The Ayurveda of Horses and Elephants (Hayayurveda and Gajayurveda)

Verse 1 (garuda.1.201.1)

धन्वन्तरिरुवाच । हयायुर्वेदमाख्यास्ये हयं सर्वार्थलक्षणम् । काकतुण्डः कृष्णजिह्वो वृक्षास्यश्चोष्णतालुकः

dhanvantariruvāca hayāyurvedamākhyāsye hayaṁ sarvārthalakṣaṇam kākatuṇḍaḥ kṛṣṇajihvo vṛkṣāsyaścoṣṇatālukaḥ

Dhanvantari said: I shall now expound Hayayurveda, the science of horses, describing every mark by which a horse is judged good or bad. A horse with a crow-like muzzle, a black tongue, a tree-like elongated face, and a hot palate —

Verse 2 (garuda.1.201.2)

करालो हीनदन्तश्च शृङ्गी विरलदन्तकः । एकाण्डश्चैव जाताण्डः कञ्चुकी द्विखुरी स्तनी

karālo hīnadantaśca śṛṅgī viraladantakaḥ ekāṇḍaścaiva jātāṇḍaḥ kañcukī dvikhurī stanī

— one with a fearsome mouth and missing teeth, one that is horned, with widely-gapped teeth; one with a single testicle or born without one, one whose skin seems sheathed, one with double hooves, or one with teats —

Verse 3 (garuda.1.201.3)

मार्जारपादो व्याघ्राभः कुष्ठविद्रधिसन्निभः । यमजो वामनश्चैव मार्जारः कपिलोचनः

mārjārapādo vyāghrābhaḥ kuṣṭhavidradhisannibhaḥ yamajo vāmanaścaiva mārjāraḥ kapilocanaḥ

— one with cat-like feet, tiger-hued, resembling one afflicted with skin-disease or an abscess; one born a twin, a dwarf, cat-like, or one with tawny eyes — such horses are reckoned as flawed.

Verse 4 (garuda.1.201.4)

एतद्दोषी हयस्त्याज्य उत्तमोऽश्वस्तुरुष्कजः । मध्यमः पञ्चहस्तश्च कनीयांश्च त्रिहस्तकः

etaddoṣī hayastyājya uttamo'śvasturuṣkajaḥ madhyamaḥ pañcahastaśca kanīyāṁśca trihastakaḥ

A horse bearing these faults should be rejected. The finest horse is one born in the Turkish lands; the middling grade stands five cubits high, and the lowest grade three cubits.

Verse 5 (garuda.1.201.5)

असंहता ये च वाहा ह्रस्वकर्णास्तथैव च । शबलाभाः प्रभावेषु न दीनाश्चिरजीविनः

asaṁhatā ye ca vāhā hrasvakarṇāstathaiva ca śabalābhāḥ prabhāveṣu na dīnāścirajīvinaḥ

Horses whose limbs are not tightly knit, likewise those with short ears, and those of a dappled hue, are not lacking in vigor and live long.

Verse 6 (garuda.1.201.6)

रेवन्तपूजनाद्धोमाद्रक्ष्याश्च द्विजभाजेनात् । सरलं निम्बपत्राणि गुग्गुलं सर्षपान्घृतम्

revantapūjanāddhomādrakṣyāśca dvijabhājenāt saralaṁ nimbapatrāṇi guggulaṁ sarṣapānghṛtam

Horses should be protected through the worship of Lord Revanta and through fire-oblation, and through the blessing of Brahmins. Resin, neem leaves, guggulu, mustard, and ghee —

Verse 7 (garuda.1.201.7)

तिलञ्चैव वचां हिगुं बध्नीयाद्वाजिनो गले । आगन्तुजं दोषजन्तु व्रणं द्विविधमीरितम्

tilañcaiva vacāṁ higuṁ badhnīyādvājino gale āgantujaṁ doṣajantu vraṇaṁ dvividhamīritam

— together with sesame, vacha, and asafoetida should be bound around the horse's neck. A horse's wounds are said to be of two kinds: adventitious, from an external cause, and dosha-born, arising from the bodily humors.

Verse 8 (garuda.1.201.8)

चिरपाकं वातजन्तु श्लेष्मजं क्षिप्रपाककम् । कण्ठदाहात्मकं पित्ताच्छोणितान्मन्दवेदनम्

cirapākaṁ vātajantu śleṣmajaṁ kṣiprapākakam kaṇṭhadāhātmakaṁ pittācchoṇitānmandavedanam

A wound caused by wind ripens slowly, one caused by phlegm ripens quickly; one caused by bile produces a burning in the throat, and one caused by blood brings only mild pain.

Verse 9 (garuda.1.201.9)

आगन्तुजन्तु शस्त्राद्यैर्दुष्टव्रणविशोधनम् । एरण्डमूलं द्विनिशं चित्रकं विश्वभेषजम्

āgantujantu śastrādyairduṣṭavraṇaviśodhanam eraṇḍamūlaṁ dviniśaṁ citrakaṁ viśvabheṣajam

An adventitious wound should be cleansed of its corrupted part with the surgical knife and similar means. Castor root, a substance fermented two nights, chitraka, and dry ginger —

Verse 10 (garuda.1.201.10)

रसोनं सैन्धवं वापि तक्रकाञ्जिकपोषितम् । तिलसक्तुकपिण्डिका दधियुक्ता ससैन्धवा । निम्बपत्रयुतं पिण्डं व्रणशोधनरोपणम्

rasonaṁ saindhavaṁ vāpi takrakāñjikapoṣitam tilasaktukapiṇḍikā dadhiyuktā sasaindhavā nimbapatrayutaṁ piṇḍaṁ vraṇaśodhanaropaṇam

— along with garlic and rock salt steeped in buttermilk and fermented gruel, mixed into a paste of sesame flour, curd, rock salt, and neem leaves — this poultice cleanses the wound and heals it.

Verse 11 (garuda.1.201.11)

पटोलं निम्बपत्रञ्च वचा चित्रकमेव च । पिप्पलीशृङ्गवेरञ्च चूर्णमेकत्र कारयेत्

paṭolaṁ nimbapatrañca vacā citrakameva ca pippalīśṛṅgaverañca cūrṇamekatra kārayet

Patola, neem leaves, vacha and chitraka, together with pippali and ginger, should be made into a single powder.

Verse 12 (garuda.1.201.12)

एतत्पानात्क्रिमिश्लेष्ममन्दानिलविनाशनम् । निम्बपत्रं पटो लञ्च त्रिफला खदिरं तथा

etatpānātkrimiśleṣmamandānilavināśanam nimbapatraṁ paṭo lañca triphalā khadiraṁ tathā

By drinking this, worms, phlegm, and sluggish wind-disorders are destroyed. Neem leaves, patola, triphala, and khadira —

Verse 13 (garuda.1.201.13)

क्वाथयित्वा ततो वाहं सृतरक्तं विचक्षणः । त्र्यहमेव प्रिदातव्यं हयकुष्ठोपशान्तये

kvāthayitvā tato vāhaṁ sṛtaraktaṁ vicakṣaṇaḥ tryahameva pridātavyaṁ hayakuṣṭhopaśāntaye

— having decocted these, the skilled physician should give it for three days to the horse that has been bled, to calm its skin-disease.

Verse 14 (garuda.1.201.14)

सव्रणेषु च कुष्ठेषु तैलं सर्षपजं हितम् । लशुनादिकषायश्च पानभुक्त्युपशान्तये

savraṇeṣu ca kuṣṭheṣu tailaṁ sarṣapajaṁ hitam laśunādikaṣāyaśca pānabhuktyupaśāntaye

For wounds and skin-diseases, mustard oil is beneficial, and a decoction beginning with garlic, taken both as drink and food, brings pacification.

Verse 15 (garuda.1.201.15)

मातुलुङ्गरसोपेतं मांसीनां रसकेन वा । सद्यो दद्यात्तत्र नस्यमन्यैर्वातैः सुसंयुतैः

mātuluṅgarasopetaṁ māṁsīnāṁ rasakena vā sadyo dadyāttatra nasyamanyairvātaiḥ susaṁyutaiḥ

Combined with the juice of the citron or with the essence of jatamansi, this should promptly be given as nasal drops, well mixed with other wind-relieving substances.

Verse 16 (garuda.1.201.16)

पलद्वयं प्रथमेऽह्नि एकैकपलवृद्धितः । यावद्दिनानि पूर्णानि पलान्यष्टादशोत्तमे

paladvayaṁ prathame'hni ekaikapalavṛddhitaḥ yāvaddināni pūrṇāni palānyaṣṭādaśottame

On the first day give a dose of two palas, then increase it by one pala each day, until for the finest horse it reaches a full eighteen palas.

Verse 17 (garuda.1.201.17)

अधमेऽष्टपलानि स्युर्मध्यमे स्युश्चतुर्दश । शरन्निदाघयोर्नैवदेयं नैव तु दापयेत्

adhame'ṣṭapalāni syurmadhyame syuścaturdaśa śarannidāghayornaivadeyaṁ naiva tu dāpayet

For the lowest grade eight palas suffice, and for the middling, fourteen. In autumn and in summer it should never be given.

Verse 18 (garuda.1.201.18)

तैलेन वातिके रोगे शर्कराज्यपयोन्वितैः । कटुतैलैः कफे व्योषैः पित्ते चत्रिफलाम्बुभिः

tailena vātike roge śarkarājyapayonvitaiḥ kaṭutailaiḥ kaphe vyoṣaiḥ pitte catriphalāmbubhiḥ

In a wind-disease, give oil with sugar, ghee, and milk; in a phlegm-disease, with pungent oils and the three pungent spices; in a bile-disease, with triphala-water.

Verse 19 (garuda.1.201.19)

शालिषष्टिकदुग्धाशी हयो हिन जुगुप्सितः । पक्वजम्बूनिभो हेमवर्णोऽश्वो न जुगुप्सितः

śāliṣaṣṭikadugdhāśī hayo hina jugupsitaḥ pakvajambūnibho hemavarṇo'śvo na jugupsitaḥ

A horse that feeds on shali and shashtika rice with milk is commendable; likewise a horse the hue of ripe jambu-fruit, or of golden color, is not to be disparaged.

Verse 20 (garuda.1.201.20)

अर्धप्रहरणे धुर्ये गुग्गुलुं प्राशयेद्धयम् । भोजयेत्पायसं दुग्धं सत्वरं सुस्थिरो हयः

ardhapraharaṇe dhurye gugguluṁ prāśayeddhayam bhojayetpāyasaṁ dugdhaṁ satvaraṁ susthiro hayaḥ

At midday one should feed the draught-horse guggulu, and feed it milk-porridge — the horse then quickly grows steady and settled.

Verse 21 (garuda.1.201.21)

विकारे भोजने दुग्धं शाल्यन्नं वातले ददेत् । कर्षमांसरसैः पित्ते मधुमुद्गरसाज्यकैः

vikāre bhojane dugdhaṁ śālyannaṁ vātale dadet karṣamāṁsarasaiḥ pitte madhumudgarasājyakaiḥ

In case of disorder, for a wind-affliction give milk and shali-rice; for a bile-affliction, a karsha of meat-broth together with honey, mung-broth, and ghee.

Verse 22 (garuda.1.201.22)

कफे मुद्गान्कुलत्थान्वा कटुतिक्तान्कफे हये । बाधिर्ये व्याधिते ग्रासे त्रिदोषादौ तु गुग्गुलुः

kaphe mudgānkulatthānvā kaṭutiktānkaphe haye bādhirye vyādhite grāse tridoṣādau tu gugguluḥ

For phlegm, give mung beans or horse-gram, or pungent-bitter substances. For deafness, for a diseased appetite, and at the onset of a tridosha disorder, give guggulu.

Verse 23 (garuda.1.201.23)

घासैर्दूर्वा सर्वरोगे प्रथमेऽह्नि पलं ददेत् । विवर्धयेत्ततः कर्षमेकाह्नि पलपञ्चकम्

ghāsairdūrvā sarvaroge prathame'hni palaṁ dadet vivardhayettataḥ karṣamekāhni palapañcakam

With fodder, in every disease, one should give durva grass — one pala on the first day, then increasing by a karsha each day, up to five palas.

Verse 24 (garuda.1.201.24)

पाने च भोजने चैव अशीतिपलकं परम् । मध्ये षष्टिश्चाधमेषु चत्वारिंशच्च भोगिषु

pāne ca bhojane caiva aśītipalakaṁ param madhye ṣaṣṭiścādhameṣu catvāriṁśacca bhogiṣu

In both drink and food, the maximum is eighty palas; sixty for the middling, and forty for the lesser horses in ordinary use.

Verse 25 (garuda.1.201.25)

व्रणे कुष्ठेषु खञ्जेषु त्रिफलाक्वाथसंयुतम् । मन्दाग्नौ शोथरोगे च गवां मूत्रेण योजितम्

vraṇe kuṣṭheṣu khañjeṣu triphalākvāthasaṁyutam mandāgnau śotharoge ca gavāṁ mūtreṇa yojitam

For wounds, skin-disease, and lameness, combine it with a decoction of triphala; for weak digestion and for swelling-disease, combine it with cow's urine.

Verse 26 (garuda.1.201.26)

वातपित्ते व्रणे व्याधौ गोक्षीरं घृतसंयुतम् । देयं कृशानां पुष्ट्यर्थं मांसैर्युक्तं च भोजनम्

vātapitte vraṇe vyādhau gokṣīraṁ ghṛtasaṁyutam deyaṁ kṛśānāṁ puṣṭyarthaṁ māṁsairyuktaṁ ca bhojanam

For a wound-disease arising from wind and bile, give cow's milk with ghee; for the nourishment of emaciated horses, give food combined with meat.

Verse 27 (garuda.1.201.27)

सुपिष्टायाः प्रदातव्यं गुडूच्याः पलपञ्चकम् । प्रभाते घृतसंयुक्तं शरद्गीष्मे च वाजिनाम्

supiṣṭāyāḥ pradātavyaṁ guḍūcyāḥ palapañcakam prabhāte ghṛtasaṁyuktaṁ śaradgīṣme ca vājinām

Five palas of finely-ground guduchi, combined with ghee, should be given to horses in the morning, in autumn and summer.

Verse 28 (garuda.1.201.28)

रोगघ्नं पुष्टिदं चापि बलतेजोविवर्धनम् । तदेवाश्वायदातव्यं क्षीरयुक्तमथापि वा

rogaghnaṁ puṣṭidaṁ cāpi balatejovivardhanam tadevāśvāyadātavyaṁ kṣīrayuktamathāpi vā

It destroys disease, grants nourishment, and increases strength and vigor; this same preparation may also be given to the horse combined with milk.

Verse 29 (garuda.1.201.29)

गुडूचीकल्पयोगेन शतावर्यश्वगन्धयोः । चत्वारि त्रीणि मध्यस्य जघन्यस्य पलानि हि

guḍūcīkalpayogena śatāvaryaśvagandhayoḥ catvāri trīṇi madhyasya jaghanyasya palāni hi

Shatavari and ashvagandha too are given by the same method as guduchi — four palas for the best, three for the middling, and fewer for the lowest grade.

Verse 30 (garuda.1.201.30)

अकस्माद्यत्र वाहानामेकरूपं यदा भवेत् । म्रियते च यदा क्षिप्रमुपसर्गं तमादिशेत्

akasmādyatra vāhānāmekarūpaṁ yadā bhavet mriyate ca yadā kṣipramupasargaṁ tamādiśet

When among horses a uniform disease suddenly spreads and they begin to die quickly, this should be recognized as an upasarga, an epidemic visitation.

Verse 31 (garuda.1.201.31)

होमाद्यै रक्षया विप्रभोजनैर्बलिकर्मणा । शान्त्योपसर्गशान्तिः स्याद्धरीतक्यादिकल्पतः

homādyai rakṣayā viprabhojanairbalikarmaṇā śāntyopasargaśāntiḥ syāddharītakyādikalpataḥ

Through fire-offering, protective rites, feeding of Brahmins, and oblation, together with a peace-rite, that epidemic is pacified — and also through a preparation beginning with haritaki.

Verse 32 (garuda.1.201.32)

हरीतकी गवां मूत्रैस्तैलेन लवणान्विता । आदौ पञ्च ततः पञ्च वृद्ध्या पूर्णशतावधि । उत्तमा च शतं मात्रास्त्वशीतिः षष्टिरेव वा

harītakī gavāṁ mūtraistailena lavaṇānvitā ādau pañca tataḥ pañca vṛddhyā pūrṇaśatāvadhi uttamā ca śataṁ mātrāstvaśītiḥ ṣaṣṭireva vā

Haritaki combined with cow's urine, oil, and salt: first five palas, then increasing by five up to a full hundred; the best dose is a hundred measures, or eighty, or sixty.

Verse 33 (garuda.1.201.33)

गजायुर्वेदमाख्यास्ये उक्ताः कल्पा गजे हिताः । गजे चतुर्गुणा मात्रास्ताभिर्गजरुगर्दनः

gajāyurvedamākhyāsye uktāḥ kalpā gaje hitāḥ gaje caturguṇā mātrāstābhirgajarugardanaḥ

I shall now expound Gajayurveda, the science of elephants. The remedies stated for horses are beneficial for elephants too, but for the elephant the dose should be fourfold — with this, the elephant's disease is driven away.

Verse 34 (garuda.1.201.34)

गजो पसर्गव्याधीनां शमनं शान्तिकर्म च । पूजयित्वा सुरान्विप्रान्रत्नैर्गां कपिलां ददेत्

gajo pasargavyādhīnāṁ śamanaṁ śāntikarma ca pūjayitvā surānviprānratnairgāṁ kapilāṁ dadet

For the pacification of an elephant's epidemic diseases, a peace-rite should be performed: having worshipped the gods and Brahmins, one should give jewels and a tawny cow in gift.

Verse 35 (garuda.1.201.35)

दन्तिदन्तद्वये मालां निबन्धीयादुपोषितः । मन्त्रेण मन्त्रितान्वैद्यैर्वचासिद्धार्थकांस्तथा

dantidantadvaye mālāṁ nibandhīyādupoṣitaḥ mantreṇa mantritānvaidyairvacāsiddhārthakāṁstathā

Having fasted, one should bind a garland between the elephant's two tusks — objects consecrated with mantra by physicians, along with vacha and white mustard.

Verse 36 (garuda.1.201.36)

सूर्यादिशिवदुर्गाश्रीविष्ण्वर्चा रक्षयेद्गजम् । बलिं दद्याच्च भूतेभ्यः स्नापयेच्च चतुर्घटैः

sūryādiśivadurgāśrīviṣṇvarcā rakṣayedgajam baliṁ dadyācca bhūtebhyaḥ snāpayecca caturghaṭaiḥ

Worship of Surya, Shiva, Durga, Lakshmi, and Vishnu should protect the elephant; an offering should be given to the spirits, and it should be bathed with water from four pitchers.

Verse 37 (garuda.1.201.37)

भोजनं मन्त्रितं दद्याद्भस्मनोद्धूनयेद्गजमम् । भूतरक्षा शुभा मेध्या वारणं रक्षयेत्सदा

bhojanaṁ mantritaṁ dadyādbhasmanoddhūnayedgajamam bhūtarakṣā śubhā medhyā vāraṇaṁ rakṣayetsadā

One should give it food consecrated with mantra, and dust the elephant with sacred ash; auspicious and pure protection from spirits should ever guard the elephant.

Verse 38 (garuda.1.201.38)

त्रिफलापञ्चकोले च दशमूलं विडङ्गकम् । शतावरीगुडूची च निम्बवासककिंशुकाः

triphalāpañcakole ca daśamūlaṁ viḍaṅgakam śatāvarīguḍūcī ca nimbavāsakakiṁśukāḥ

Triphala, panchakola, dashamula, and vidanga, shatavari and guduchi, and neem, vasaka, and kimshuka —

Verse 39 (garuda.1.201.39)

गजरोगविनाशाय हितो रूक्षः कषायकः । आयुर्वेदद्वयोक्तानामुक्तं संक्षेपसारतः

gajarogavināśāya hito rūkṣaḥ kaṣāyakaḥ āyurvedadvayoktānāmuktaṁ saṁkṣepasārataḥ

— a dry, astringent decoction made from these is beneficial for destroying an elephant's disease. Thus, in condensed essence, has been told what is taught in these two branches of Ayurveda.