Superiority of kshara and uses of external and potable kshara

Kshara cuts, splits and scrapes and, made from tridosha-destroying drugs, destroys all three doshas; because it can be used where a knife cannot, for example when drunk, it is called superior to knives and accessory instruments. The verses list the diseases for external kshara and for potable kshara, and end by saying fire is sharper still.