Charak Samhita

siva.sh/caraka-samhita/sharira-sthana/8/21

गर्भोपघातकरास्त्विमे भावा भवन्ति; तद्यथा उत्कटविषमकठिनासनसेविन्या [१] वातमूत्रपुरीषवेगानुपरुन्धत्यादारुणानुचितव्यायामसेविन्यास्तीक्ष्णोष्णातिमात्रसेविन्याः प्रमिताशनसेविन्या गर्भो म्रियतेऽन्तः कुक्षेः, अकाले वा स्रंसते,शोषी वा भवति; तथाऽभिघातप्रपीडनैः श्वभ्रकूपप्रपातदेशावलोकनैर्वाऽभीक्ष्णं मातुः प्रपतत्यकालेगर्भः,तथाऽतिमात्रसङ्क्षोभिभिर्यानैर्यानेन, अप्रियातिमात्रश्रवणैर्वा| प्रततोत्तानशायिन्याः पुनर्गर्भस्य नाभ्याश्रया नाडी कण्ठमनुवेष्टयति, विवृतशायिनी नक्तञ्चारिणी चोन्मत्तं जनयति,अपस्मारिणं पुनः कलिकलहशीला, व्यवायशीला दुर्वपुषमह्रीकं स्त्रैणं वा, शोकनित्या भीतमपचितमल्पायुषं वा, अभिध्यात्री [२]परोपतापिनमीर्ष्युं स्त्रैणं वा, स्तेना त्वायासबहुलमतिद्रोहिणमकर्मशीलं वा, अमर्षिणी चण्डमौपधिकमसूयकं वा स्वप्ननित्यातन्द्रालुमबुधमल्पाग्निं वा, मद्यनित्या पिपासालुमल्पस्मृतिमनवस्थितचित्तं वा, गोधामांसप्राया [३] शार्करिणमश्मरिणंशनैर्मेहिणं वा, वराहमांसप्राया रक्ताक्षं क्रथनमतिपरुषरोमाणं वा, मत्स्यमांसनित्या चिरनिमेषं स्तब्धाक्षं वा, मधुरनित्याप्रमेहिणं मूकमतिस्थूलं वा, अम्लनित्या रक्तपित्तिनं त्वगक्षिरोगिणं वा, लवणनित्या शीघ्रवलीपलितं खालित्यरोगिणं वा,कटुकनित्या दुर्बलमल्पशुक्रमनपत्यं वा, तिक्तनित्या शोषिणमबलमनुपचितं वा, कषायनित्या श्यावमानाहिनमुदावर्तिनं वा,यद्यच्च यस्य यस्य व्याधेर्निदानमुक्तं तत्तदासेवमानाऽन्तर्वत्नी तन्निमित्तविकारबहुलमपत्यं जनयति| पितृजास्तु शुक्रदोषा मातृजैरपचारैर्व्याख्याताः| इति गर्भोपघातकरा भावा भवन्त्युक्ताः [४] | तस्मादहितानाहारविहारान् प्रजासम्पदमिच्छन्ती स्त्री विशेषेण वर्जयेत्| साध्वाचारा चात्मानमुपचरेद्धिताभ्यामाहारविहाराभ्यामिति ||२१||

sanskrit

[Factors that could damage or destroy the embryo] The following factors may damage or destroy the embryo/fetus: a woman who sits in awkward positions, on uneven and hard seats, or suppresses the urge to pass flatulence, urine and bowel movement, or indulges in intensive or extreme forms of physical activities, or is excessively addicted to consuming pungent and hot things, or eats very sparingly. In such scenarios, her fetus could dry up in the womb or get delivered prematurely, or atrophy. Similarly, by suffering repeated trauma or similar injuries, or on looking down from heights (e.g., from mountain-tops or cliffs, deep wells, etc.), the expectant mother is liable to miscarry. Similarly, she is liable to miscarry if she travels long distances in excessively jerky carriages, or is exposed to, for prolonged periods of time, loud and unpleasant noise. By constantly resting or sleeping on her back, the umbilical cord attached to the fetus winds itself round the throat of the fetus, thus tending to strangulate it (so pregnant woman should avoid such posture). Similarly, a woman who sleeps in open air or is used to walking at night is prone to giving birth to a mentally-challenged child. If the woman indulges in too much of quarrels and fights, the child could become epileptic. A woman who indulges in sexual practice excessively (or a nymphomaniac) will give birth to truant with a passion for women. A woman under constant grief would give birth to a timid, or under-developed or short-lived child. A woman who always thinks ill of others will give birth to a delinquent or an anti-social. A woman who is a thief will give birth to a lazy child who is wicked and inept, while an intolerant woman would give birth to a child who is of fierce, deceitful and jealous nature. A woman who sleeps for long hours would give birth to a dull and unwise child with poor digestive powers, while a woman addicted to wines to a child who is ever-thirsty and fickle minded. A woman who consumes flesh and meat of godha (iguana) would give birth to a child afflicted with stones or shanairmeha (a type of urinary disorder where dribbling is seen), while a woman used to consume pork frequently would give birth to a child with red eyes, rough body-hair, and prone to suffering from severe respiratory disorders. A woman used to consume fish excessively would give birth to a child with lagophthalmos and related eye disorders, while a woman used to eating a lot of sweets is prone to giving birth to a dumb or excessively obese child or a child afflicted with diabetes. A woman fond of sour things is prone to giving birth to an offspring suffering from bleeding disorders or diseases of skin and eyes, while a woman addicted to salt or salty food articles may give birth to a child with early onset of wrinkles, grey hair or baldness. A woman used to pungent substances in excess may give birth to a weak child, deficient in semen and impotent, while a woman using bitter substances in excess may give birth to a child with emaciated, weak or undeveloped body. A woman habituated to excessive use of astringents may give birth to a child with blackish complexion, suffering from constipation and udavarta (misperistalsis). In summary, a pregnant woman indulging in unhealthy dietary and lifestyle activities that could cause certain diseases would increase the risk of her off spring getting afflicted with similar (or more virulent) disorders. From the father’s side, defects in semen could occur due to above mentioned factors for mother. Hence, a woman desirous of a child with excellent qualities should abstain from all forms of addictions as well as unhealthy dietary and lifestyle activities.

english translation

garbhopaghAtakarAstvime bhAvA bhavanti; tadyathA utkaTaviSamakaThinAsanasevinyA [1] vAtamUtrapurISavegAnuparundhatyAdAruNAnucitavyAyAmasevinyAstIkSNoSNAtimAtrasevinyAH pramitAzanasevinyA garbho mriyate'ntaH kukSeH, akAle vA sraMsate,zoSI vA bhavati; tathA'bhighAtaprapIDanaiH zvabhrakUpaprapAtadezAvalokanairvA'bhIkSNaM mAtuH prapatatyakAlegarbhaH,tathA'timAtrasaGkSobhibhiryAnairyAnena, apriyAtimAtrazravaNairvA| pratatottAnazAyinyAH punargarbhasya nAbhyAzrayA nADI kaNThamanuveSTayati, vivRtazAyinI naktaJcAriNI conmattaM janayati,apasmAriNaM punaH kalikalahazIlA, vyavAyazIlA durvapuSamahrIkaM straiNaM vA, zokanityA bhItamapacitamalpAyuSaM vA, abhidhyAtrI [2]paropatApinamIrSyuM straiNaM vA, stenA tvAyAsabahulamatidrohiNamakarmazIlaM vA, amarSiNI caNDamaupadhikamasUyakaM vA svapnanityAtandrAlumabudhamalpAgniM vA, madyanityA pipAsAlumalpasmRtimanavasthitacittaM vA, godhAmAMsaprAyA [3] zArkariNamazmariNaMzanairmehiNaM vA, varAhamAMsaprAyA raktAkSaM krathanamatiparuSaromANaM vA, matsyamAMsanityA ciranimeSaM stabdhAkSaM vA, madhuranityApramehiNaM mUkamatisthUlaM vA, amlanityA raktapittinaM tvagakSirogiNaM vA, lavaNanityA zIghravalIpalitaM khAlityarogiNaM vA,kaTukanityA durbalamalpazukramanapatyaM vA, tiktanityA zoSiNamabalamanupacitaM vA, kaSAyanityA zyAvamAnAhinamudAvartinaM vA,yadyacca yasya yasya vyAdhernidAnamuktaM tattadAsevamAnA'ntarvatnI tannimittavikArabahulamapatyaM janayati| pitRjAstu zukradoSA mAtRjairapacArairvyAkhyAtAH| iti garbhopaghAtakarA bhAvA bhavantyuktAH [4] | tasmAdahitAnAhAravihArAn prajAsampadamicchantI strI vizeSeNa varjayet| sAdhvAcArA cAtmAnamupacareddhitAbhyAmAhAravihArAbhyAmiti ||21||

hk transliteration

siva.sh/caraka-samhita/sharira-sthana/8/22

व्याधींश्चास्या मृदुमधुरशिशिरसुखसुकुमारप्रायैरौषधाहारोपचारैरुपचरेत्, न चास्या वमनविरेचनशिरोविरेचनानि प्रयोजयेत्, नरक्तमवसेचयेत्, सर्वकालं च नास्थापनमनुवासनं वा कुर्यादन्यत्रात्ययिकाद्व्याधेः| अष्टमं मासमुपादाय वमनादिसाध्येषु पुनर्विकारेष्वात्ययिकेषु मृदुभिर्वमनादिभिस्तदर्थकारिभिर्वोपचारः स्यात्| पूर्णमिव तैलपात्रमसङ्क्षोभयताऽन्तर्वत्नी [१] भवत्युपचर्या ||२२||

sanskrit

[Treating pregnant women afflicted with ailments] Any ailment or disease afflicting a pregnant woman should be treated very delicately, by means of medicaments and diet that are mainly soft, palatable, cooling, pleasant and mild. She should not be subjected to emetics, purgatives, or nasya (errhines), or to practices such as bloodletting. She should not be, at any time, administered corrective and unctuous enema, except in very serious emergency situations. In her final trimester, the pregnant woman, if in emergency conditions wherein emesis is urgently required, should only be treated by means of very mild emetics etc., or by its substitutes. A pregnant woman should be handled like a pot brimful of oil, which can spill on irritation i.e., very delicately.

english translation

vyAdhIMzcAsyA mRdumadhurazizirasukhasukumAraprAyairauSadhAhAropacArairupacaret, na cAsyA vamanavirecanazirovirecanAni prayojayet, naraktamavasecayet, sarvakAlaM ca nAsthApanamanuvAsanaM vA kuryAdanyatrAtyayikAdvyAdheH| aSTamaM mAsamupAdAya vamanAdisAdhyeSu punarvikAreSvAtyayikeSu mRdubhirvamanAdibhistadarthakAribhirvopacAraH syAt| pUrNamiva tailapAtramasaGkSobhayatA'ntarvatnI [1] bhavatyupacaryA ||22||

hk transliteration

siva.sh/caraka-samhita/sharira-sthana/8/23

सा चेदपचाराद् द्वयोस्त्रिषु वा मासेषु पुष्पं पश्येन्नास्या गर्भः स्थास्यतीति विद्यात्; अजातसारो हि तस्मिन् काले भवतिगर्भः ||२३||

sanskrit

[Occurrences of bleeding during pregnancy] If, as the result of wrongful behavior, bleeding occurs in a pregnant woman either in the second or third month, one should conclude that the conception will not be sustainable, as the embryo during this period is still immature.

english translation

sA cedapacArAd dvayostriSu vA mAseSu puSpaM pazyennAsyA garbhaH sthAsyatIti vidyAt; ajAtasAro hi tasmin kAle bhavatigarbhaH ||23||

hk transliteration

siva.sh/caraka-samhita/sharira-sthana/8/24

सा चेच्चतुष्प्रभृतिषु मासेषुक्रोधशोकासूयेर्ष्याभयत्रासव्यवायव्यायामसङ्क्षोभसन्धारणविषमाशनशयनस्थानक्षुत्पिपासातियोगात् कदाहाराद्वा पुष्पंपश्येत्, तस्या गर्भस्थापनविधिमुपदेक्ष्यामः| पुष्पदर्शनादेवैनां ब्रूयात्- शयनं तावन्मृदुसुखशिशिरास्तरणसंस्तीर्णमीषदवनतशिरस्कं प्रतिपद्यस्वेति| ततो यष्टीमधुकसर्पिर्भ्यां परमशिशिरवारिणी संस्थिताभ्यां पिचुमाप्लाव्योपस्थसमीपे स्थापयेत्तस्याः, तथाशतधौतसहस्रधौताभ्यां सर्पिर्भ्यामधोनाभेः सर्वतः प्रदिह्यात्, सर्वतश्च गव्येन चैनां पयसा सुशीतेन मधुकाम्बुना वान्यग्रोधादिकषायेण वा परिषेचयेदधो नाभेः, उदकं वा सुशीतमवगाहयेत्, क्षीरिणां कषायद्रुमाणां च स्वरसपरिपीतानि चेलानि [२]ग्राहयेत्, न्यग्रोधादिशुङ्गासिद्धयोर्वाक्षीरसर्पिषोः पिचुं ग्राहयेत्, अतश्चैवाक्षमात्रं प्राशयेत्, प्राशयेद्वा केवलं क्षीरसर्पिः,पद्मोत्पलकुमुदकिञ्जल्कांश्चास्यै समधुशर्करान् लेहार्थं दद्यात्, शृङ्गाटकपुष्करबीजकशेरुकान् भक्ष्णार्थं,गन्धप्रियङ्ग्वसितोत्पलशालूकोदुम्बरशलाटुन्यग्रोधशुङ्गानि वा पाययेदेनामाजेन पयसा, पयसा चैनांबलातिबलाशालिषष्टिकेक्षुमूलकाकोलीशृतेन समधुशर्करं रक्तशालीनामोदनं मृदुसुरभिशीतलं भोजयेत्,लावकपिञ्जलकुरङ्गशम्बरशशहरिणैणकालपुच्छकरसेन वा घृतसुसंस्कृतेन सुखशिशिरोपवातदेशस्थां भोजयेत्,क्रोधशोकायासव्यवायव्यायामेभ्यश्चाभिरक्षेत्, सौम्याभिश्चैनां कथाभिर्मनोनुकूलाभिरुपासीत; तथाऽस्या गर्भस्तिष्ठति ||२४||

sanskrit

If the pregnant woman, in her second trimester or later, as a consequence of excessive anger, grief, intolerance, envy, fear, sex, exercise, agitation, suppression of body urges, faulty eating, faulty lying down and standing habits, excessive hunger and thirst or as the result of malnutrition, starts to bleed, then the following course of treatment should be adopted to safeguard the conception from any mishap: • As soon as the blood discharge is noticed, the patient should be instructed to lie down on a soft and comfortable couch with her head placed slightly lower than the rest of her body. • The physician should then place a cotton swab, immersed in medicated ghee prepared with yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabraLinn) and then kept in cold water, near or in the vaginal passage. She should also be annointed with shatadhauta or sahasradhauta ghrita (ghee washed a hundred or a thousand times with water or medicated decoctions) on or below the navel region. Similarly, she could also be sprinkled with cold milk or decoction of madhuka and nyagrodhadi class of (Ficusbengalensis Linn) herbs on or below her navel region, or she should take bath in tub of cold water. Cloth pieces soaked in the juice of ksheerivriksha (latex-yielding trees) class of herbs, or a cotton swab soaked in milk and ghee processed with leaf-buds of nyagrodhadi (Ficusbengalensis Linn) class of drugs should be inserted into her vagina. She should also consume ghee made up of milk in a quantity of aksha (about 10-12 ml) and treated with the same drugs as mentioned above. She should be offered a concoction made up of stamens of kamala (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.), utpala (Nymphaea alba Linn), and kumuda (a variety of Nymphaea species), mixed with honey and sugar linctus. She should eat singhataka (Trapabispinosa Roxb. – chestnut), pushkarabeeja (lotus seeds –Nelumbonucifera Gaertn.) and kasheruka (Scirpusgrossus Linn. f.). She may be given goat’s milk boiled with gandhapriyangu (Callicarpamacrophylla Vahl.), nilotpala (blue variety of Nymphaeaalba Linn), shaluka (rhizome of lotus), fruits of udumbara (Ficusracemosa Linn.) and leaf-buds of nyagrodha (Ficusbengalensis Linn). She should eat soft, fragrant and cooked shali rice of red variety (Orizasativa Linn.), added with honey and sugar along with milk boiled with roots of bala (Sidacordifolia Linn.), atibala (Abutilonindicum Linn.), shali, sashtika (both varieties of Orizasativa Linn.) ikshu (sugarcane- Saccharumofficinarum Linn.), and kakoli. Or she should eat the above rice along with the soup made of meat that is well-seasoned with ghee, of lava (Common Quail), kapinjala (Grey Partridge), kuranga (Roe deer), sambara (Indian Sambar), shasha (Rabbit), harina (Black Buck), ena (Antelope) orkalapuchchaka (Black tailed Deer), while sitting comfortably in a cool and well ventilated place. She should be protected from anger, grief, overexertion, activities that are sexual or intensely physical in nature, and should be entertained with pleasing and comforting stories. By following these methods, the embryo (garbha) is saved from abortion.

english translation

sA ceccatuSprabhRtiSu mAseSukrodhazokAsUyerSyAbhayatrAsavyavAyavyAyAmasaGkSobhasandhAraNaviSamAzanazayanasthAnakSutpipAsAtiyogAt kadAhArAdvA puSpaMpazyet, tasyA garbhasthApanavidhimupadekSyAmaH| puSpadarzanAdevainAM brUyAt- zayanaM tAvanmRdusukhazizirAstaraNasaMstIrNamISadavanataziraskaM pratipadyasveti| tato yaSTImadhukasarpirbhyAM paramaziziravAriNI saMsthitAbhyAM picumAplAvyopasthasamIpe sthApayettasyAH, tathAzatadhautasahasradhautAbhyAM sarpirbhyAmadhonAbheH sarvataH pradihyAt, sarvatazca gavyena cainAM payasA suzItena madhukAmbunA vAnyagrodhAdikaSAyeNa vA pariSecayedadho nAbheH, udakaM vA suzItamavagAhayet, kSIriNAM kaSAyadrumANAM ca svarasaparipItAni celAni [2]grAhayet, nyagrodhAdizuGgAsiddhayorvAkSIrasarpiSoH picuM grAhayet, atazcaivAkSamAtraM prAzayet, prAzayedvA kevalaM kSIrasarpiH,padmotpalakumudakiJjalkAMzcAsyai samadhuzarkarAn lehArthaM dadyAt, zRGgATakapuSkarabIjakazerukAn bhakSNArthaM,gandhapriyaGgvasitotpalazAlUkodumbarazalATunyagrodhazuGgAni vA pAyayedenAmAjena payasA, payasA cainAMbalAtibalAzAliSaSTikekSumUlakAkolIzRtena samadhuzarkaraM raktazAlInAmodanaM mRdusurabhizItalaM bhojayet,lAvakapiJjalakuraGgazambarazazahariNaiNakAlapucchakarasena vA ghRtasusaMskRtena sukhaziziropavAtadezasthAM bhojayet,krodhazokAyAsavyavAyavyAyAmebhyazcAbhirakSet, saumyAbhizcainAM kathAbhirmanonukUlAbhirupAsIta; tathA'syA garbhastiSThati ||24||

hk transliteration

siva.sh/caraka-samhita/sharira-sthana/8/25

यस्याः पुनरामान्वयात् पुष्पदर्शनं स्यात्, प्रायस्तस्यास्तद्गर्भोपघातकरं भवति, विरुद्धोपक्रमत्वात्तयोः ||२५||

sanskrit

If vaginal bleeding occurs as the result of ama (indigestion), there is a very high probability of miscarriage and abortion of the foetus and it may not be avoidable, because the two disorders (vaginal bleeding and indigestion) require mutually opposite treatments.

english translation

yasyAH punarAmAnvayAt puSpadarzanaM syAt, prAyastasyAstadgarbhopaghAtakaraM bhavati, viruddhopakramatvAttayoH ||25||

hk transliteration

siva.sh/caraka-samhita/sharira-sthana/8/21

गर्भोपघातकरास्त्विमे भावा भवन्ति; तद्यथा उत्कटविषमकठिनासनसेविन्या [१] वातमूत्रपुरीषवेगानुपरुन्धत्यादारुणानुचितव्यायामसेविन्यास्तीक्ष्णोष्णातिमात्रसेविन्याः प्रमिताशनसेविन्या गर्भो म्रियतेऽन्तः कुक्षेः, अकाले वा स्रंसते,शोषी वा भवति; तथाऽभिघातप्रपीडनैः श्वभ्रकूपप्रपातदेशावलोकनैर्वाऽभीक्ष्णं मातुः प्रपतत्यकालेगर्भः,तथाऽतिमात्रसङ्क्षोभिभिर्यानैर्यानेन, अप्रियातिमात्रश्रवणैर्वा| प्रततोत्तानशायिन्याः पुनर्गर्भस्य नाभ्याश्रया नाडी कण्ठमनुवेष्टयति, विवृतशायिनी नक्तञ्चारिणी चोन्मत्तं जनयति,अपस्मारिणं पुनः कलिकलहशीला, व्यवायशीला दुर्वपुषमह्रीकं स्त्रैणं वा, शोकनित्या भीतमपचितमल्पायुषं वा, अभिध्यात्री [२]परोपतापिनमीर्ष्युं स्त्रैणं वा, स्तेना त्वायासबहुलमतिद्रोहिणमकर्मशीलं वा, अमर्षिणी चण्डमौपधिकमसूयकं वा स्वप्ननित्यातन्द्रालुमबुधमल्पाग्निं वा, मद्यनित्या पिपासालुमल्पस्मृतिमनवस्थितचित्तं वा, गोधामांसप्राया [३] शार्करिणमश्मरिणंशनैर्मेहिणं वा, वराहमांसप्राया रक्ताक्षं क्रथनमतिपरुषरोमाणं वा, मत्स्यमांसनित्या चिरनिमेषं स्तब्धाक्षं वा, मधुरनित्याप्रमेहिणं मूकमतिस्थूलं वा, अम्लनित्या रक्तपित्तिनं त्वगक्षिरोगिणं वा, लवणनित्या शीघ्रवलीपलितं खालित्यरोगिणं वा,कटुकनित्या दुर्बलमल्पशुक्रमनपत्यं वा, तिक्तनित्या शोषिणमबलमनुपचितं वा, कषायनित्या श्यावमानाहिनमुदावर्तिनं वा,यद्यच्च यस्य यस्य व्याधेर्निदानमुक्तं तत्तदासेवमानाऽन्तर्वत्नी तन्निमित्तविकारबहुलमपत्यं जनयति| पितृजास्तु शुक्रदोषा मातृजैरपचारैर्व्याख्याताः| इति गर्भोपघातकरा भावा भवन्त्युक्ताः [४] | तस्मादहितानाहारविहारान् प्रजासम्पदमिच्छन्ती स्त्री विशेषेण वर्जयेत्| साध्वाचारा चात्मानमुपचरेद्धिताभ्यामाहारविहाराभ्यामिति ||२१||

sanskrit

[Factors that could damage or destroy the embryo] The following factors may damage or destroy the embryo/fetus: a woman who sits in awkward positions, on uneven and hard seats, or suppresses the urge to pass flatulence, urine and bowel movement, or indulges in intensive or extreme forms of physical activities, or is excessively addicted to consuming pungent and hot things, or eats very sparingly. In such scenarios, her fetus could dry up in the womb or get delivered prematurely, or atrophy. Similarly, by suffering repeated trauma or similar injuries, or on looking down from heights (e.g., from mountain-tops or cliffs, deep wells, etc.), the expectant mother is liable to miscarry. Similarly, she is liable to miscarry if she travels long distances in excessively jerky carriages, or is exposed to, for prolonged periods of time, loud and unpleasant noise. By constantly resting or sleeping on her back, the umbilical cord attached to the fetus winds itself round the throat of the fetus, thus tending to strangulate it (so pregnant woman should avoid such posture). Similarly, a woman who sleeps in open air or is used to walking at night is prone to giving birth to a mentally-challenged child. If the woman indulges in too much of quarrels and fights, the child could become epileptic. A woman who indulges in sexual practice excessively (or a nymphomaniac) will give birth to truant with a passion for women. A woman under constant grief would give birth to a timid, or under-developed or short-lived child. A woman who always thinks ill of others will give birth to a delinquent or an anti-social. A woman who is a thief will give birth to a lazy child who is wicked and inept, while an intolerant woman would give birth to a child who is of fierce, deceitful and jealous nature. A woman who sleeps for long hours would give birth to a dull and unwise child with poor digestive powers, while a woman addicted to wines to a child who is ever-thirsty and fickle minded. A woman who consumes flesh and meat of godha (iguana) would give birth to a child afflicted with stones or shanairmeha (a type of urinary disorder where dribbling is seen), while a woman used to consume pork frequently would give birth to a child with red eyes, rough body-hair, and prone to suffering from severe respiratory disorders. A woman used to consume fish excessively would give birth to a child with lagophthalmos and related eye disorders, while a woman used to eating a lot of sweets is prone to giving birth to a dumb or excessively obese child or a child afflicted with diabetes. A woman fond of sour things is prone to giving birth to an offspring suffering from bleeding disorders or diseases of skin and eyes, while a woman addicted to salt or salty food articles may give birth to a child with early onset of wrinkles, grey hair or baldness. A woman used to pungent substances in excess may give birth to a weak child, deficient in semen and impotent, while a woman using bitter substances in excess may give birth to a child with emaciated, weak or undeveloped body. A woman habituated to excessive use of astringents may give birth to a child with blackish complexion, suffering from constipation and udavarta (misperistalsis). In summary, a pregnant woman indulging in unhealthy dietary and lifestyle activities that could cause certain diseases would increase the risk of her off spring getting afflicted with similar (or more virulent) disorders. From the father’s side, defects in semen could occur due to above mentioned factors for mother. Hence, a woman desirous of a child with excellent qualities should abstain from all forms of addictions as well as unhealthy dietary and lifestyle activities.

english translation

garbhopaghAtakarAstvime bhAvA bhavanti; tadyathA utkaTaviSamakaThinAsanasevinyA [1] vAtamUtrapurISavegAnuparundhatyAdAruNAnucitavyAyAmasevinyAstIkSNoSNAtimAtrasevinyAH pramitAzanasevinyA garbho mriyate'ntaH kukSeH, akAle vA sraMsate,zoSI vA bhavati; tathA'bhighAtaprapIDanaiH zvabhrakUpaprapAtadezAvalokanairvA'bhIkSNaM mAtuH prapatatyakAlegarbhaH,tathA'timAtrasaGkSobhibhiryAnairyAnena, apriyAtimAtrazravaNairvA| pratatottAnazAyinyAH punargarbhasya nAbhyAzrayA nADI kaNThamanuveSTayati, vivRtazAyinI naktaJcAriNI conmattaM janayati,apasmAriNaM punaH kalikalahazIlA, vyavAyazIlA durvapuSamahrIkaM straiNaM vA, zokanityA bhItamapacitamalpAyuSaM vA, abhidhyAtrI [2]paropatApinamIrSyuM straiNaM vA, stenA tvAyAsabahulamatidrohiNamakarmazIlaM vA, amarSiNI caNDamaupadhikamasUyakaM vA svapnanityAtandrAlumabudhamalpAgniM vA, madyanityA pipAsAlumalpasmRtimanavasthitacittaM vA, godhAmAMsaprAyA [3] zArkariNamazmariNaMzanairmehiNaM vA, varAhamAMsaprAyA raktAkSaM krathanamatiparuSaromANaM vA, matsyamAMsanityA ciranimeSaM stabdhAkSaM vA, madhuranityApramehiNaM mUkamatisthUlaM vA, amlanityA raktapittinaM tvagakSirogiNaM vA, lavaNanityA zIghravalIpalitaM khAlityarogiNaM vA,kaTukanityA durbalamalpazukramanapatyaM vA, tiktanityA zoSiNamabalamanupacitaM vA, kaSAyanityA zyAvamAnAhinamudAvartinaM vA,yadyacca yasya yasya vyAdhernidAnamuktaM tattadAsevamAnA'ntarvatnI tannimittavikArabahulamapatyaM janayati| pitRjAstu zukradoSA mAtRjairapacArairvyAkhyAtAH| iti garbhopaghAtakarA bhAvA bhavantyuktAH [4] | tasmAdahitAnAhAravihArAn prajAsampadamicchantI strI vizeSeNa varjayet| sAdhvAcArA cAtmAnamupacareddhitAbhyAmAhAravihArAbhyAmiti ||21||

hk transliteration

siva.sh/caraka-samhita/sharira-sthana/8/22

व्याधींश्चास्या मृदुमधुरशिशिरसुखसुकुमारप्रायैरौषधाहारोपचारैरुपचरेत्, न चास्या वमनविरेचनशिरोविरेचनानि प्रयोजयेत्, नरक्तमवसेचयेत्, सर्वकालं च नास्थापनमनुवासनं वा कुर्यादन्यत्रात्ययिकाद्व्याधेः| अष्टमं मासमुपादाय वमनादिसाध्येषु पुनर्विकारेष्वात्ययिकेषु मृदुभिर्वमनादिभिस्तदर्थकारिभिर्वोपचारः स्यात्| पूर्णमिव तैलपात्रमसङ्क्षोभयताऽन्तर्वत्नी [१] भवत्युपचर्या ||२२||

sanskrit

[Treating pregnant women afflicted with ailments] Any ailment or disease afflicting a pregnant woman should be treated very delicately, by means of medicaments and diet that are mainly soft, palatable, cooling, pleasant and mild. She should not be subjected to emetics, purgatives, or nasya (errhines), or to practices such as bloodletting. She should not be, at any time, administered corrective and unctuous enema, except in very serious emergency situations. In her final trimester, the pregnant woman, if in emergency conditions wherein emesis is urgently required, should only be treated by means of very mild emetics etc., or by its substitutes. A pregnant woman should be handled like a pot brimful of oil, which can spill on irritation i.e., very delicately.

english translation

vyAdhIMzcAsyA mRdumadhurazizirasukhasukumAraprAyairauSadhAhAropacArairupacaret, na cAsyA vamanavirecanazirovirecanAni prayojayet, naraktamavasecayet, sarvakAlaM ca nAsthApanamanuvAsanaM vA kuryAdanyatrAtyayikAdvyAdheH| aSTamaM mAsamupAdAya vamanAdisAdhyeSu punarvikAreSvAtyayikeSu mRdubhirvamanAdibhistadarthakAribhirvopacAraH syAt| pUrNamiva tailapAtramasaGkSobhayatA'ntarvatnI [1] bhavatyupacaryA ||22||

hk transliteration

siva.sh/caraka-samhita/sharira-sthana/8/23

सा चेदपचाराद् द्वयोस्त्रिषु वा मासेषु पुष्पं पश्येन्नास्या गर्भः स्थास्यतीति विद्यात्; अजातसारो हि तस्मिन् काले भवतिगर्भः ||२३||

sanskrit

[Occurrences of bleeding during pregnancy] If, as the result of wrongful behavior, bleeding occurs in a pregnant woman either in the second or third month, one should conclude that the conception will not be sustainable, as the embryo during this period is still immature.

english translation

sA cedapacArAd dvayostriSu vA mAseSu puSpaM pazyennAsyA garbhaH sthAsyatIti vidyAt; ajAtasAro hi tasmin kAle bhavatigarbhaH ||23||

hk transliteration

siva.sh/caraka-samhita/sharira-sthana/8/24

सा चेच्चतुष्प्रभृतिषु मासेषुक्रोधशोकासूयेर्ष्याभयत्रासव्यवायव्यायामसङ्क्षोभसन्धारणविषमाशनशयनस्थानक्षुत्पिपासातियोगात् कदाहाराद्वा पुष्पंपश्येत्, तस्या गर्भस्थापनविधिमुपदेक्ष्यामः| पुष्पदर्शनादेवैनां ब्रूयात्- शयनं तावन्मृदुसुखशिशिरास्तरणसंस्तीर्णमीषदवनतशिरस्कं प्रतिपद्यस्वेति| ततो यष्टीमधुकसर्पिर्भ्यां परमशिशिरवारिणी संस्थिताभ्यां पिचुमाप्लाव्योपस्थसमीपे स्थापयेत्तस्याः, तथाशतधौतसहस्रधौताभ्यां सर्पिर्भ्यामधोनाभेः सर्वतः प्रदिह्यात्, सर्वतश्च गव्येन चैनां पयसा सुशीतेन मधुकाम्बुना वान्यग्रोधादिकषायेण वा परिषेचयेदधो नाभेः, उदकं वा सुशीतमवगाहयेत्, क्षीरिणां कषायद्रुमाणां च स्वरसपरिपीतानि चेलानि [२]ग्राहयेत्, न्यग्रोधादिशुङ्गासिद्धयोर्वाक्षीरसर्पिषोः पिचुं ग्राहयेत्, अतश्चैवाक्षमात्रं प्राशयेत्, प्राशयेद्वा केवलं क्षीरसर्पिः,पद्मोत्पलकुमुदकिञ्जल्कांश्चास्यै समधुशर्करान् लेहार्थं दद्यात्, शृङ्गाटकपुष्करबीजकशेरुकान् भक्ष्णार्थं,गन्धप्रियङ्ग्वसितोत्पलशालूकोदुम्बरशलाटुन्यग्रोधशुङ्गानि वा पाययेदेनामाजेन पयसा, पयसा चैनांबलातिबलाशालिषष्टिकेक्षुमूलकाकोलीशृतेन समधुशर्करं रक्तशालीनामोदनं मृदुसुरभिशीतलं भोजयेत्,लावकपिञ्जलकुरङ्गशम्बरशशहरिणैणकालपुच्छकरसेन वा घृतसुसंस्कृतेन सुखशिशिरोपवातदेशस्थां भोजयेत्,क्रोधशोकायासव्यवायव्यायामेभ्यश्चाभिरक्षेत्, सौम्याभिश्चैनां कथाभिर्मनोनुकूलाभिरुपासीत; तथाऽस्या गर्भस्तिष्ठति ||२४||

sanskrit

If the pregnant woman, in her second trimester or later, as a consequence of excessive anger, grief, intolerance, envy, fear, sex, exercise, agitation, suppression of body urges, faulty eating, faulty lying down and standing habits, excessive hunger and thirst or as the result of malnutrition, starts to bleed, then the following course of treatment should be adopted to safeguard the conception from any mishap: • As soon as the blood discharge is noticed, the patient should be instructed to lie down on a soft and comfortable couch with her head placed slightly lower than the rest of her body. • The physician should then place a cotton swab, immersed in medicated ghee prepared with yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabraLinn) and then kept in cold water, near or in the vaginal passage. She should also be annointed with shatadhauta or sahasradhauta ghrita (ghee washed a hundred or a thousand times with water or medicated decoctions) on or below the navel region. Similarly, she could also be sprinkled with cold milk or decoction of madhuka and nyagrodhadi class of (Ficusbengalensis Linn) herbs on or below her navel region, or she should take bath in tub of cold water. Cloth pieces soaked in the juice of ksheerivriksha (latex-yielding trees) class of herbs, or a cotton swab soaked in milk and ghee processed with leaf-buds of nyagrodhadi (Ficusbengalensis Linn) class of drugs should be inserted into her vagina. She should also consume ghee made up of milk in a quantity of aksha (about 10-12 ml) and treated with the same drugs as mentioned above. She should be offered a concoction made up of stamens of kamala (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.), utpala (Nymphaea alba Linn), and kumuda (a variety of Nymphaea species), mixed with honey and sugar linctus. She should eat singhataka (Trapabispinosa Roxb. – chestnut), pushkarabeeja (lotus seeds –Nelumbonucifera Gaertn.) and kasheruka (Scirpusgrossus Linn. f.). She may be given goat’s milk boiled with gandhapriyangu (Callicarpamacrophylla Vahl.), nilotpala (blue variety of Nymphaeaalba Linn), shaluka (rhizome of lotus), fruits of udumbara (Ficusracemosa Linn.) and leaf-buds of nyagrodha (Ficusbengalensis Linn). She should eat soft, fragrant and cooked shali rice of red variety (Orizasativa Linn.), added with honey and sugar along with milk boiled with roots of bala (Sidacordifolia Linn.), atibala (Abutilonindicum Linn.), shali, sashtika (both varieties of Orizasativa Linn.) ikshu (sugarcane- Saccharumofficinarum Linn.), and kakoli. Or she should eat the above rice along with the soup made of meat that is well-seasoned with ghee, of lava (Common Quail), kapinjala (Grey Partridge), kuranga (Roe deer), sambara (Indian Sambar), shasha (Rabbit), harina (Black Buck), ena (Antelope) orkalapuchchaka (Black tailed Deer), while sitting comfortably in a cool and well ventilated place. She should be protected from anger, grief, overexertion, activities that are sexual or intensely physical in nature, and should be entertained with pleasing and comforting stories. By following these methods, the embryo (garbha) is saved from abortion.

english translation

sA ceccatuSprabhRtiSu mAseSukrodhazokAsUyerSyAbhayatrAsavyavAyavyAyAmasaGkSobhasandhAraNaviSamAzanazayanasthAnakSutpipAsAtiyogAt kadAhArAdvA puSpaMpazyet, tasyA garbhasthApanavidhimupadekSyAmaH| puSpadarzanAdevainAM brUyAt- zayanaM tAvanmRdusukhazizirAstaraNasaMstIrNamISadavanataziraskaM pratipadyasveti| tato yaSTImadhukasarpirbhyAM paramaziziravAriNI saMsthitAbhyAM picumAplAvyopasthasamIpe sthApayettasyAH, tathAzatadhautasahasradhautAbhyAM sarpirbhyAmadhonAbheH sarvataH pradihyAt, sarvatazca gavyena cainAM payasA suzItena madhukAmbunA vAnyagrodhAdikaSAyeNa vA pariSecayedadho nAbheH, udakaM vA suzItamavagAhayet, kSIriNAM kaSAyadrumANAM ca svarasaparipItAni celAni [2]grAhayet, nyagrodhAdizuGgAsiddhayorvAkSIrasarpiSoH picuM grAhayet, atazcaivAkSamAtraM prAzayet, prAzayedvA kevalaM kSIrasarpiH,padmotpalakumudakiJjalkAMzcAsyai samadhuzarkarAn lehArthaM dadyAt, zRGgATakapuSkarabIjakazerukAn bhakSNArthaM,gandhapriyaGgvasitotpalazAlUkodumbarazalATunyagrodhazuGgAni vA pAyayedenAmAjena payasA, payasA cainAMbalAtibalAzAliSaSTikekSumUlakAkolIzRtena samadhuzarkaraM raktazAlInAmodanaM mRdusurabhizItalaM bhojayet,lAvakapiJjalakuraGgazambarazazahariNaiNakAlapucchakarasena vA ghRtasusaMskRtena sukhaziziropavAtadezasthAM bhojayet,krodhazokAyAsavyavAyavyAyAmebhyazcAbhirakSet, saumyAbhizcainAM kathAbhirmanonukUlAbhirupAsIta; tathA'syA garbhastiSThati ||24||

hk transliteration

siva.sh/caraka-samhita/sharira-sthana/8/25

यस्याः पुनरामान्वयात् पुष्पदर्शनं स्यात्, प्रायस्तस्यास्तद्गर्भोपघातकरं भवति, विरुद्धोपक्रमत्वात्तयोः ||२५||

sanskrit

If vaginal bleeding occurs as the result of ama (indigestion), there is a very high probability of miscarriage and abortion of the foetus and it may not be avoidable, because the two disorders (vaginal bleeding and indigestion) require mutually opposite treatments.

english translation

yasyAH punarAmAnvayAt puSpadarzanaM syAt, prAyastasyAstadgarbhopaghAtakaraM bhavati, viruddhopakramatvAttayoH ||25||

hk transliteration