to be located in the umbilical
region with its mouth directed to the left, its tai! to the right, its Jeft legs upwards and its
right legs downwards, is the origin of the twenty-four accessible to examination;
two proceed from its head, two from its tai!, and five from each of its Jegs (3-9).
The right way to examine the radial pulse is described and the circumstances which
are suitab1e or unsuitable to the procedure (11-13). The synonyms of the term
are enumerated (15) and the way to distinguish the pulse of the three dosas when in
balance or excited is described (16-18). The characteristics of the pulse ina healthy
person me given, and those of a norma! pulse during the morning, afternoon, evening
and night (19-20). The verses which follow are on the qualities of the pulse in disorders
)
2 Works on 433
of one, two, and all three (21-30), on the pulses which indicate incurability or
death within a specified peri od of time (31--49), curability in cases seemingly incurable
(50-61), on the relation between the pulse and particular articles of diet, as well as
foods with a particular taste (62-78). The treatise ends with a long series of stanzas on
the pulse in various diseases (80-116).
188
Verses from treatise form part of and the
section on of HitopadeSa. and his
are quoted in (i.e., the
is often cited in Satyadeva commentary on
A is quoted in commentary on his Bhi$aksarvasva and
s
Commentaries on were written by
189
Hariha-

190

191
and
192
Authorities quoted in commentary are:
193
Amara (6),
(13; 70), Caraka, Dattatreya (7; 8), (3), (81; 97),
194
Haima (89), (6; 80; 82; 100),
195
(3), (63),
(19; 23; 113),
196
(18; 20; 26; 30; 81; 82; 83; 84; 93; 102; 110;
113),
197
(3),
198
(3),
199
Susruta, (70; 78), and
Viva ( 5).
200
commentary records a large number of variant readings.
No particulars are known and the date of his work.
201

202
by

This work is probably identical
with
Nii.I;JYUTPATTI by 20
4

20
5