A History of Indian Medical Literature v3.c43.s6.1

v3.c43.s6.1

Narasiṃha's commentary (bhāṣya) on the Rasavaiśeṣikasūtra⁴⁴¹ is essential for understanding the often obscure and very concise sūtras. It presents a considerable number of quotations, usually without naming the source, with the exception of Bharadvāja (1.2), Caraka (1.6), Nimī (3.36 and 4.30), Suśruta (1.6), and Urabhra (3.36). Important is the absence of quotations from Vāgbhaṭa's works, the more so when it is conceded that the Rasavaiśeṣikasūtra and its commentary were composed in Kerala,⁴⁴² where Vāgbhaṭa is the leading authority in āyurvedic theory and practice. Some scholars⁴⁴³ inferred from this that Narasiṃha must be earlier than Vāgbhaṭa. As it is improbable that the latter became the foremost authority for physicians in Kerala immediately after the composition of his works, it is also legitimate to suppose that, in Narasiṃha's times, Vāgbhaṭa had not yet the great prestige he acquired later.