৭. যন্ত্রবিধ্যধ্যাযঃ

Meaning of the commentary

Nadi instruments are hollow in the middle like a tube. Examples classed as one-ended include alabu used for drawing blood and instruments for bhagandara and arshas; two-ended examples include basti, uttarabasti and dhuma instruments. For extraction from a channel, the commentator cites the text's example of a lac foreign body lodged in the throat, in which a tube is placed in the throat and a heated iron probe is used to draw it out. Viewing disease includes viewing internal arshas. Suction includes drawing out vayu lodged in bone, vitiated blood and breast milk. Facilitating procedures refers to making shastra, kshara and agni procedures easier in internal arshas and similar conditions. The instruments' rounded girth is to correspond to the channel opening. To reconcile the twelve named categories with the previously stated twenty instruments, the commentator enumerates two for bhagandara, with one and two apertures; two for arshas on the same distinction; one wound instrument matched to the opening's length and girth; four basti nozzles according to age, though others count three; two uttarabasti nozzles for males and females, though some count three; one each for draining mutravriddhi and dakodara; three dhuma nozzles, for vairechanika, snaihika and prayogika uses; and one each for niruddhaprakasha, sanniruddhaguda, alabu and shringa. This is the supplied explanation of the total of twenty.

Meaning of the commentary

Nirghatana is removal after moving something from side to side; some explain it as striking or jolting from side to side. Purana is filling with oil and similar substances through instruments such as a basti nozzle. Bandhana is tying with a cord or similar material. Vyuhana has already been explained in this chapter. Vartana makes something spread out into a rounded form. Chalana moves something from one place to another; others call it shaking a foreign body. Vivartana is turning back an object lodged in the ear when its removal is intended; others explain it as rotating an instrument, including within a cavity. Vivarana makes something accessible or visible; some explain it as creating room for an incision into flesh, while Lakshmana's annotation calls it spreading open. Pidana presses a wound with a finger or similar means to discharge pus and other material. Margavishodhana clears a passage when urine or stool is obstructed. Vikarshana is grasping and pulling; others explain it as freeing a foreign body caught in flesh or similar tissue. Aharana is bringing out, and anchana is drawing slightly toward the opening. Unnamana raises a downward-positioned arrow barb or similar object, whereas vinamana bends it downward. Bhanjana is crushing an arrow barb or similar object; others understand pressing it on all sides. Unmathana is stirring along the track of a lost foreign body with a probe or similar instrument. Achushana is suction with a horn, gourd or mouth in cases involving poisoned breast milk or blood. Eshana uses a worm-mouthed instrument to explore sinus tracts, wound recesses and foreign bodies. Darana splits an arrow barb or similar object in two. Rijukarana straightens a bent foreign body. Prakshalana washes wound recesses and similar sites with water or other fluids. Pradhamana introduces powder into the nose through a tube when shleshma or a foreign body causes obstruction. Pramarjana wipes away dust and similar foreign bodies from the eye using hair, a finger or cloth.