atha jalaukōvasēkasādhyavyādhitamupavēśya saṁvēśya vā, virūkṣya cāsya tamavakāśaṁ mr̥dgōmayacūrṇairyadyarujaḥ syāt | gr̥hītāśca tāḥ sarṣaparajanīkalkōdakapradigdhagātrīḥ salilasarakamadhyē muhūrtasthitā vigataklamā jñātvā tābhī rōgaṁ grāhayēt | ślaṇaśuklārdrapicuprōtāvacchannāṁ kr̥tvā mukhamapāvr̥ṇuyāt; agr̥hṇantyai kṣīrabinduṁ śōṇitabinduṁ vā dadyāt, śastrapadāni vā kurvīta; yadyēvamapi na gr̥hṇīyāttadā'nyāṁ grāhayēt ||19||
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अथ जलौकोवसेकसाध्यव्याधितमुपवेश्य संवेश्य वा, विरूक्ष्य चास्य तमवकाशं मृद्गोमयचूर्णैर्यद्यरुजः स्यात् | गृहीताश्च ताः सर्षपरजनीकल्कोदकप्रदिग्धगात्रीः सलिलसरकमध्ये मुहूर्तस्थिता विगतक्लमा ज्ञात्वा ताभी रोगं ग्राहयेत् | श्लणशुक्लार्द्रपिचुप्रोतावच्छन्नां कृत्वा मुखमपावृणुयात्; अगृह्णन्त्यै क्षीरबिन्दुं शोणितबिन्दुं वा दद्यात्, शस्त्रपदानि वा कुर्वीत; यद्येवमपि न गृह्णीयात्तदाऽन्यां ग्राहयेत् ||१९||
Meaning of the śloka
The historical procedure seats or lays down a patient with a condition considered suitable for leech application. If the site is free from a wound or pain, it describes drying or roughening it with powdered earth and cow dung. The leeches are coated with a watery paste of mustard and turmeric, kept briefly in a water vessel and applied to the affected area once free from fatigue. Smooth, white, damp cotton or cloth covers the leech, with its mouth exposed. If it does not attach, the text describes offering a drop of milk or blood, or making small instrument marks at the site. Another leech is used if it still does not attach.
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tāsāmavacāraṇamuddiśannāha- athētyādi| saṁvēśya śāyayitvā| arujamavraṇaṁ, savraṇē tu gandhaklēdābhyāmēva gr̥hṇantiḥ; athavā rujāvati virukṣaṇēna rujātivr̥ddhiḥ| salilasarakaṁ jalapātraṁ; kēcit salilasarakasthānē ‘sarakamadhyē cāriṇyaḥ’ iti paṭhanti, sarakaṁ jalapūrṇapātram| rōgō'tra rōgādhiṣṭhānaṁ dōṣādhiṣṭhānaṁ vā| ślakṣṇētyādi| picuḥ tūlaṁ bījahīnaḥ kārpāsaḥ, prōtaṁ vastram| apāvr̥ṇuyāt ācchādayēt||19||
Meaning of the commentary
Samveshya means laying the patient down. Aruja is explained as unwounded: on an existing wound, smell and moisture themselves cause attachment. Alternatively it means without pain, since roughening a painful site would increase pain. Salilasaraka means a water vessel; some instead read a phrase describing leeches moving in a water-filled vessel. Roga means the location of the disease or dosha. Picu is seedless cotton and prota is cloth. The commentary glosses apavrunuyat as 'cover,' contrary to the sense of uncovering supported by the instruction concerning the mouth.
Key terms
- picuH (picuḥ)
- Cotton without its seeds, used as a covering.