Charak Samhita
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अथातो जनपदोद्ध्वंसनीयं विमानं व्याख्यास्यामः ॥१॥
Now we shall expound the chapter "Janapadodhvansaniya Vimana" (Determination of specific characteristics of destruction of communities). {Note: The term janapadodhvansa is a generic term for natural and man-made calamities, also implying epidemics.}
english translation
इति ह स्माह भगवानात्रेयः ॥२॥
Thus said Lord Atreya.
english translation
जनपदमण्डले पञ्चालक्षेत्रे द्विजातिवराध्युषिते काम्पिल्यराजधान्यां भगवान् पुनर्वसुरात्रेयोऽन्तेवासिगणपरिवृतः पश्चिमे घर्ममासे गङ्गातीरे वनविचारमनुविचरञ्छिष्यमग्निवेशमब्रवीत् ॥३॥
[Location of the discussion] Lord Atreya, while taking a stroll in the latter month of a summer, surrounded by his disciples, in the forest area near the banks of Ganga at Kampilya, capital city of Panchala region, which was the residence of the dwija (elite of the twice born communities like brahmins who adopt wearing of sacred thread on their body), thus turned to his disciple Agnivesha and said.
english translation
दृश्यन्ते हि खलु सौम्य! नक्षत्रग्रहगणचन्द्रसूर्यानिलानलानां दिशां चाप्रकृतिभूतानामृतुवैकारिका भावाः, अचिरादितो भूरपि च न यथावद्रसवीर्यविपाकप्रभावमोषधीनां प्रतिविधास्यति, तद्वियोगाच्चातङ्कप्रायता नियता। तस्मात् प्रागुद्ध्वंसात् प्राक् च भूमेर्विरसीभावादुद्धरध्वं सौम्य! भैषज्यानि यावन्नोपहतरसवीर्यविपाकप्रभावाणि भवन्ति। वयं षांरसवीर्यविपाकप्रभावानुपयोक्ष्यामहे ये चास्माननुकाङ्क्षन्ति, यांश्च वयमनुकाङ्क्षामः। न हि सम्यगुद्धृतेषु सौम्य! भैषज्येषु सम्यग्विहितेषु सम्यक् चावचारितेषु जनपदोद्ध्वंसकराणां विकाराणां किञ्चित् प्रतीकारगौरवं भवति ॥४॥
[Importance of timely drug collection] Gentle one (Agnivesha), the abnormal conditions of the stars, the planets, the Moon, the Sun, the wind, the fire and the directions seem to give us the ominous sign that there is going to be a derangement of seasons. As a result of this abnormality, the earth will fail to produce herbs possessing good qualities of rasa (taste), veerya (potency), vipaka (metabolism of diet and drugs), and prabhava (specific attribute). In consequence of these properties, spread of diseases is certain. Therefore, well before any calamities occur and well before the earth has lost its fertility, collect the medicinal herbs before they lose their rasa, veerya, vipaka and prabhava. We shall thus, when the occasion arises, make use of the drugs having optimum qualities for the benefit of those who seek us and also those whom we seek to help. There will not be any difficulty in counteracting any janapadodhvansa vyadhi (disease due to natural calamities or epidemics), if the drugs are properly collected well in advance, processed and administered.
english translation
एवं वादिनं भगवन्तमात्रेयमग्निवेश उवाच-उद्धृतानि खलु भगवन्! भैषज्यानि, सम्यग्विहितानि, सम्यगवचारितानि च; अपि तु खलु जनपदोद्ध्वंसनमेकेनैव व्याधिना युगपदसमानप्रकृत्याहारदेहबलसात्म्यसत्त्ववयसां मनुष्याणां कस्माद्भवतीति ॥५॥
[Agnivesha’s question] Agnivesha humbly submitted to Lord Atreya that such medicinal herbs have already been properly collected, processed and administered according to his instructions. He then asked Lord Atreya, “How does the simultaneous destruction of communities take place by the incidence of one single disease, in spite of individuals who differ from one another in their constitution, diet, physique, vitality, habits, psychic make up, and age?”
english translation