Susruta Samhita - Mandhata Global

706 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA [Chap. IV.
ring-like or circular spots on their skin, and have the
glow of the sun or fire should be known as Mandali
snakes, while th'^'Se which are glossy and whose bodies
are painted with parti coloured horizontal, perpendi-
cular and lateral stripes, should be known as the
RfiCjiman species 6.
Features of the different Castes
amongst snakes : -The snakes whose skin is
lustrous like a poarl or silver, is coloured yellow and looks
like gold and emits a sweet smell, should be regarded
as belonging to the Brahmana species of snakes. Those
which are glossy, extremely irritable in their nature
and marked with spots on their skin resembling the
discs of the sun and moon, or of the shape of a conch-
shell (Ambuja) or an umbrella, should be regarded
as belonging to the Kshatriya species. The snakes of
the Vaisya caste arc coloured black or red or blackish
grey or ash-coloured or pigeon-coloured and are
(crooked or hard in their structures) like a Vajra. The
snakes which resemble a buffalo or a leopard in colour
and lustre or are rough-skinned or are possessed cf a
colour other than the preceding ones should be consi-
dered as belonging to the Sadra class. 7.
The poison of all hooded snakes (Phani) deranges
and aggravates the bodily Vayu, that of the Mandali
(circular spotted) species aggravates the Pitta, while
that of the Rdjimdn (striped; class aggravates the bodily
Kapha. The poison of a snake of hybrid (Vaikaranja)
origin aggravates the two particular Doshas of the body
which its parents would have separately aggravated—
fact which helps us to ascertain the species to which its
parents belong. 8.
Particular habits of different kinds
of snakes :— Now hear me describe the special
a