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Atharvaveda and Charaka Samhita

by Laxmi Maji | 2021 | 143,541 words

This page relates ‘Treatment of Wounds (Vrana)� found in the study on diseases and remedies found in the Atharvaveda and Charaka-samhita. These texts deal with Ayurveda—the ancient Indian Science of life—which lays down the principles for keeping a sound health involving the use of herbs, roots and leaves. The Atharvaveda refers to one of the four Vedas (ancient Sanskrit texts encompassing all kinds of knowledge and science) containing many details on Ayurveda, which is here taken up for study.

Go directly to: Footnotes.

Atharva Veda is a charm against հṇa. If recent pains and sores remain in the body then it is called DZṇa or Āśughāta. The Atharvaveda prescribes water as the best treatment for DZṇa[1]. The sore is to be moistened in cold water and a thick cloth is to be placed on the sour and bandaged. This proves profitable. Also, Atharvaveda mentions the use of the following medicinesṣ�, ʱṣa, Nyagrodha, Bhadra, śٳٳ, Khadira, Śāṇḍadūrvā, and Śilācī etc. If anyone has even a thousand arrow wounds then application of water can heal the person if it is applied immediately. It is said in the Hymn that God Rudra recommends the use of water as treatment. The wound caused by a single arrow and recently formed thousands of wounds can be treated in this way. Also, medicine dzṇ� can be used to heal wounds and ṣaٲ, vraṇa. This medicine can also be used to treat fractures and wounds inflicted by swords[2]. In the hymns, dzṇ� is synonyms with Arundhatī and ṣ�. To stop the bleeding due to injuries made by swords ṣ� is to be boiled in hot water and poured on the affected area, clean and tied with cloth. Atharvaveda mentions the use of and Guggulu Medicines. Wounds are of different types. For the treatment of injuries as given in the ś첹 ūٰ, it is proposed that the patient consume peppercorns as the recitation of VI.109 proceeds simultaneously[3].For unopened wounds or ṣaٲ ղṇa ś첹 Sutra has a special treatment in 31.11-15 in hymn VI.57[4]. The rite is based upon the cure known as Jālāṣa which is the special gift from Rudra. It means cow’s urine. The tumour is first moistened with it then sprinkled upon with it and finally washed. Then the wound is smeared with the scouring from teeth along with pollen from bunches of grass.

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

jālāṣeṇābhi ṣiñcata jālāṣeṇopa siñcata |
jālāṣamugra� bheṣaja� tena no mṛḍa jīvase ||
(AV. –V/57/2); Atharva-Veda-ṃh along with Sāyaṇabhāṣya–Vol.�3, Ramswaroop Sharma Gaud (ed.), Varanasi, Chowkhamba Vidyabhawan, 2011, p. 394.

[2]:

yadi 첹ٲ� patitvā saṃśaśre yadi vāśmā prahṛto jaghāna� |
ṛbhū rathasyevāṅgāni sa� dadhat paruṣ� paru� ||
(AV. –IV/12/7); K. L. Joshi (ed.), Atharvaveda ṃh–Vol. III, Delhi, Parimal Publication, 2015, p. 277.

[3]:

caturthenāśayati || (ś첹 ūٰ-26.38); Atharvavedīya–ś� Gṛhyasūtra� (Dārilakeśavayosa�- kṣiptaṭīkaya sahita�), trans. Udayanarayana Sinha, Varanasi, Chowkhamba Sanskrit Series office, 2009, pp. 62.

[4]:

idamidvā ityakṣata� mūtraphe nenābhyudya || prakṣipati || prakṣālayati || dantarajasāvedagdhi || dantarajasāvedagdhi || stambarajasā || (ś첹 ūٰ-31.11-15); Atharvavedīya–ś� Gṛhyasūtra� (Dārilakeśavayosa�-kṣiptaṭīkaya sahita�), trans. Udayanarayana Sinha, Varanasi, Chowkhamba Sanskrit Series office, 2009, pp. 73.

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