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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तासामवचारणमुद्दिशन्नाह- अथेत्यादि| संवेश्य शाययित्वा| अरुजमव्रणं, सव्रणे तु गन्धक्लेदाभ्यामेव गृह्णन्तिः; अथवा रुजावति विरुक्षणेन रुजातिवृद्धिः| सलिलसरकं जलपात्रं; केचित् सलिलसरकस्थाने ‘सरकमध्ये चारिण्यः’ इति पठन्ति, सरकं जलपूर्णपात्रम्| रोगोऽत्र रोगाधिष्ठानं दोषाधिष्ठानं वा| श्लक्ष्णेत्यादि| पिचुः तूलं बीजहीनः कार्पासः, प्रोतं वस्त्रम्| अपावृणुयात् आच्छादयेत्||१९||
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.