Sushruta Samhita

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अथातः क्षारपाकविधिमध्यायं व्याख्यास्यामः ॥१॥

Now, we shall expound the chapter on the method of preparing alkaline pastes.

english translation

यथोवाच भगवान् धन्वन्तरिः ॥२॥

As said by Lord Dhanvantari.

english translation

शस्त्रानुशस्त्रेभ्यः क्षारः प्रधानतमः, छेद्यभेद्यलेख्यकरणात् त्रिदोषघ्नत्वाद्विशेषक्रियावचारणाच्च ॥३॥

Among the sharp and blunt instruments, alkali is the most important, because it cuts, pierces, and scratches, because it destroys the three doshas, and because it is used for special procedures.

english translation

तत्र क्षरणात् क्षणनाद्वा क्षारः ॥४॥

There, it is a caustic substance because it is corrosive or because it corrodes.

english translation

नानौषधिसमवायात्त्रिदोषघ्नः , शुक्लत्वात् सौम्यः; तस्य सौम्यस्यापि सतो दहनपचनदारणादिशक्तिरविरुद्धा, आग्नेयौषधिगुणभूयिष्ठत्वात् कटुक उष्णस्तीक्ष्णः पाचनो विलयनः शोधनो रोपणः शोषणः स्तम्भनो लेखनः कृम्यामकफकुष्ठविषमेदसामुपहन्ता पुंस्त्वस्य चातिसेवितः ॥५॥

It is not contradictory that even that cool [fire] has the power to burn, cook, cut, etc., because it is mostly composed of the qualities of the fiery herbs. It is pungent, hot, sharp, digestive, liquefacient, purifying, healing, drying, astringent, scraping, destructive of worms, flatulence, phlegm, leprosy, poison, and fat, and when excessively used, it impairs virility.

english translation