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Vira Simhavaloka · Chapter 18
क्षय — कर्मविपाकः
This is the Kshaya karmavipaka chapter of Vira Simhavaloka, on the past-life deed the text links to this trouble. The text links this trouble to deeds in a past life, such as craving meat or wanting what belongs to others.
Classical view, not medical advice.
The amends are a fast, feeding priests, and japa and homa in set numbers.
The English below is our translation from the Sanskrit.
Kshaya (wasting disease) - past deeds
अथ क्षय रोगस्य कर्मविपाकाभिप्रायेण प्रयोगं प्रतीकारं च दर्शयति यथा पूर्वजन्मनि साक्षाद्ब्रह्महा क्षयरोगवान् भवति । अस्य प्रायश्चित्तम् । असाध्यरोगोपसृष्टं षडब्दं व्रतमाचरेत् । रोगतारतम्याभावात् प्रायश्चित्तभावो द्रष्टव्यः ॥
Next, the text shows the working of kshaya (wasting disease) from past deeds, and the remedy. It says that one who himself killed a priest in a past life may have kshaya. The way to make amends is this. One gripped by an illness that does not yield to treatment should keep a vow for six years. There is no grading by how heavy the illness is, so the full amends are meant. (Our text is unclear here: the last sentence, about the grading of the illness.)
Kshaya (wasting disease) - past deeds
तथा मांसलोलुपः परवस्त्वभिलाषी परविषयभोगानसहमानस्तत्परं स्वामिनं हत्वा वा क्षयरोगी । तत्र च यवमध्य पिपीलिकामध्यानित्रीणि चान्द्रायणान्याचरेत् । कृच्छ्राद्यशक्तस्य धनिनः अशीत्युत्तरशतं निष्कानां दानं अत्राप्य शक्तस्य तदर्धं तत्राप्यशक्तस्य तदर्धं ततोल्पेन न कुर्यात् ।
The text also says that one may have kshaya (wasting disease) for certain deeds. He craved meat, or wanted what belonged to others. He could not bear others enjoying their goods, or he killed his master. For this he should keep three chandrayana (moon-phase fasts). They are of the yavamadhya (the barley-shaped moon fast) and pipilikamadhya (the ant-shaped moon fast) kinds. A rich person may not be able to keep the krichchhra (penance fast) and the like. Then he should give 180 nishka (gold coin weight). One who cannot do even that gives half of it. One who cannot do that gives half again. He must not give less than this.
Kshaya (wasting disease) - past deeds
हीनकल्पं न कुर्वीत सति द्रव्ये फलप्रदम् ।
"One should not follow a lesser course when there is wealth, for it gives no fruit." So says the saying.
Kshaya (wasting disease) - past deeds
अत्राप्यशक्तस्य चान्द्रायणं कुर्यात् । प्रतिदिनं चतुर्विंशतिब्राह्मणभोजनं कारयेत् । अत्राप्येतदंगत्वेन मुंचामित्वेत्यनेन सूक्तेन प्रत्यृचं चरुघृताभ्यां होमं कुर्यात् । जुहुयादष्टोत्तरशतमिति ।
One who cannot do even this should keep the chandrayana (moon-phase fast). Each day he should feed twenty-four priests. As part of this, he should also do a homa (fire offering). He uses the sukta (Vedic hymn) that begins "munchami tva". For each verse, he offers charu (rice offering) and ghee. He should offer one hundred and eight times.
Kshaya (wasting disease) - past deeds
अनुक्तसंख्यायत्र स्याच्छतमष्टोत्तरं स्मृतम् ।
"Where no number is stated, one hundred and eight is the rule." So says the saying.
Kshaya (wasting disease) - past deeds
रोगभूयस्त्वापेक्षया अयुतसंख्यो जपो होमश्च भवति
If the illness is heavy, the count is ten thousand. This is for japa (repeating a mantra) and homa (fire offering).
Kshaya (wasting disease) - past deeds
तथा चोक्तम् ।असाध्य व्याधिना ग्रस्त उग्रेण प्राणहारिणा ।आतेरौद्रेण सूक्तेन प्रत्यृचं वाग्यतः शुचिः ॥
It is also said: One may be gripped by a fierce, life-taking illness that does not yield to treatment. He should keep silent and be clean. With the Rudra sukta (Vedic hymn) that begins "a te", verse by verse,
Kshaya (wasting disease) - past deeds
पूर्वमाज्याहुतीर्हुत्वा उपस्थाय च शंकरम् ।हविःशेषेण वर्तेत एकोत्तरशतं ततः ॥
he first offers ghee into the fire and prays to Shankara (Shiva). He lives on what is left of the offering. Then [he does the japa (repeating a mantra)] one hundred and one times
Kshaya (wasting disease) - past deeds
पूर्णां मासं जपेन्मृत्युरोगेभ्यश्च प्रमुच्यते ।होमकर्मण्यशक्तानां जपस्तद्विगुणो भवेत् ॥
for a full month. The text says he is then set free from death and illnesses. For those who cannot do the homa (fire offering), the japa (repeating a mantra) should be twice as much.
Kshaya (wasting disease) - past deeds
पद्मपुराणे । क्षये कारणान्तरमाह क्षयी स्यात्क्षेत्रहरणादिति ।
The Padma Purana tells another cause: one may have kshaya (wasting disease) for seizing a field.
Kshaya (wasting disease) - past deeds
क्रियान्तरमाह बौधायनः ।कारयेत्कदलीं दिव्यां पर्णैः सर्वत्र संयुताम् ।फलपूगेन संयुक्तां सुवर्णस्य फलेन तु ॥
Baudhayana tells of another act: Have a fine banana tree made, covered all over with leaves. It has a bunch of fruit, and the fruit is of gold.
Kshaya (wasting disease) - past deeds
यथाविभवतः कुर्याद्वस्त्रेणावेष्ट्य सूत्रकैः ।ब्राह्मणान्भोजयेच्चापि भक्ष्यैर्नानाविधैस्तथा ॥
As his wealth allows, he should wrap it in cloth with threads. He should also feed priests with many kinds of food.
Kshaya (wasting disease) - past deeds
होमं चं कारयेत्तत्र पूर्ववद्ब्राह्मणेन च ।हिरण्यगर्भ इत्यादितल्लिंगैः प्राक्तेन तु ॥
There a priest should do a homa (fire offering) as before. He uses the verses that begin "hiranyagarbha" and their matching verses, as said earlier.
Kshaya (wasting disease) - past deeds
तस्मै तां कदलीं दद्याद्वस्त्रालंकारपूर्विकाम् ।पूजिताय दरिद्राय दांतस्थायात्मवेदिने ॥धर्मज्ञायातिदान्ताय मंत्रेणानेन तां क्षयी ।
He should give that banana tree, with cloth and ornaments first, to a poor man who is honoured and self-controlled. The man should know the Self and know duty. The sick person gives it with this mantra:
Kshaya (wasting disease) - past deeds
हिरण्यगर्भ पुरुष परात्पर जगन्मय ॥रंभादानेन भो देव क्षयं क्षपय मे प्रभो ।
"O Hiranyagarbha, Purusha, beyond the highest, filling the world! O God and Lord, by this gift of the banana tree, destroy my wasting." This is the dana (gift) mantra.
Kshaya (wasting disease) - past deeds
पुण्याहवाचनं कार्यं ब्राह्मणैर्वेदपारगैः ।शिष्टैरिष्टैर्बन्धुभिश्च सहभोजनमाचरेत् ॥
The punyahavachana (blessing rite) should be done with priests who know the Vedas well. Then he should share a meal with wise and dear friends and kin.
Rajayakshma (consumption) - past deeds
अथ राजयक्ष्मणि यः पुनर्मदगर्वाभ्यां वृथाभिमानी धर्मशास्त्रज्ञानी सभायां प्रायश्चित्तव्यवहारं करोति स राजयक्ष्मी भवति।प्रतिरूपं दद्यात्
Next, about rajayakshma (a wasting disease called the king of illnesses). A man may be falsely proud, as one who knows the books of duty. Out of pride and conceit, he gives rulings on making amends in an assembly. The text says he may have rajayakshma. He should give a likeness.
Rajayakshma (consumption) - past deeds
तदुक्तं ब्रह्माण्डपुराणे ॥धर्मशास्त्रानभिज्ञो यः प्रायश्चित्तं ददाति वै ।राजयक्ष्मा भवेत्तस्य रोगपीडातिदारुणा ॥पूर्वोक्तेन विधानेन प्रदद्यात्प्रतिरूपकम् । इति ।
This is told in the Brahmanda Purana: One who does not know the books of duty may give a ruling on making amends. He may then have rajayakshma (a wasting disease called the king of illnesses). The pain of the illness is very hard. He should give a likeness by the rule told before.
Rajayakshma (consumption) - past deeds
राजयक्ष्मणि असाध्यरोगक्षयार्थं व्याधिप्रतिरूपदानं वा कुर्यात् ॥
For rajayakshma (a wasting disease called the king of illnesses), one may also give a likeness of the illness. This is to end an illness that does not yield to treatment.
Rajayakshma (consumption) - past deeds
तदुक्तं ब्रह्माण्डपुराणे ॥ ब्रह्मोवाच — —सुवर्णरत्नरजतैर्यथाशक्त्यानुरूपतः ।कृत्वा च प्रतिमां व्याधेर्दद्याद्विप्राय यत्नतः ॥
This is told in the Brahmanda Purana. Brahma said: Make an image of the illness with gold, gems and silver, as far as one can. Give it with care to a priest.
Rajayakshma (consumption) - past deeds
शतेन वा तदर्धेन त्रिंशता निष्कसंख्यया ।जातरूपमयं व्याधिं प्रतिरूपं तु कारयेत् ॥
Make the likeness of the illness in gold. It should weigh a hundred nishka (gold coin weight), or half of that, or thirty.
Rajayakshma (consumption) - past deeds
निधाय पात्रे संपूर्णे तंदुलैः शतरूपकैः ।अलंकृत्य च सौवर्णं रूपं चागुरुलेपनैः ॥
Place it in a vessel filled with rice and a hundred rupaka (coins). Decorate the gold figure with a paste of aguru (agarwood).
Rajayakshma (consumption) - past deeds
वासोयुगेन संवेष्टच हिरण्यबहुभूषणैः ।अलंकृताय विप्राय दद्यान्मन्त्रमुदीरयेत् ॥
Wrap it in a pair of cloths, with gold and many ornaments. Give it to a priest who has been adorned, and say this mantra:
Rajayakshma (consumption) - past deeds
ये मां रोगाः प्रबाधन्ते देहस्थाः सततं ततः ।गृह्णीष्व प्रतिरूपेण तान्रोगान्द्विजसत्तम ॥
"O best of priests, take in this likeness the illnesses that always trouble me in the body."
Rajayakshma (consumption) - past deeds
बाढमित्येव तद्रूपं गृह्णीयाच्चाधिभिः सह ।ततः स रोगी दाता च दीर्घायुष्यं प्रपद्यते ॥
The priest says "Be it so" and takes that form, with the mental pains. The text says that then the sick person and the giver reach a long life.
Rajayakshma (consumption) - past deeds
यद्यपि पात्र इति सामान्येनाभिहितं तथापि कांस्यमये विज्ञातव्यम्। कांस्यं च यक्ष्मणे देयमिति वचनात् ॥
The vessel is named in a general way, yet it should be understood as made of bronze. For bronze is to be given to one with yakshma (wasting disease), says the saying.
Rajayakshma (consumption) - past deeds
अत्र प्रतिगृहीतृमुखं नावलोकयेत्
Here one must not look at the face of the one who takes the gift.
Rajayakshma (consumption) - past deeds
यदुक्तम् ।दुःप्रतिग्रहदग्धस्य विप्रस्य किल भारत ।न पश्येद्वदनं पश्चान्न वै तमभिभाषयेत् ॥
As it is said: "O Bharata, a priest may be burnt by taking a bad gift. One should not look at his face afterwards. Nor should one speak with him."
This is from the saying of the Mahabharata. This ends the rule of giving a likeness for all illnesses.
Urahkshata (chest injury) - past deeds
उरःक्षतस्यापि क्षयरोगान्तःपातित्वात् व्याधिगुरुलघुभावेन क्षयरोगोक्तमेव कार्यम् । तद्वत्स्वरभेदस्यापि।
A wound in the chest also falls within kshaya (wasting disease). So what is told for kshaya should be done, by how heavy or light the illness is. The same holds for a broken voice.
Unit 18.5 gives one hundred and eight as the usual count. Unit 18.6 gives ten thousand when the trouble is heavy.