Susruta Samhita - Mandhata Global

674 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. I.
he dies almost instantaneously. Hence it is the im-
perative duty of a royal physician to guard the person
of the king against poisoning. 3.
The minds of men are restless and uncontrollable
like an unbroken horse. Faith is a rare thing in the
human society and hence a crowned head should never
believe any one* in this world. 4,
The necessary Qualifications of a
Superintendent of the Royal Kitchen :
—-A king should appoint a ph)'sician for the royal
kitchen (to superintend the preparations of the royal
fare). He should be well-paid and possess the follow-
ing qualifications. He should come of a respect-
able family, should be virtuous in conduct, fondly
attached to the person of his sovereign, and always
watchful of the health of the king. He should be
greedless, straight-forward, god-fearing, grateful, of
handsome features, and devoid of irascibility, rough-
ness, vanity, arrogance and laziness. He should be
forbearing, self-controlled, cleanly, compassionate, well-
behaved, intelligent, capable of bearing fatigue, well-
meaning, devoted, of good address, clever, skilful,
smart, artless, energetic and marked with all the neces-
sary qualifications (of a physician) as described before.
He should be fully provided with all kinds of
medicine and be highly esteemed by the members of
his profession. 5.
The necessary features of a Royal
kitchen ;—The Royal kitchen should be a spacious
chamber occupying an auspicious (south-east) corner of
the royal mansion and built on a commendable site.
The vessels and utensils (to be used in a royal kitchen)
should be kept scrupulously clean. The kitchen should
* A Royal Physician is an honourable exception in this respect.