Snakes

[Dominik Wujastyk]

The Susrutasamhita treats of poisonous snakes in Kalpasthaana IV.  The
classification is into either five types or three types (oh, well :): the
3-fold class is just the first 3 of the 5-fold.

1. Darviikaraa

  k.r.s.nasarpa
  mahaak.r.s.na
  k.r.s.nodara
  /svetakapota
  mahaakapota
  balaahaka
  mahaasarpa
  /sankhakapaala
  lohitaak.sa
  gavedhuka
  parisarpa
  kha.n.dapha.na
  kakuda
  padma
  mahaapadma
  darbhapu.spa
  dadhimukha
  pu.n.dariika
  bhruuku.tiimukha
  vi.skira
  pu.spaabhikiir.na
  girisarpa
  .rjusarpa
  /svetodara
  mahaa/siras
  alagarda
  aa/siivi.sa

2. Ma.n.dalin

  aadar/sama.n.dala
  /svetama.n.dala
  raktama.n.dala
  citrama.n.dala
  p.r.sata
  rodhrapu.spa
  milindaka
  gonasa
  pingala
  tantuka
  pu.spapaa.n.du
  .sa.danga
  agnika
  babhru
  ka.saaya
  kalu.sa
  paaraavata
  hastaabhara.na
  citraka
  e.niipada

3. Raajimat

  pu.n.dariika
  raajicitra
  angularaaji
  binduraaji
  kardamaka
  t.r.na/so.saka
  sar.sapaka
  /svetahanu
  darbhapu.spa
  cakraka
  godhuumaka
  kikkisaada

4. Nirvi.sa

   galagolii
  /suukapatra
  ajagara
  divyaka
  var.saahika
  pu.spa/sakalaa
  jyotiiratha
  k.siirikaapu.spaka
  ahipataaka
  andhaahika
  garaahika
  v.rk.se/saya

5 Vaikara~nja

  intermixture of three types of darviikara etc. lead to:

  maakuli
  po.tagala
  snigharaaji

and these intermix to give seven more:

  divyelaka
  rodhrapu.spaka
  raajicitraka
  po.tagala
  pu.spaabhikiir.na
  darbapu.spa
  vellitaka

This should add up to 80 snakes, all poisonous.

The symptoms of poisoning by snakes in the groups are described in quite a
lot of detail, which could be matched with more recent clinical and field
descriptions.

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I suppose "kikkisaada" is the nearest to "kukku.ta-" in sound.


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