ANIMALS IN THE INSCRIPTIONS OF PIYADASI. 369 



a compound of two words, like kaphata-sayake lower down ? In Vasistha-sarhhita one veha 

 is found in the list of the forbidden animals (Veha-gavaya-si'sumdra-nakra-kulira xiv. 41). 



(xv) Gamga-puputake (Ds. 5, R. 3, Mat. 4) "take (A. 21 ; Dm. eff.). Gamga- 



Unidentified. From its place in the context and from the reference to the Gangd 

 river, it seems to be an aquatic animal. Similar expressions are Gaiigdteya (prawn or 

 shrimp) in the Haravali, and Gdngeya (Hilsa fish). 



(xvi) The skate fish. Skate-fish. 



Samkuja-macche (in all). 



The word means literally fish that can contract or withdraw themselves in. Accord- 

 ingly both Senart and Buhler take it to be the skate. Cf. sdnkuci in the Bhoja-pra- 

 bandha. 



(xvii and xviii) the tortoise — porcupine. Tortoise— 



Kaphata-sayake (DS. 3, A.?), eseyake (R. 3, Mat. 4). Porcupine. 



A compound, of which the Sanskrit equivalent is kamatha-'salyakan. 



I have not been able to find out kamatha in the vedic literature. Its other synonyms 

 kilrma and kacchapa are mentioned. Kurma is the usual word (Ath. sarh. ix. 4. 16 ; Taitt, 

 sarh. ii. 6. 3, v. 2.8; Vaj. sarh. xiii. 31, xxiv. 34, xxv. 3 ; Ait. br. viii. 21. 10; frequently 

 in Sat. br. i. 6. 2. 3,vi. 1. 12. 2.30, vii. 5, 1. 1, 5. x. 4. 3. 14; Katy. Sv.su. xvii. 4. 27, 9. 4). 

 Yaska defines kacchapa thus : — kacchapah kaccham pdti kacchcna pdtl-ti vd kacchena pivat-iti 

 (Nirukta, iv. 18). 



The kurma is placed by Caraka among the vdri-'saydh (Sutra xxvii. 38), and by 

 Susruta among the pddinah (Sutra Ch. xlvi). According to Caraka, the flesh of tortoise 

 is allayer of winds, vigour-giver, strengthener of the eyes, the memory and the compre. 

 hension, good (as diet) and useful in consumption (Sutra xxvii. 78 ; cf. Sus. Sutra, Ch. 

 xlvi). The tortoise-flesh is prescribed in piles (Caraka, Cikitsa. ix. 126), and in dysentery 

 (ib. x. 41), and as useful for persons injected (ib. Siddhi. xii. 44). 



Salyaka or porcupine was known from the earliest times (Ath. sam v. 13, 9, Vaj. 

 sarh. xxiv. 35). The quills of porcupines were used in certain ceremonies (Sat. br. ii. 6. 

 4. 5, Sankh. Sr. su. xvi. 28, 4). 



Salyaka (v.L, sallaka) came under the class bhumi-'saydh in Caraka-sarhhita (Sutra, 

 xxvii. 36), and by Susruta under vile'saydh (Sutra. Ch. xlvi). According to Caraka, 

 the porcupine flesh is sweet, on cooking pungent, destroyer of wind, liver and cough 

 (-humours), removes cough and (hard) breathing (Sutra, xxvii. 74; cf. Sus. Sutra. Ch. 

 lxvi). Its flesh is prescribed in piles (Car. Cikitsita. ix. 126), and its blood and skin in 

 asthma (ib. xi. 109, 114). 



Both the tortoise and porcupine came under the great class of patlca-nakhdh or five- 

 toed animals. The flesh of all the five-toed animals (except five or six) had been forbidden 

 before the second century B.C. In the Mahabhasya, Vol. I., p. 5 (I. 1. 1), is quoted the 

 dictum panca panca-nakhd dhaksyd, and then follows a discussion leading to the inference 

 that the other five-toed animals are not eatable. See also the Mahabharata. 



