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Vira Simhavaloka · Chapter 98
बालरोग — कर्मविपाकः
This Bala roga karmavipaka chapter links a child's trouble to ways kept before birth. It gives penance fasts and a gift of food as amends.
Classical view, not medical advice.
It also names seizing spirits said to trouble a frightened child.
The English below is our translation from the Sanskrit.
Bala roga (children's illness) - past deeds
अथ कर्मविपाकप्रकारेण बालानां रोगोपशांतिमा ह । गर्भस्थो निषिद्धाहारे क्रियमाणे निषिद्धाचारेण अशुभकर्मणां जन्मांतरे जन्मप्रभृत्यशौचो रोगी जायते । मातुरनुपचारकारी अशुभत्रिदोषजातरोगी जायते । एतच्चरकादिशास्त्रेऽभिहितं।
Next, according to karmavipaka (fruit of past deeds), the text tells how children's illness eases. Forbidden food may be eaten and forbidden ways kept while the child is in the womb. Through these bad deeds, in another birth the child may be born unclean and sick from birth. One who did not care for his mother may be born sick, with the three humours out of balance. Charaka and other books of shastra (science) say this.
Bala roga (children's illness) - past deeds
अस्य प्रायश्चित्तं कृच्छ्रातिकृच्छ्रचांद्रायणं कुर्यात् । सर्वरोगोपशांत्यर्थं व्याहृतिहोमं चान्नदानं च ब्रह्मांडपुराणेभिहितम् ।
For this, he should do prayashchitta (making amends). He should keep the krichchhra (penance fast), the stricter atikrichchhra, and the chandrayana (moon-phase fast). To ease all illness, he should give food. He should also do the vyahriti (the sacred calls bhur, bhuvah, svah) homa (fire offering). The Brahmanda Purana says this.
Bala roga (children's illness) - past deeds
ताडनतर्जनहासभयाद्वा निजजननीप्राकृताहितभावात् ।स्कंदमुखाःप्रमथावलिहेतोःशिशुकममंगलमाशुविशंति ॥
A child may be beaten, scolded, laughed at or frightened. Or the mother may have careless, harmful ways. Then the Pramathas (Shiva's attendants) led by Skanda quickly enter the child. They bring it harm, seeking a bali (offering to spirits).
Bala roga (children's illness) - past deeds
स्तब्धविलोचनशोणितगंधः कुटिलमुखाल्परवो लुलिताक्षः ।स्तन्यपराङ्मुखगाढविमुष्टिश्चकितमनाः शिशुराकुलितस्तैः ॥
A child troubled by them has staring eyes and a smell of blood. His face is twisted and his cry faint. His eyes roll. He turns away from the breast and clenches his fists tightly. His mind is startled.
Bala roga (children's illness) - past deeds
तत्र पताकाविलेपनघटरूयहमिह कुक्कुटबलिंदद्यात्।
There, [one should give] flags, anointing paste and a pot, and a bali (offering to spirits) of a cock. (Our text is unclear here: the words after "pot" cannot be read.)
Unit 98.2 sets the penance fast, the stricter fast and the moon-phase fast, with a gift of food.