A History of Indian Medical Literature v1.c22.46

v1.c22.46

GUṆĀKARA is regarded as the author of a commentary on the Carakasaṃhitā. 221 The few quotations which are available may be in support of this hypothesis. Vijayarakṣita and Vācaspati mention in their commentaries on the Mādhavanidāna (5.31–32 = Ca.Ci. 14.21–22) explanations of a particular technical term by Cakra(pāṇidatta), Guṇākara and Gadādhara. Niścalakara repeats these comments, with slight variants, in his Ratnaprabhā, replacing Gadādhara by a work called Candrikā. 222 The quotation in the Mādhavanidāna may imply that, besides Cakrapāṇidatta, Guṇākara and Gadādhara commented on the Carakasaṃhitā; this piece of evidence is unfortunately not conclusive, because the technical term involved (āṭopa) also occurs in the Suśrutasaṃhitā. Moreover, Niścala’s remarks form part of his comments on a verse from an unknown source, which may or may not be Caraka. 223 Another quotation from Guṇākara in Niścala’s commentary 224 is inconclusive, because it refers to a verse borrowed from an unknown source again.