Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c44.s2: Yājñavalkya and Patañjali
Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c44.s2
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Yājñavalkya and Patañjali
v2.c44.s2.1
In the pre-Christian era, Yājñavalkya wrote about minerals and metals in his *Smṛti*; the *Śloka* 181 of *Vyavahāra* dealt with the relative deterioration of metals when treated with fire: ‘Gold does not suffer deterioration, of silver is two palas, of tin and lead eight, of copper five and of iron ten palas per hundred’. In *Ācārādhyāya*, 190, he recommends that
v2.c44.s2.2
त्रपुसीसकताम्राणां क्षारम्लोदक वारिभिः।
भस्माद्रिः कांस्यलोहानां शुद्धिः प्लावो द्रव्य च।।
*trapusīsakatāmrāṇāṃ kṣārāmlodaka vāribhiḥ* |
*bhasmādriḥ kāṃsyalohānāṃ śuddhiḥ plāvo dravasya ca* ||
v2.c44.s2.3
tin, lead and copper may be cleaned by alkali and acid water whereas iron and *kāmsya*, copper alloy (could it mean brass also as suggested by Roy, 1946:108? Brass was mentioned as *riti* by Caraka and Manu) should be cleaned by ash and water. Yājñavalkya advised the kings to use copper plates to write deeds (*Ācāra*, 318-320).
v2.c44.s2.4
Patañjali was a contemporary of Puśyamitra Śuṅga (c. 187-151 bc). He was not only a great grammarian, composing the famous *Mahābhāṣya* of Pāṇini, but also a philosopher of mind and body. Bhoja commented in his *Nyāyavartika*.
v2.c44.s2.5
योगेन चित्तस्य पदेन वाचां मलं शरीरस्य तु वैद्यकेन
योऽपाकरोत् तं प्रवरं मुनीनां पतंजलिं प्राञ्जलिः आनतोऽस्मि
*yogena cittasya padena vācām malaṃ śarīrasya tu vaidyakena*
*yo’pākarot taṃ pravaraṃ munīnām patañjaliṃ prāñjaliḥ ānato’smi*
v2.c44.s2.6
that he was the physician of the mind (vide his *Yogasūtra*) and of the body. Patañjali was interested in alchemy and medicine, and recommended the use of minerals and metals for health and other purposes. Al-Beruni quoted Patañjali’s view that ‘one of the methods leading to liberation is *Rasāyana*’. (Sachau, 1983: Vol.1, p.189) Nāgārjuna, who is acknowledged as the Father of Indian Chemistry considered Patañjali to be a leader in alchemy.
v2.c44.s2.7
Patañjali wrote on metallurgy and his *Lohaśāstra* has been partially quoted by other authors. He observed that the Mauryas, in order to replenish their treasury, had sold metallic images of gods like Śiva, Skanda, etc. He mentioned the use of vessels made of bronze (and brass?) as containers of milk products:
v2.c44.s2.8
बहुक्षीरघृतमोदनं कांस्यपात्र्याम् भुञ्जीरन्निति ।।
*bahukṣīraghṛtamodanaṃ kāmsyapātryām bhuñjīranniti* ||
(*Mahābhāṣya*, 8.2.3.1)
v2.c44.s2.9
He also mentioned the use of trapu or tin (6.1.69.5 and 6.1.85.17 in *Mahābhāṣya*).
Linked texts (4)
- Carakasaṃhitā — Agniveśa (Āyurveda) & Caraka, Sanskrit
- Yājñavalkyasmṛti — Yājñavalkya, Sanskrit
- Yogasūtra — Patañjali (author of the Yogasūtra), Sanskrit
- Lohaśāstra (Patañjali) — Patañjali, Sanskrit