The 4th chapter of Kalpasthana of Sushruta Samhita is named as Sarpadaşta Vișa Vijñāniyam Adhyaya. This chapter deals with Knowledge of Snake Bite.
अथातः सर्पदष्टविषविज्ञानीयं कल्पं व्याख्यास्यामः ||१||
यथोवाच भगवान् धन्वन्तरिः ||२||
We will now expound Sarpadasta visa vijñānīya – knowledge of snakes and snake bite poisoning; as revealed by the venerable Dhanvantari.
Suśrutasaya vijñapati – request of Suśruta
धन्वन्तरिं महाप्राज्ञं सर्वशास्त्रविशारदम् |
पादयोरुपसङ्गृह्य सुश्रुतः परिपृच्छति ||३||
सर्पसङ्ख्यां विभागं च दष्टलक्षणमेव च |
ज्ञानं च विषवेगानां भगवन् ! वक्तुमर्हसि ||४||
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्राब्रवीद्भिषजां वरः |
Acharya Sushruta, bowing to the feet of Lord Dhanwantari – the great genius and the knower of all the sciences, requested him in this way – ‘Venerable sir, kindly let me know the number and kinds of snakes. Also tell me about the signs of their bite and enlighten me about the knowledge of stages of poisoning’.
After hearing Sushruta’s request, the best one among the physicians, Lord Dhanvantari replied as follows.
Sarpa bheda – Kinds of snakes
असङ्ख्या वासुकिश्रेष्ठा विख्यातास्तक्षकादयः ||५||
महीधराश्च नागेन्द्रा हुताग्निसमतेजसः |
ये चाप्यजस्रं गर्जन्ति वर्षन्ति च तपन्ति च ||६||
ससागरगिरिद्वीपा यैरियं धार्यते मही |
क्रुद्धा निःश्वासदृष्टिभ्यां ये हन्युरखिलं जगत् ||७||
नमस्तेभ्योऽस्ति नो तेषां कार्यं किञ्चिच्चिकित्सया |
ये तु दंष्ट्राविषा भौमा ये दशन्ति च मानुषान् ||८||
तेषां सङ्ख्यां प्रवक्ष्यामि यथावदनुपूर्वशः |९|
Vāsuki is the chief of serpents. Along with Vasuki, Taksaka, Mahidhara, Nagendra and such other serpents which support the world / earth and are equivalent to fire in valour, are innumerable in numbers.
Apart from roaring continuously, these serpents shower rain, support oceans, mountains, islands and earth.
On the other hand, when they get enraged, they destroy the entire world by their exhalation and sight.
Their bite cannot be treated. Therefore these serpents should only be worshipped.
All these serpents are called Divya Sarpas, which means celestial serpents.
After this, I shall tell you the number of Bhauma Sarpa – snakes which live on the earth. They bite human beings.
Bhauma sarpa, terrestrial snakes
अशीतिस्त्वेव सर्पाणां भिद्यते पञ्चधा तु सा ||९||
दर्वीकरा मण्डलिनो राजिमन्तस्तथैव च |
निर्विषा वैकरञ्जाश्च त्रिविधास्ते पुनः स्मृताः ||१०||
दर्वीकरा मण्डलिनो राजिमन्तश्च पन्नगाः |
तेषु दर्वीकरा ज्ञेया विंशतिः षट् च पन्नगाः [३] ||११||
द्वाविंशतिर्मण्डलिनो राजिमन्तस्तथा दश |
निर्विषा द्वादश ज्ञेया वैकरञ्जास्त्रयस्तथा ||१२||
वैकरञ्जोद्भवाः सप्त चित्रा मण्डलिराजिलाः |१३|
Bhauma sarpa are eighty in number. These eighty kinds of snakes are divided into five categories, such as –
- Darvīkara,
- Mandalina,
- Rajīmañta,
- Nirvisa and
- Vaikarañja;
They are again of three kinds.
- Pannaga – they are snakes which do not move by their legs i.e. they are snakes which crawl. Below mentioned types of snakes are Pannaga –
– Darvikara – snakes with hood – are twenty six in number
– Mandalina – snakes having patches on their body – twenty two in number and
– Rajimanta – snakes with stripes on their body – are ten in number
- Nirvisa – they are non-poisonous snakes – are twelve in number.
- Vaikaranja – hybrid snakes – are three in number. Citra – they are variegated snakes produced by hybrid snakes – they are seven in number. Some of them are Mandali and some of them are Rajila. Caikarnja and Citra snakes are born from cross mating (hybrid snakes).
All these snakes put together, there are eighty numbers of snakes.
Examples of these snakes
– Hooded snakes – Cobra,king cobra and black cobra
– Patched snakes – Python
– Snakes with stripes – Krait, russell viper and pit viper
– Remaining kinds of snakes – Sand snake, tree (green) snake, water snake, sea snake and many others
Damsa kāraņa – bheda – Reasons and kinds of bite
पादाभिमृष्टा दुष्टा वा क्रुद्धा ग्रासार्थिनोऽपि वा ||१३||
ते दशन्ति महाक्रोधास्त्रिविधं भीमदर्शनाः |१४|
सर्पितं रदितं चापि तृतीयमथ निर्विषम् |
सर्पाङ्गाभिहतं केचिदिच्छन्ति खलु तद्विदः ||१४||
Below mentioned kinds of snakes bite others i.e. men and animals –
– snakes trampled by feet
– snakes which are cruel by nature,
– snakes which are enraged (angry),
– snakes which are in search of food and
– snakes which are ferocious (very angry)
The bite of the snakes is of three kinds (numbers) –
– Sarpita,
– Radita and
– Nirvigha
Sarpangabhihata is the fourth kind of snake bite that has been considered and included by some authorities who have special knowledge of bites.
Sarpita damsa – deep bite
पदानि यत्र दन्तानामेकं द्वे वा बहूनि वा |
निमग्नान्यल्परक्तानि यान्युद्वृत्य करोति हि ||१५||
चञ्चुमालकयुक्तानि वैकृत्यकरणानि च |
सङ्क्षिप्तानि सशोफानि विद्यात्तत् सर्पितं भिषक् ||१६||
राज्यः सलोहिता यत्र नीलाः पीताः सितास्तथा |
विज्ञेयं रदितं तत्तु ज्ञेयमल्पविषं च तत् ||१७||
अशोफमल्पदुष्टासृक् प्रकृतिस्थस्य देहिनः |
पदं पदानि वा विद्यादविषं तच्चिकित्सकः ||१८||
सर्पस्पृष्टस्य भीरोर्हि भयेन कुपितोऽनिलः |
कस्यचित् कुरुते शोफं सर्पाङ्गाभिहतं तु तत् ||१९||
Sarpita damsa-deep poisonous bite-
The snake bite should be understood by the physician as Sarpita i.e. actual bite when it presents with the below mentioned features –
– two or more teeth marks are visible at the site of bite,
– the marks of snake bite are deep,
– little quantity of bleeding is seen at the site of bite,
– when the site is squeezed it gives rise to development of sprout like eruptions and other abnormalities,
– the marks are minute and
– accompanied with swelling
Radita damśa – lacerated bite –
The Radita Damsa which means lacerated bite is marked with the below mentioned features –
– presence of lines which are bluish-red, yellow or white in colour.
– the mark appears like a laceration (radita) and
– it has large amount of poison
Nirvisa-Poison free bite
Below mentioned are the features of Nirvisa i.e. poison free bite –
– has no swelling,
– has little amount of vitiated blood,
– one or many visible marks at the site of bite if the person is normal (healthy)
Sarpangabhihata – hurt by the body of the snake –
When touched by any part of the body of the snake, if the persons get afraid, vata becomes aggravated by that fear and gives rise to swelling at the place of contact, in some persons. This is called Sarpangabhihata.
व्याधितोद्विग्नदष्टानि ज्ञेयान्यल्पविषाणि तु |
तथाऽतिवृद्धबालाभिदष्टमल्पविषं स्मृतम् ||२०||
सुपर्णदेवब्रह्मर्षियक्षसिद्धनिषेविते |
विषघ्नौषधियुक्ते च देशे न क्रमते विषम् ||२१||
Below mentioned kinds of bites of snakes have less poison –
– bite by snake which is diseased,
– bite by a snake which is in emotions,
– bite by a very old snake or
– bite by a very young snake
The poison does not spread when the bite happens –
– at places inhabited by Suparna (Garuda – red eagle),
– at places inhabited by Devas – gods, Brahmarsi – divine sages, Yaksas and Siddhas – divine spirits and
– at places having anti-poisonous plants
Sarpa laksana – features of snakes
रथाङ्गलाङ्गलच्छत्रस्वस्तिकाङ्कुशधारिणः |
ज्ञेया दर्वीकराः सर्पाः फणिनः शीघ्रगामिनः ||२२||
मण्डलैर्विविधैश्चित्राः पृथवो मन्दगामिनः |
ज्ञेया मण्डलिनः सर्पा ज्वलनार्कसमप्रभाः ||२३||
स्निग्धा विविधवर्णाभिस्तिर्यगूर्ध्वं च राजिभिः |
चित्रिता इव ये भान्ति राजिमन्तस्तु ते स्मृताः ||२४||
Features of Darvikara – hooded snakes –
– they make a phana – hood,
– the hood has on it marks resembling a wheel, plough, umbrella, cross and an elephant’s goad
– they move fast
Features of Mandali – patched snakes –
– they have patches of different kinds and shapes on their body,
– they are big in size,
– they move slowly
– are like fire and sun in effect (effect of their poison)
Features of Rajimanta – striped snakes –
– they are unctuous (slimy),
– they are of many colours,
– they are decorated with stripes above and on the sides of their body,
मुक्तारूप्यप्रभा ये च कपिला ये च पन्नगाः |
सुगन्धयः सुवर्णाभास्ते जात्या ब्राह्मणाः स्मृताः ||२५||
क्षत्रियाः स्निग्धवर्णास्तु पन्नगा भृशकोपनाः |
सूर्यचन्द्राकृतिच्छत्रलक्ष्म तेषां तथाऽम्बुजम् ||२६||
कृष्णा वज्रनिभा ये च लोहिता वर्णतस्तथा |
धूम्राः पारावताभाश्च वैश्यास्ते पन्नगाः स्मृताः ||२७||
महिषद्वीपिवर्णाभास्तथैव परुषत्वचः |
भिन्नवर्णाश्च ये केचिच्छूद्रास्ते परिकीर्तिताः ||२८||
Features of snakes belonging to Brahmin caste –
– has colour of pearls or silver,
– are whitish yellow,
– emit pleasant smell and
– have a good bright colour
Features of snakes belonging to Ksatriya caste –
– have unctuous colour (good looking),
– have more anger,
– getting greatly angry,
– possess marks resembling sun, moon or umbrella on their body and
– dwell in water
Features of snakes belonging to Vaisya caste –
– are black in colour,
– resemble wembley diamond in brilliance,
– are red, smoky or dove like (ashy) in colour
Features of snakes belonging to Sudra caste –
– resemble dattilo or leopard in colour,
– have rough skin and
– have many colours
Sarpa visa pradhana – importance of snake poison
कोपयन्त्यनिलं जन्तोः फणिनः सर्व एव तु |
पित्तं मण्डलिनश्चापि कफं चानेकराजयः ||२९||
अपत्यमसवर्णाभ्यां द्विदोषकरलक्षणम् |
ज्ञेयौ दोषैश्च दम्पत्यो… |३१|
| Snake type | Effect of their poison on doshas |
| Darvikara – hooded snakes | aggravate vata |
| Mandali – patched snakes | aggravate pitta |
| Rajimanta – striped snakes | aggravate kapha |
| Offsprings of couples of snakes of different kinds (Vaijaranja or hybrid) snakes | aggravate two doshas |
Sarpa sancāra – time of movement of snakes
…र्विशेषश्चात्र वक्ष्यते ||३०||
रजन्याः पश्चिमे यामे सर्पाश्चित्राश्चरन्ति हि |
शेषेषूक्ता मण्डलिनो दिवा दर्वीकराः स्मृताः ||३१||
Below mentioned are the time of the day in which different snakes move around –
– Citra / Rajimanta – moves about during the last three hours of the night
– Mandali – move around in the remaining hours of the night,
– Darvikara – move about during the day
Vişa svabhāva – nature of poison
दर्वीकरास्तु तरुणा वृद्धा मण्डलिनस्तथा |
राजिमन्तो वयोमध्या जायन्ते मृत्युहेतवः ||३२||
नकुलाकुलिता बाला वारिविप्रहताः कृशाः |
वृद्धा मुक्तत्वचो भीताः सर्पास्त्वल्पविषाः स्मृताः ||३३||
The poison of young Darvikara – a hooded snake is powerful and causes death.
The poison of an old aged Mandali – patched snake is powerful and causes death.
The poison of middle aged Rajimanta – striped snakes is powerful and causes death.
Below mentioned kinds of snakes will have less or mild poison –
– snakes which are frightened by mongoose,
– snakes which are young,
– snakes which are exhausted by water (swimming in water),
– snakes which are emaciated,
– snakes which are old,
– snakes which have shed their skin (slough) and
– snakes which are frightened
Sarpa bheda – kinds of snakes
तत्र, दर्वीकराः- कृष्णसर्पो, महाकृष्णः, कृष्णोदरः श्वेतकपोतो, महाकपोतो, बलाहको, महासर्पः, शङ्खकपालो , लोहिताक्षो, गवेधुकः, परिसर्पः, खण्डफणः, ककुदः, पद्मो, महापद्मो, दर्भपुष्पो, दधिमुखः, पुण्डरीको, भ्रूकुटीमुखो, विष्किरः, पुष्पाभिकीर्णो, गिरिसर्पः, ऋजुसर्पः, श्वेतोदरो, महाशिरा, अलगर्द, आशीविष इति (१);
Darvikara Snakes –
Below mentioned are Darvikara Snakes –
– krsna sarpa,
– mahākrsna,
– krasnodara,
– svetakapota,
– mahākapota,
– balāhaka,
– mahāsarpa,
– śañkhakapāla,
– lohitākṣa,
– gavedhuka,
– parisara,
– khandaphana,
– kakuda,
– padma,
– mahāpadma,
– darbha puspa,
– dadhimukha pundarika,
– bhrukutimukha,
– viskira,
– puspahikirna,
– girisarpa,
– rujusarpa,
– svetodara,
– mahasira,
– alagarda and
– āsīvisa
मण्डलिनस्तु- आदर्शमण्डलः, श्वेतमण्डलो, रक्तमण्डलः, चित्रमण्डलः, पृषतो, रोध्रपुष्पो, मिलिन्दको, गोनसो, वृद्धगोनसः, पनसो, महापनसो, वेणुपत्रकः, शिशुको मदनः, पालिन्दिरः, पिङ्गलः , तन्तुकः पुष्पपाण्डुः, षडङ्गो, अग्निको बभ्रुः, कषायः, कलुषः पारावतो, हस्ताभरणः, चित्रकः, एणीपद इति (२);
Mandali Snakes –
Below mentioned are Mandali snakes –
– ādarsamandala,
– svetamandala,
– raktamandala,
– citra mandala,
– prsata,
– rodhrapuspa,
– milindaka,
– gonasa,
– vrddhagonasa,
– panasa,
– mahāpanasa,
– veņupatraka,
– śiśuka,
– madana,
– pāliñdira,
– piñgala,
– tantuka,
– puspapāndu,
– sadanga,
– agnikababhru,
– kasaya,
– kalusa,
– paravata,
– hastabharana,
– citraka and
– enīpada
राजिमन्तस्तु- पुण्डरीको राजिचित्रो, अङ्गुलराजिः, बिन्दुराजिः, कर्दमकः, तृणशोषकः, सर्षपकः श्वेतहनुः, दर्भपुष्पश्चक्रको, गोधूमकः, किक्किसाद इति (३);
Rajīmañta snakes with stripes –
Below mentioned are the Rajimanta snakes –
– pundarīka,
– rājicitra,
– angularāji,
– binduraji,
– kardamaka,
– trnasosaka,
– sarsapaka,
– svetahanu,
– darbhapuspa,
– cakraka,
– godhūmaka and
– kikkisāda
निर्विषास्तु- गलगोली, शूकपत्रो, अजगरो, दिव्यको, वर्षाहिकः, पुष्पशकली, ज्योतीरथः, क्षीरिकापुष्पको, अहिपताको, अन्धाहिको, गौराहिको, वृक्षेशय इति (४);
Nirvisa(non-poisonous)snakes –
Below mentioned are Nirvisa snakes –
– galagoli,
– sūkapatra,
– ajagara,
– divyaka,
– varsāhika,
– puspasakali,
– jyotiratha,
– ksirikāpuspaka,
– ahipataka,
– andhahika,
– gaurāhika and
– vrkṣeśaya
वैकरञ्जास्तु त्रयाणां दर्वीकरादीनां व्यतिकराज्जाताः, तद्यथा- माकुलिः, पोटगलः, स्निग्धराजिरिति |
तत्र, कृष्णसर्पेण गोनस्यां वैपरीत्येन वा जातो माकुलिः; राजिलेन गोनस्यां वैपरीत्येन वा जातः पोटगलः; कृष्णसर्पेण राजिमत्यां वैपरीत्येन वा जातः स्निग्धराजिरिति |
तेषामाद्यस्य पितृवद्विषोत्कर्षो, द्वयोर्मातृवदित्येके (५) |३४|
Vaikaranjā snakes –
These snakes are born by mating of Darvikara and other three kinds of snakes (hybrid snakes).
They are Makuli, Potagala and Snigdharaji.
Among these,
– Makuli – born from Krsna Sarpa mating with Gonasi
– Potagala – born from Rajila snake mating with Gonasi
– Snigdha Raja – born from Krsna Sarpa mating with Rajimati
According to some scholars,
– the poison of Makuli is like its father i.e. Krsna Sarpa in effect
– the poison of Potagala and Snigdharaji are like their mothers i.e. Gonasi and Rajimati respectively in effect
त्रयाणां वैकरञ्जानां पुनर्दिव्येलकरोध्रपुष्पकराजिचित्रकपोटगलपुष्पाभिकीर्णदर्भपुष्पवेल्लितकाः सप्त; तेषामाद्यास्त्रयो राजिलवत्, शेषा मण्डलिवत्, एवमेतेषां सर्पाणामशीतिर्व्याख्याता ||३४||
The Vaikaranja – hybrid snakes are again of seven kinds. They are –
– Divyelaka,
– Rodhrapuspaka,
– Rajicitraka,
– Potagala,
– Puspabhikirna,
– Darbhapuspa and
– Vellitaka
Among these, the first three are like Rajimanta in effect and the rest are like Mandalina.
Thus, the eighty kinds of snakes have been enumerated till now.
Sarpa linga – sex of snakes
तत्र महानेत्रजिह्वास्यशिरसः पुमांसः, सूक्ष्मनेत्रजिह्वास्यशिरसः स्त्रियः, उभयलक्षणा मन्दविषा अक्रोधा नपुंसका इति ||३५||
Below mentioned are the features of snakes of various sexes –
– male snakes – have big eyes, tongue and head,
– female snakes – have small eyes, tongue and head,
– eunuch snakes – have features of both these snakes and mild poison, they do not become angry
Dasta laksana – kinds of bite
तत्र सर्वेषां सर्पाणां सामान्यत एव दष्टलक्षणं वक्ष्यामः |
किं कारणं? विषं हि निशितनिस्त्रिंशाशनिहुतवहदेश्यमाशुकारि मुहर्तमप्युपेक्षितमातुरमतिपातयति, न चावकाशोऽस्ति वाक्समूहमुपसर्तुं प्रत्येकमपि दष्टलक्षणेऽभिहिते सर्वत्र त्रैविध्यं भवति, तस्मात् त्रैविध्यमेव वक्ष्यामः; एतद्ध्यातुरहितमसम्मोहकरं च, अपि चात्रैव सर्वसर्पव्यञ्जनावरोधः ||३६||
We shall describe the general signs of snake bite. Why so?
This is because, the effect of poison is similar to the below mentioned in effect –
– sharpened sword,
– lightening and
– fire
Due to this, the poison will kill the person even if neglected for a muhurta – few minutes.
After the snake bite, there will never be time to enquire details of the type of snake etc.
The snake bite is generally of three types in spite of the bite of each kind of snake being different. So, we shall describe these three types. This is because this classification of bites into three types is beneficial for effectively treating the patient, and not confusing to the physician and the bite of all kinds of snakes can be included in these three types only.
Darvikara vişa lakşana – symptoms of poisoning of hooded snakes
तत्र, दर्वीकरविषेण त्वङ्नयननखदशनवदनमूत्रपुरीषदंशकृष्णत्वं रौक्ष्यं शिरसो गौरवं सन्धिवेदना कटीपृष्ठग्रीवादौर्बल्यं जृम्भणं वेपथुः स्वरावसादो घुर्घुरको जडता शुष्कोद्गारः कासश्वासौ हिक्का वायोरूर्ध्वगमनं शूलोद्वेष्टनं तृष्णा लालास्रावः फेनागमनं स्रोतोऽवरोधस्तास्ताश्च वातवेदना भवन्ति; मण्डलिविषेण त्वगादीनां पीतत्वं शीताभिलाषः परिधूपनं दाहस्तृष्णा मदो मूर्च्छा ज्वरः शोणितागमनमूर्ध्वमधश्च मांसानामवशातनं श्वयथुर्दंशकोथः पीतरूपदर्शनमाशुकोपस्तास्ताश्च पित्तवेदना भवन्ति; राजिमद्विषेण शुक्लत्वं त्वगादीनां शीतज्वरो रोमहर्षः स्तब्धत्वं गात्राणामादंशशोफः सान्द्रकफप्रसेकश्छर्दिरभीक्ष्णमक्ष्णोः कण्डूः कण्ठे श्वयथुर्घुर्घुरक उच्छ्वासनिरोधस्तमःप्रवेशस्तास्ताश्च कफवेदना भवन्ति ||३७||
Blackish discolouration of skin, nails, eyes, teeth, face, urine, faeces and site of bite occurs from the poison of Darvikara – hooded snakes.
Apart from these the patient would experience the below mentioned symptoms –
– dryness,
– feeling of heaviness in the head,
– pain in the bony joints,
– weakness in the waist, back and neck,
– excessive yawning,
– shivering,
– feeble voice,
– rough sounds from the throat,
– lassitude,
– dry belching,
– cough, dyspnoea and hiccup,
– upward movement of gas,
– colic,
– twisting pain (cramps),
– excessive thirst,
– excessive salivation,
– appearance of froth in the mouth,
– blockage of all the channels of the body and
– such other symptoms of vata aggravation
Mandali visa laksana -Symptoms of poisoning of patched snakes – Yellowness or yellowish discolouration of skin, nails, eyes, teeth, face, urine, faeces and site of bite occurs from poison of Mandali snakes.
Apart from this, the patient suffers from the below mentioned conditions –
– desire for cold,
– raised temperature all over the body,
– burning sensation,
– thirst,
– intoxication,
– fainting,
– fever,
– bleeding from upper and lower tracts (in upward and downward direction),
– separation of muscles,
– swelling,
– putrefaction (decaying) of the site of bite,
– seeing all objects as yellow in colour,
– quick aggravation of poison and
– many types of pains and discomforts of pitta origin
Rajimati vişa laksana -Symptoms of poisoning of striped snakes – Whitish discolouration of skin, nails, eyes, teeth, face, urine, faeces and site of bite occur from poison of Rajimanta snakes. Apart from this, the person would also suffer from the below mentioned conditions –
– fever with chills (cold),
– horripilation,
– stiffness (immobility) of body parts,
– swelling all around the site of bite,
– elimination of thick kapha (saliva, froth, phlegm) from the mouth,
– repeated vomiting,
– itching in the eyes,
– swelling in the throat,
– irritation in the throat,
– obstruction to expiration (breathing),
– feeling of darkness in front of the eyes and
– various symptoms and discomforts of kapha origin
पुरुषाभिदष्ट ऊर्ध्वं प्रेक्षते, अधस्तात् स्त्रिया सिराश्चोत्तिष्ठन्ति ललाटे, नपुंसकाभिदष्टस्तिर्यक्प्रेक्षी भवति, गर्भिण्या पाण्डुमुखोध्मातश्च, सूतिकया कुक्षिशूलार्तः सरुधिरं मेहत्युपजिह्विका चास्य भवति, ग्रासार्थिनाऽन्नं काङ्क्षति, वृद्धेन चिरान्मन्दाश्च वेगाः, बालेनाशु मृदवश्च, निर्विषेणाविषलिङ्गं, अन्धाहिकेनान्धत्वमित्येके, ग्रसनात् अजगरः शरीरप्राणहरो न विषात् |
तत्र सद्यःप्राणहराहिदष्टः पतति शास्त्राशनिहत इव भूमौ, स्रस्ताङ्गः स्वपिति ||३८||
| Person bitten by | Effect on the person |
| Male snake | looks up / gazes upwards |
| Female snake | looks down / gazes downward,
veins on the forehead become prominent / engorged |
| Eunuch snake | looks sidewards or obliquely / oblique gaze |
| Pregnant snake | person has pale yellow colour,
swelling of his face |
| Snake which has just delivered | pain in the pit of the stomach,
eliminates urine mixed with blood and swelling of tongue |
| Snake in search of food | desire for food |
| Aged snake | stages of poisoning develop slowly and mildly |
| Young snake | stages of poisoning develop quickly and mildly |
| Non-poisonous snake | no symptoms of poisoning are seen |
| Blind snake | becomes blind |
| Python (caught by python) | death, but not due to poison |
| Snake which causes instant death | falls on the ground like the one who has been struck with a sharp weapon or lightning,
falls with his body becoming weak |
Sapta visavega – Seven stages of poisoning
तत्र सर्वेषां सर्पाणां विषस्य सप्त वेगा भवन्ति |
तत्र, दर्वीकराणां प्रथमे वेगे विषं शोणितं दूषयति, तत् प्रदुष्टं कृष्णतामुपैति, तेन कार्ष्ण्यं पिपीलिकापरिसर्पणमिव चाङ्गे भवति; द्वितीये मांसं दूषयति, तेनात्यर्थं कृष्णता शोफो ग्रन्थयश्चाङ्गे भवन्ति; तृतीये मेदो दूषयति, तेन दंशक्लेदः शिरोगौरवं [१६] स्वेदश्चक्षुर्ग्रहणं च; चतुर्थे कोष्ठमनुप्रविश्य कफप्रधानान् दोषान् दूषयति, तेन तन्द्राप्रसेकसन्धिविश्लेषा भवन्ति; पञ्चमेऽस्थीन्यनुप्रविशति प्राणमग्निं च दूषयति, तेन पर्वभेदो हिक्का दाहश्च भवति; षष्ठे मज्जानमनुप्रविशति ग्रहणीं चात्यर्थं दूषयति, तेन गात्राणां गौरवमतीसारो हृत्पीडा मूर्च्छा च भवति; सप्तमे शुक्रमनुप्रविशति व्यानं चात्यर्थं कोपयति कफं च सूक्ष्मस्रोतोभ्यः प्रच्यावयति, तेन श्लेष्मवर्तिप्रादुर्भावः कटीपृष्ठभङ्गः सर्वचेष्टाविघातो लालास्वेदयोरतिप्रवृत्तिरुच्छ्वासनिरोधश्च भवति |
मण्डलिनां प्रथमे वेगे विषं शोणितं दूषयति, तत् प्रदुष्टं पीततामुपैति, तत्र परिदाहः पीतावभासता चाङ्गानां भवति; द्वितीये मांसं दूषयति, तेनात्यर्थं पीतता परिदाहो दंशे श्वयथुश्च भवति; तृतीये मेदो दूषयति, तेन पूर्ववच्चक्षुर्ग्रहणं तृष्णा दंशक्लेदः स्वेदश्च; चतुर्थे कोष्ठमनुप्रविश्य ज्वरमापादयति; पञ्चमे परिदाहं सर्वगात्रेषु करोति, षष्ठसप्तमयोः पूर्ववत् |
राजिमतां प्रथमे वेगे विषं शोणितं दूषयति तत् प्रदुष्टं पाण्डुतामुपैति, तेन रोमहर्षः शुक्लावभासश्च पुरुषो भवति; द्वितीये मांसं दूषयति, तेन पाण्डुताऽत्यर्थं जाड्यं शिरःशोफश्च भवति; तृतीये मेदो दूषयति, तेन चक्षुर्ग्रहणं दंशक्लेदः स्वेदो घ्राणाक्षिस्रावश्च भवति; चतुर्थे कोष्ठमनुप्रविश्य मन्यास्तम्भं शिरोगौरवं चापादयति; पञ्चमे वाक्सङ्गं शीतज्वरं च करोति; षष्ठसप्तमयोः पूर्ववदिति ||३९||
In all kinds of snake bites there occurs seven stages of poisoning (which will be described here).
Darvīkara visa vega-
First stage of poisoning –
– poison vitiates the blood,
– the vitiated blood attains black colour,
– which causes blackish discolouration of the body and
– feeling of ants crawling on the body
Second stage of poisoning –
– poison vitiates the muscles, which causes
– profound black colour of the body,
– swelling and
– tumours (enlargement of lymph glands) in the body
Third stage of poisoning –
– poison vitiates the fat tissue, which would cause
– moistness at the site of bite,
– feeling of heaviness of the head,
– sweating and
– loss of movement of eyeballs
Fourth stage of poisoning –
– poison enters into the stomach and
– vitiates kapha predominant doshas leading to
– stupor, more salivation and loosening of joints
Fifth stage of poisoning –
– poison enters the bone and
– vitiates prana vata and agni, leading to
– pain in the joints, hiccup and burning sensation
Sixth stage of poisoning –
– the poison enters bone marrow and
– greatly vitiates grahani – duodenum / small intestine, leading to
– heaviness in the body, diarrhea, pain in the region of heart and fainting
Seventh stage of poisoning –
– the poison enters into the semen and
– greatly vitiates vyana vata and
– eliminates kapha from the minute channels leading to
– appearance of wicks of kapha in the channels, cutting pain in the back and waist, loss of all the movements, excessive elimination of saliva and sweat and obstruction of expiration / breathing
Maņdali vișa vega-
First stage of poisoning –
– the poison vitiates the blood,
– the vitiated blood becomes yellow, leading to
– burning sensation and yellow colouration of the body
Second stage of poisoning –
– the poison vitiates the muscle tissue, leading to
– burning sensation,
– swelling at the site of the bite
Third stage of poisoning –
– the poison vitiates the fat tissue, leading to
– loss of eye movements,
– thirst, perspiration and moistness at the site of bite
Fourth stage of poisoning –
– the poison enters the abdomen and
– produces fever
Fifth stage of poisoning –
– the poison produces burning sensation all over the body
Sixth and Seventh stages of poisoning –
– the symptoms are same as mentioned earlier (under darvikara poison above)
Rājimañta visa vegas-
First stage of poisoning –
– poison vitiates the blood,
– the vitiated blood attains yellowish- white colour,
– horripilations and
– whitish appearance of the body
Second stage of poisoning –
– the poison affects the muscles, leading to
– profound yellowish-white discolouration of the body along with
– lassitude and facial oedema
Third stage of poisoning –
– the poison affects the fat tissue, leading to
– loss of eye movements,
– moistness at the site of bite,
– perspiration and
– exudation from the nose and eyes
Fourth stage of poisoning –
– poison enters the abdomen and produces
– stiffness of the neck and
– heaviness in the head
Fifth stage of poisoning –
– the poison produces obstruction of speech and
– fever with rigor
Sixth and Seventh stages of poisoning –
– the symptoms will be the same as those said earlier (Darvikara poisoning)
भवन्तिचात्र–
Some verses here-
धात्वन्तरेषु याः सप्त कलाः सम्परिकीर्तिताः |
तास्वेकैकामतिक्रम्य वेगं प्रकुरुते विषम् ||४०||
In chapter four of Sarira Sthana section, seven kinds of kala (sheaths, layers) present in the tissues have been described.
Different stages of poisoning occur when the poison of snakes enters these kalas one after the other.
Vegāñtara-Intermediary period
येनान्तरेण तु कलां कालकल्पं भिनत्ति हि |
समीरणेनोह्यमानं तत्तु वेगान्तरं स्मृतम् ||४१||
Vegantara means the time period between two stages of poisoning i.e. intermediary period. It is defined as the time taken by the poison to travel from one kala to the other, breaking the barriers, being stimulated / provoked by vata.
शूनाङ्गः प्रथमे वेगे पशुर्ध्यायति दुःखितः |
लालास्रावो द्वितीये तु कृष्णाङ्गः पीड्यते हृदि ||४२||
तृतीये च शिरोदुःखं कण्ठग्रीवं च भज्यते |
चतुर्थे वेपते मूढः खादन् दन्तान् जहात्यसून् ||४३||
Below mentioned are the symptoms produced in each of the intermediary / intermediate period –
First intermediate stage / period – causes
– oedema of the body,
– the patient cries in grief
Second intermediary stage / period – causes
– excessive salivation,
– blackish discolouration of the body and
– pain in the region of the heart
Third intermediate stage / period – causes
– pain in the head and
– breaking pain in the neck (bending of the neck),
Fourth intermediary stage / period –
– the person cries with pain,
– gets unconscious,
– grinds teeth and dies
केचिद्वेगत्रयं प्राहुरन्तं चैतेषु तद्विदः |
ध्यायति प्रथमे वेगे पक्षी मुह्यत्यतः परम् ||४४||
द्वितीये विह्वलः प्रोक्तस्तृतीये मृत्युमृच्छति |
केचिदेकं विहङ्गेषु विषवेगमुशन्ति हि |
मार्जारनकुलादीनां विषं नातिप्रवर्तते ||४५||
According to some scholars, there are only three periods. They state that –
– In the first period – the person worries too much and becomes unconscious,
– In the second period – the person becomes perturbed in the mind and
– In the third period / stage – the person dies
According to the opinion of some scholars, there is only one stage of poisoning in the birds. In cats, mongoose etc. the poison does not spread in their body.
इति सुश्रुतसंहितायां कल्पस्थाने सर्पदष्टविषविज्ञानीयं नाम चतुर्थोऽध्यायः ||४||
Thus ends the fourth chapter by name Sarpa daşta visa vijñānīya in
Kalpa sthāna of Susruta samhita.
