हिताहितीयाध्यायः
अथातो हिताहितीयमध्यायं व्याख्यास्यामः ||१||
यथोवाच भगवान् धन्वन्तरिः ||२||
"Now we shall expound the chapter on wholesome and unwholesome substances.
"As declared by the revered Dhanvantari."
This introductory verse opens the next chapter of the Sushruta Samhita, which will discuss substances and practices that are beneficial (wholesome) and harmful (unwholesome) for health.
यद्वायोः पथ्यं तत् पित्तस्यापथ्यमित्यनेन हेतुना न किञ्चिद्द्रव्यमेकान्तेन हितमहितं वाऽस्तीति केचिदाचार्या ब्रुवते |
तत्तु न सम्यक्; इह खलु यस्माद्द्रव्याणि स्वभावतः संयोगतश्चैकान्तहितान्येकान्ताहितानि हिताहितानि च भवन्ति ||३||
"Some teachers say that what is beneficial for Vata is harmful for Pitta and thus, no substance is absolutely beneficial or harmful. But that is not entirely correct; as substances, by their nature and combination, can be absolutely beneficial, absolutely harmful, or both."
This shloka explains that while some substances may have varying effects on different doshas, substances in their pure form or when combined with others can have definitive beneficial or harmful effects.
तत्र ,एकान्तहितानि जातिसात्म्यात् सलिलघृतदुग्धौदनप्रभृतीनि; एकान्ताहितानि तु दहनपचनमारणादिषु प्रवृत्तान्यनलक्षारविषादीनि, संयोगादपराणि विषतुल्यानि भवन्ति; हिताहितानि तु यद्वायोः पथ्यं तत् पित्तस्यापथ्यमिति ||४||
"In this context, substances like water, ghee, milk, and rice are considered absolutely beneficial due to their inherent nature. On the other hand, substances involved in burning, digestion, and transformation processes like fire, alkali, and poisons are considered absolutely harmful. Some substances become similar to poison when combined with others. What is beneficial for Vata may be harmful for Pitta."
This shloka explains the classification of substances based on their inherent nature and combinations. It highlights that some substances are universally beneficial, while others are inherently harmful or become harmful when combined with certain other substances. The same substance may have different effects on different doshas.
अतः सर्वप्राणिनामयमाहारार्थं वर्ग उपदिश्यते; तद्यथा- रक्तशालिषष्टिककङ्गुक्रमुकुन्दकपाण्डुकपीतकप्रमोदककालकासनकपुष्पककर्दमकशकुनाहृतसुगन्धककलम- नीवारकोद्रवोद्दालकश्यामाकगोधूमयववैणवैणहरिणकुरङ्गमृगमातृकाश्वदंष्ट्राकरालक्रकरकपोतलावतित्तिरिकपिञ्जलवर्तीरवर्तिका मुद्गवनमुद्गमकुष्ठकलायमसूरमङ्गल्यचणकहरेण्वाढकीसतीनाश्चिल्लिवास्तुकसुनिषण्णकजीवन्तीतण्डुलीयकमण्डूकपर्ण्यः, गव्यं घृतं, सैन्धवं, दाडिमामलकमित्येष वर्गः सर्वप्राणिनां सामान्यतः पथ्यतमः ||५||
"Therefore, the following group of substances is recommended for the nutrition of all living beings: red rice, shashtika rice, kangu, kramuk, undaka, panduka, kapindaka, pramodaka, kalaka, asanaka, pushpaka, kardamaka, shakuna, sugandhaka, kalama, nivara, kodrava, uddalaka, shyamaka, wheat, barley, varina, vari-harina, kuranga, mriga, matrunka, ashvadanshtra, karaala, krakara, pigeon, lark, quail, kapinjala, varti, avartika, mung bean, jungle mung bean, makushtha, kalaya, masura, mangalya, chickpea, hareya, aduki, chickpea sprouts, chilla, vastuka, sunishannaka, jivanti, tanduliyaka, mandookaparni, cow's ghee, rock salt, pomegranate, and amla. This group is generally beneficial for all living beings."
This shloka lists various food substances considered beneficial for all living beings. It includes different types of rice, grains, legumes, vegetables, meats, dairy products, and fruits, emphasizing a balanced and nutritious diet.
तथा ब्रह्मचर्यनिवातशयनोष्णोदकस्नाननिशास्वप्नव्यायामाश्चैकान्ततः पथ्यतमाः ||६||
"Similarly, celibacy, staying in wind-protected areas, bathing with warm water, sleeping at night, and exercise are considered absolutely beneficial."
This shloka highlights the importance of maintaining celibacy, staying in wind-protected areas, bathing with warm water, ensuring proper sleep at night, and regular exercise for overall health and well-being.
एकान्तहितान्येकान्ताहितानि तु प्रागुपदिष्टानि, हिताहितानि तु यद्वायोः पथ्यं तत् पित्तस्यापथ्यमिति ||७||
"The substances that are absolutely beneficial and absolutely harmful have already been mentioned. What is beneficial for Vata may be harmful for Pitta."
This shloka reiterates that some substances are inherently beneficial or harmful as previously discussed. However, the effect of substances can vary between different doshas, such as what benefits Vata may harm Pitta.
संयोगतस्त्वपराणि विषतुल्यानि भवन्ति |
तद्यथा- वल्लीफलकवककरीराम्लफललवणकुलत्थपिण्याकदधितैलविरोहिपिष्टशुष्कशाकाजाविकमांसमद्यजाम्बवचिलिचिममत्स्यगोधावराहांश्च नैकध्यमश्नीयात् पयसा ||८||
"Some combinations of substances become similar to poison. For instance, one should not consume vine leaves, fruits of water chestnut, cucumbers, sour fruits, salt, horse gram, oil cakes, fermented foods, dried vegetables, goat meat, wine, jambul, chili, fish, iguana, and pig meat with milk."
This shloka emphasizes the harmful effects of certain food combinations, advising against consuming these specific substances together with milk due to their toxic-like effects.
रोगं सात्म्यं च देशं च कालं देहं च बुद्धिमान् |
अवेक्ष्याग्न्यादिकान् भावान् रोगवृत्तेः प्रयोजयेत् ||९||
"The intelligent physician should consider the disease, compatibility, place, season, body constitution, and factors like fire before deciding on the course of treatment."
This shloka highlights the importance of a comprehensive approach to treatment, where various factors such as the disease itself, patient's compatibility with treatments, location, season, body constitution, and other influencing factors are carefully considered by the physician.
अवस्थान्तरबाहुल्याद्रोगादीनां व्यवस्थितम् |
द्रव्यं नेच्छन्ति भिषज इच्छन्ति स्वस्थरक्षणे ||१०||
द्वयोरन्यतरादाने वदन्ति विषदुग्धयोः |
दुग्धस्यैकान्तहिततां विषमेकान्ततोऽहितम् ||११||
एवं युक्तरसेष्वेषु द्रव्येषु सलिलादिषु |
एकान्तहिततां विद्धि वत्स सुश्रुत नान्यथा ||१२||
"Due to the variability of conditions and diseases, physicians do not prefer certain substances but recommend them for maintaining health. Among the two, they consider milk to be absolutely beneficial and poison to be absolutely harmful. In this manner, understand that substances like water have inherent absolute benefits, my dear Sushruta, and not otherwise."
These shlokas highlight the importance of context when choosing substances for health and treatment. While some substances like milk are considered universally beneficial and poison universally harmful, the benefits of other substances can depend on specific conditions and diseases.
अतोऽन्यान्यपि संयोगादहितानि वक्ष्यामः- नवविरूढधान्यैर्वसामधुपयोगुडमाषैर्वा ग्राम्यानूपौदकपिशितादीनि नाभ्यवहरेत्; न पयोमधुभ्यां रोहिणीशाकं जातुकशाकं वाऽश्नीयात्, बलाकां वारुणीकुल्माषाभ्यां, काकमाचीं पिप्पलीमरिचाभ्यां; नाडीभङ्गशाककुक्कुटदधीनि च नैकध्यं; मधु चोष्णोदकानुपानं; पित्तेन चाममांसानि; सुराकृशरापायसांश्च नैकध्यं; सौवीरकेण सह तिलशष्कुलीं; मत्स्यैः सहेक्षुविकारान्; गुडेन काकमाचीं, मधुना मूलकं, गुडेन वाराहं मधुना च सह विरुद्धं; क्षीरेण मूलकम्, आम्रजाम्बवश्वाविच्छूकरगोधाश्च; सर्वांश्च मत्स्यान् पयसा, विशेषेण चिलिचिमं; कदलीफलं तालफलेन पयसा दध्ना तक्रेण वा; लकुचफलं पयसा दध्ना माषसूपेन वा, प्राक् पयसः पयसोऽन्ते वा ||१३||
"Therefore, other harmful combinations will be explained: One should not consume fresh sprouted grains with fat, honey, milk, jaggery, or black gram; nor should one consume rural, aquatic, or marshy meat with these. One should not eat Rohini or Jatuka vegetables with milk or honey, Balaka with Varunika and kulmasha, Kakamaachi with long pepper and black pepper; nor should one mix Nadi Bhanga, Shaka, chicken, and curd together; honey with hot water; raw meat with Pitta; fermented rice, porridge, and milk rice together; sesame cake with souviraka (fermented drink); sugarcane products with fish; Kakamaachi with jaggery, radish with honey, pork with honey; radish with milk, and mango, jambu, cow meat, pig meat, and iguana with milk. All types of fish should not be consumed with milk, especially Chilichima fish; banana with palm fruit, milk, curd, or buttermilk; Lakucha fruit with milk, curd, or mash soup, either before or after milk."
This shloka explains various food combinations that should be avoided due to their harmful effects on health. By adhering to these guidelines, one can prevent negative health outcomes associated with these incompatible combinations.
अतः कर्मविरुद्धान् वक्ष्यामः- कपोतान् सर्षपतैलभृष्टान्नाद्यात्; कपिञ्जलमयूरलावतित्तिरिगोधाश्चैरण्डदार्व्यग्निसिद्धा एरण्डतैलसिद्धा वा नाद्यात्; कांस्यभाजने दशरात्रपर्युषितं सर्पिः; मधु चोष्णैरुष्णे वा; मत्स्यपरिपचने शृङ्गवेरपरिपचने वा सिद्धां काकमाचीं; तिलकल्कसिद्धमुपोदिकाशाकं; नारिकेलेन वराहवसापरिभृष्टां बलाकां; भासमङ्गारशूल्यं नाश्नीयादिति ||१४||
"Now, let us discuss harmful activities: One should not eat pigeon fried in mustard oil; or consume kapinjala, peacock, lavatitiri, iguana, prepared with castor oil or in firewood; or clarified butter stored for ten days in a bronze vessel; honey with hot substances; fish cooked with ginger or prepared with it; upodika (a type of vegetable) prepared with sesame paste; balaka (a type of bird) cooked with pork fat in coconut oil; or bhasha (a type of bird) grilled on charcoal."
This shloka warns against various harmful food preparations and combinations that should be avoided to maintain good health.
अतो मानविरुद्धान् वक्ष्यामः- मध्वम्बुनी मधुसर्पिषी मानतस्तुल्ये नाश्नीयात्; स्नेहौ मधुस्नेहौ जलस्नेहौ वा विशेषादान्तरीक्षोदकानुपानौ ||१५||
"Now, let us discuss other harmful combinations: One should not consume honey and water together or honey and ghee in equal proportions. Similarly, do not consume fats with honey, oils with honey, water with oils, or rainwater as a drink."
This shloka highlights other harmful combinations that should be avoided to prevent negative health effects. By adhering to these guidelines, one can maintain better health and avoid potential issues from these incompatible combinations.
अत ऊर्ध्वं रसद्वन्द्वानि रसतो वीर्यतो विपाकतश्च विरुद्धानि वक्ष्यामः- तत्र मधुराम्लौ रसवीर्यविरुद्धौ, मधुरलवणौ च, मधुरकटुकौ च सर्वतः, मधुरतिक्तौ रसविपाकाभ्यां, मधुरकषायौ च, अम्ललवणौ रसतः, अम्लकटुकौ रसविपाकाभ्याम्, अम्लतिक्तावम्लकषायौ च सर्वतः, लवणकटुकौ रसविपाकाभ्यां, लवणतिक्तौ लवणकषायौ च सर्वतः, कटुतिक्तौ रसवीर्याभ्यां कटुकषायौ च, तिक्तकषायौ रसतः ||१६||
"Now, I shall explain the mutually antagonistic pairs of tastes, potencies, and post-digestive tastes: sweet and sour are antagonistic in taste and potency; sweet and salty in taste; sweet and pungent in all respects; sweet and bitter in taste and post-digestive taste; sweet and astringent in taste; sour and salty in taste; sour and pungent in taste and post-digestive taste; sour and bitter, sour and astringent in all respects; salty and pungent in taste and post-digestive taste; salty and bitter, salty and astringent in all respects; pungent and bitter in taste and potency; pungent and astringent in taste; bitter and astringent in taste."
This shloka discusses the pairs of tastes that are mutually antagonistic based on their taste, potency, and post-digestive effects. These antagonistic combinations should be avoided to maintain proper health and balance.
तरतमयोगयुक्तांश्च भावानतिस्निग्धानतिरूक्षानत्युष्णानतिशीतानित्येवमादीन् विवर्जयेत् ||१७||
"One should avoid extremely unctuous, dry, hot, or cold substances and other such extreme qualities in a balanced manner."
This shloka advises avoiding extreme qualities in substances, whether they are excessively oily, dry, hot, or cold, to maintain a balanced and healthy diet.
व्याधिमिन्द्रियदौर्बल्यं मरणं चाधिगच्छति |
विरुद्धरसवीर्याणि भुञ्जानोऽनात्मवान्नरः ||१९||
"One who lacks self-control and consumes incompatible tastes and potencies will suffer from diseases, weakening of the senses, and eventually death."
This shloka emphasizes the importance of avoiding incompatible combinations of tastes and potencies. It warns that consuming such combinations can lead to serious health issues, weakening of the senses, and even death, highlighting the necessity of mindful eating and self-control.
यत्किञ्चिद्दोषमुत्क्लेश्य भुक्तं कायान्न निर्हरेत् |
रसादिष्वयथार्थं वा तद्विकाराय कल्पते ||२०||
"Whatever is consumed, which aggravates the doshas and is not expelled from the body, whether properly digested or not, leads to disease."
This shloka emphasizes that any food or substance that disrupts the balance of the doshas and is not properly expelled from the body can cause disease. Proper digestion and elimination are essential for maintaining health and preventing disorders.
विरुद्धाशनजान् रोगान् प्रतिहन्ति विरेचनम् |
वमनं शमनं वाऽपि पूर्वं वा हितसेवनम् ||२१||
"Diseases caused by consuming incompatible combinations can be counteracted by purgation, emesis, pacification therapies, or prior consumption of wholesome substances."
This shloka outlines the measures to counteract the harmful effects of consuming incompatible food combinations. Techniques like purgation, emesis, pacification therapies, and consuming wholesome substances beforehand can help mitigate the adverse effects.
सात्म्यतोऽल्पतया वाऽपि दीप्ताग्नेस्तरुणस्य च |
स्निग्धव्यायामबलिनां विरुद्धं वितथं भवेत् ||२२||
"Due to habituation or mild effects, in those with strong digestion and young age, or in individuals who are oily, physically active, and strong, incompatible combinations may not cause harm."
This shloka explains that certain individuals, due to their strong digestive power, youth, and physical strength, may not experience the harmful effects of incompatible combinations. Their body’s resilience and habituation can mitigate potential negative impacts.
अथ वातगुणान् वक्ष्यामः-
पूर्वः समधुरः स्निग्धो लवणश्चैव मारुतः |
गुरुर्विदाहजननो रक्तपित्ताभिवर्धनः ||२३||
क्षतानां विषजुष्टानां व्रणिनः श्लेष्मलाश्च ये |
तेषामेव विशेषेण सदा रोगविवर्धनः ||२४||
वातलानां प्रशस्तश्च श्रान्तानां कफशोषिणाम् |
मधुरश्चाविदाही च कषायानुरसो लघुः |
दक्षिणो मारुतः श्रेष्ठश्चक्षुष्यो बलवर्धनः ||२५||
रक्तपित्तप्रशमनो न च वातप्रकोपणः |
विशदो रूक्षपरुषः खरः स्नेहबलापहः ||२६||
पश्चिमो मारुतस्तीक्ष्णः कफमेदोविशोषणः |
सद्यः प्राणक्षयकरः शोषणस्तु शरीरिणाम् ||२७||
उत्तरो मारुतः स्निग्धो मृदुर्मधुर एव च |
कषायानुरसः शीतो दोषाणां चाप्रकोपणः ||२८||
तस्माच्च प्रकृतिस्थानां क्लेदनो बलवर्धनः |
क्षीणक्षयविषार्तानां विशेषेण तु पूजितः ||२९||
"Now, I shall describe the qualities of the wind: The eastern wind is slightly sweet, unctuous, and salty; it is heavy, causes burning sensations, and increases blood and bile. For those who are wounded, poisoned, or have phlegm-related conditions, it increases diseases significantly. For those with a Vata constitution, it is beneficial, and for those who are tired or have dried-up phlegm, it is sweet, non-causing burning sensations, and has an astringent and light secondary taste. The southern wind is excellent, good for the eyes, and increases strength. It pacifies blood and bile and does not aggravate Vata. It is clear, dry, rough, and reduces strength and unctuousness. The western wind is sharp, drying phlegm and fat, and causes sudden death by drying up the body. The northern wind is unctuous, mild, sweet, astringent, cold, and does not aggravate the doshas. Therefore, it is particularly nourishing and strengthens those who are emaciated or have poisoning effects."
These shlokas describe the different qualities of winds from various directions and their effects on the body and health, emphasizing the importance of understanding and adapting to environmental factors for maintaining well-being.
इति सुश्रुतसंहितायां सूत्रस्थाने हिताहितीयो नाम विंशोऽध्यायः ||२०||
"Thus ends the twentieth chapter named 'Wholesome and Unwholesome Substances' in the Sutrasthana of the Sushruta Samhita."
This concludes the chapter dedicated to understanding the various substances and their effects on health, highlighting the importance of consuming wholesome foods and avoiding harmful combinations to maintain well-being.