A History of Indian Medical Literature v3.c49.s1: Contents

A History of Indian Medical Literature v3.c49.s1

Language: English

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Volume I consists of eight chapters, preceded by a maṅgala.

Chapter one (rasasādhanasya prayojanāni; 6–17) deals with the qualifications of a teacher and his disciple, the construction of the laboratory (rasaśālā), the rasaliṅga and its worship, and the equipment (upakaraṇāni) of the laboratory. Chapter two (śi-ṣyopanayana; 18–26) is on the initiation of a student. Chapter three (rasaprasaṅga; 27–36) begins with a eulogy of mercury, followed by verses on the various kinds of mercury and the meaning of its names.

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Chapter four (pāradaprasaṅga; 7–220) deals with the blemishes of mercury (7–8), the eighteen saṃskāras (39–40), śodhana (40–51), svedana (51–53), mardana (54–56), uddhṛti (56–57), 2 ūrdhvapātana (57–60), adhapātana (60–61), adhapātana followed by ūrdhvapātana (61–63), tiryakpātana (63), rodhana or nirodha (63–66), niyāmana (66–69), dīpana (69–71), anuvāsana (71), the plants called rasamūlikā (72–73), two easy ways of complete purification of mercury (73–75), grāsana (75–93; verses on the preparation of viḍas 3 and a viḍavatī form part of this section), gandhakajāra-ṇa (94–98), abhrakasattvajāraṇa (98–99), mūrchanā (99–126; the preparation of rasasindūra, rasakarpūra, pītarasa, kṛṣṇarasa, parpaṭīrasa, rasatālaka, makaradhvaja, and svarṇasindūra forms part of this section), bandhana (126–129), saṃcāraṇa (129–130), garbhadṛuti (130–132), jāraṇa (132–142; related subjects dealt with are the vajramūṣā, viḍas, and a viḍavatī), grāsamāna (140–141), māraṇa (142–156), bhasmī-karaṇa (156–176), the medicinal uses of mercurial ashes (bhasman) and the anupānas to be taken (176–190), a few rasayogas (190–192: vajrapaṅjarasa, pañcāmṛta), the regimen that precedes the taking of mercurial preparations (192–195: kṣetrīkaraṇa), rules accompanying their use (195–205), the disorders resulting from improper use of mercury and the treatment of these disorders (205–213), niyāmaka plants (214), the plants called mūlikā (215–217), and plants and substances used in the killing (māraṇa) of mercury (217–220).

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Chapter five (rasarañjana; 221–249) is concerned with the processes called rañjana (221–222), sāraṇā (222–236), saṃkrāmaṇa (236), and vedhana (237–249). Chapter six (yantrāṇi; 250–298) describes yantras and koṣṭhikās (250–285), crucibles (mūṣā; 285– 293), and puṭas (293–298). Chapter seven (299–320) contains a series of definitions (paribhāṣā; 299–309), followed by verses on weights and measures (309–311). The second part of the chapter is devoted to the bandhas of mercury (311–320). Chapter eight (321–350) describes methods of making gold and silver; it ends with some verses on the bleaching (śvetīkaraṇa) of copper.

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Volume II consists of four chapters, preceded by a maṅgala. Chapters one to three are about the uparasas, chapter four deals with some of the metals.

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Chapter one (2–129) begins with an enumeration of the uparasas, divided into three groups: (a) substances to be purified and killed: vajrābhra, the two kinds of mākṣika, vimala, śilājatu, tutthaka, sasyaka, capala, and rasaka; (b) substances used in mercurial operations: gandha, gairika, kāsīsa, kānkṣī, tāla, śīlā, añjana, and kaṅkuṣṭha; (c) substances having some properties in common with mercury and therefore called sādhāraṇarasas: kampilla, gauripāṣāṇa, navasāraka, kaparda, vahnijāra, girisindūra, hiṅgula, mṛddāraśṛṅga, and bhūnāga.

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The subjects of chapter one are: mica (abhraka), its four usual varieties, its purification, the preparation of dhānyābhra, the killing of mica, the amṛtīkaraṇa of the ashes, plants and some substances employed in the killing of mica, the medicinal uses of the ashes of mica, the extraction of the essence, its purification and killing, the softening (mṛdūkaraṇa) of essences, the liquefaction (druti) of mica, the transmutation (vedha) of base metals by means of mica (3–60); the varieties, purification, killing, the extraction of the essence, etc., of mākṣika (61–77), vimala (77–83), śilājatu (83–104), tuttha (104–110), sasyaka (110–115), capala (115–118), and rasaka or kharpara (118–129).

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The subjects of chapter two (130–210) are: sulphur (gandhaka), its varieties, purification, the uses of purified sulphur, the preparation of gandhataila, the removal of the bad smell, and the transmutation of metals by means of sulphur (130–149); the varieties, purification, the extraction of the essence, and medicinal uses of gairika (146–149), kāsīsa (149–152), kānkṣī or tuvarī (152–154), haritāla (155–196), manaḥśilā (196–201), añjana (201–207), and kaṅkuṣṭha (207–210).

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The subjects of chapter three (211–236) are: kampilla and its purification; the purification of sādhāraṇarasas in general (211–212); the purification, etc., of gauripāṣāṇa (213–214), navasāra (214–216), varāṭikā or kapardī (216–219), śaṅkha (219–221), agnijāra (221–222), girisindūra (222–224), hiṅgula (cinnabar) (224–233), mṛddāraśṛṅga (233–234), and bhūnāgas (234–236).

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Chapter four (237–288) is concerned with gold, silver and copper. The chapter begins with an enumeration of the seven metals (dhātu, loha): gold, silver, copper, iron, zinc, tin and lead, and the three alloys (miśraloha): pittala, kāṃsya and vartaka. The subjects of chapter four are: the varieties and properties, purification, killing, etc., of gold (237–259), silver (259–273), and copper (273–288).

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Volume III is divided into eleven chapters.

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Chapter one, preceded by a maṅgala, is devoted to iron and maṇḍūra (3–95). Its subjects are: the properties of iron, its seven natural blemishes, its varieties, purification, killing (bhānupāka, sthalīpāka, puṭapāka are also dealt with; the items of a number of gaṇas are enumerated), niruttīkaraṇa and amṛtīkaraṇa of the ashes, the uses of the ashes, liquefaction of iron (3–91); maṇḍūra, its properties, varieties and uses, its purification and liquefaction (91–95).

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Chapter two (96–140) is devoted to the varieties, properties, purification, killing, etc., of zinc (96–101), tin (101–120), and lead (120–140).

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The subjects of chapter three (140–158) are: the three alloys, their purification and killing (140–152); triloha, its purification, killing and uses (152–153); the extraction of the essence of bhūnāga and the uses of this essence (kharasattva; 153–157).

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Chapter four (159–259) is devoted to the ratnas and uparatnas (precious and semi-precious stones). Sixteen ratnas are enumerated: vajra (diamond), marakata (emerald), māṇikya (ruby), mauktika (pearl), nīlamaṇi (sapphire), gomeda (zircon), vaidūrya (cat’s eye), dagdhahīraka or vaikrānta (garnet), sphaṭika (quartz), candrakānta (moonstone), sūryakānta (sunstone), pravālaka (coral), karketa (chrysoberyl), puṣparāga (topaz), rājāvarta (lapis lazuli), and bhīṣmaka (a kind of quartz); seven uparatnas are mentioned: pālaṅka (onyx), rudhira (carnelian), pūti(kā) or putrikā (peridote), tārkṣaja (turquoise), pīlu (jade), upala (opal, chalcedony and agate), and sugandhika (spinel) (159–160).

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The subjects dealt with are: diamonds, their classification, characteristics, blemishes, purification, killing, etc. (163–187), the purification and killing of gems in general (188–195), marakata (196–201), māṇikya (201–209), pearls (209–217), nīla (217–220), gomeda (220–223), vaidūrya (223–226), vaikrānta (226–235), sphaṭika (235–237), candrakānta and sūryakānta (238–239), pravāla (240–242), karketa (242–244), puṣparāga (245–248), rājāvarta (248–251), bhīṣmaka or bhīṣmamaṇi (251–252), and the uparatnas (252–259).

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Chapter five (260–282) deals with groups of alkaline substances (kṣāra), their sources, general properties, yavakṣāra, ūṣara, miśrakṣāra, svarjikṣāra, ṭaṅkaṇa, the uses of kṣāra, the preparation of kṣāra, more groups of kṣāras.

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Chapter six (283–291) is about salts (lavaṇa); six types are distinguished: sāmudra, saindhava, viḍa, sauvarcala, romaka, and cūlikālavaṇa.

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Chapter seven (292–329) describes poisonous substances (viṣa). Ten sources of sthāvaraviṣa (poisons of vegetable origin and inorganic substances) are distinguished: roots, leaves, fruits, flowers, barks, milky juices, woods, exudates (niryāsa), tubers, and metals. The usual eighteen poisonous tubers are enumerated and described (292–303).⁴ The eight tuber poisons that may be used for medicinal purposes are divided into brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya and śūdra types. The disorders caused by poisonous substances and the treatment of these disorders are dealt with. The purification and killing of tuber poisons are described, followed by rules about the medicinal uses of poisonous substances. The chapter ends with poisons of animal origin, especially snake venom.

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⁴ text of the note

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Chapter eight (330–360) gives an account of the minor poisons (upaviṣa), their purification and uses (330–351); the thirteen minor poisons (of vegetable origin) are: snuhī, arka, lāṅgalī, guñjā, karavīra, viṣamuṣṭi, dhāttūra, jayapāla, bhallātaka, nirviṣā, ativiṣā, ahiphena, and jayā (= bhaṅgā).⁵ The second part of the chapter is concerned with the treatment of disorders caused by upaviṣas (351–357), the purification of a number of seeds, guggulu, and leeches (357–360).

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⁵ text of the note

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Chapter nine (361–369) is about the extraction of oil (tailapātana) from a number of seeds.

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Chapter ten (370–383) describes fermented fluids (samdhāna), which are divided into three groups: (1) alcoholic, (2) non-alcoholic, medicated, (3) non-alcoholic and non-medicated. The first group (madya) consists of gauḍī, mādhvī, paiṣṭī, kādambarī, vāruṇī, mādhūkī, maireyī, and mārdvīka; the second group consists of the āsavas and ariṣṭas; the third group consists of sīdhu, śukta, dhānyāmla, kāñjika, guḍaśukta, cukra, tuṣāmbu, sauvīra, āranāla, and śiṇḍākī.

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Chapter eleven (384–390) contains definitions of śulvanāga, varaloha, ghoṣā-kṛṣṭatāmra, cullakā, patangirāga, āvāpa, abhiṣeka, nirvāpa, śuddhāvarta, bījāvarta, svāngaśītala, and bahiḥśīta. The chapter ends with a list of thirty-seven Rasasiddhas.

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Volume IV consists of six chapters, preceded by a maṅgala and prayer to the author’s iṣṭadeva.

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Chapter one (3–35) is about rules regarding diet and behaviour, followed by general rules about the taking of medicines, in particular rasayogas. Chapters two to six deal with a number of diseases, their aetiology, symptoms and treatment, in particular the treatment with rasas.

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Volume V begins with a maṅgala again, followed by a large number of adhikāras, devoted to the aetiology, symptoms and treatment, in particular the treatment with rasas, of many diseases.

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Authorities, referred to in the Rasajalanidhi, are: Ādima (III, 65),⁶ Bhāluki (II, 207), Brahmajyotis (III, 181),⁷ Candrasena (III, 183⁸ and 245),⁹ Nandin (I, 265 and 271; II, 147), Lakṣmīśvara (II, 245),¹⁰ Rāmacandra (III, 4–5),¹¹ Śambhu (I, 280), Somadeva (III, 156),¹² Śukra (III, 65),¹³ and Suśruta (III, 279).

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The list of thirty-seven Rasasiddhas (III, 389–390) consists of: Ādima, Anantadevasūri,¹⁴ Bhāskara, Bhūdeva,¹⁵ Brahmā, Brahmajyotis,¹⁶ Candrasena, Daṇḍin,¹⁷ Gomukha, Govinda, Hari, Indrada, Kambali, Kāpālika, Kāpālin, Khaṇḍa, Lambaka, Laṅkeśa, Māṇḍavya, Manthānabhairava, Matta, Nāgabodhi, Nāgārjuna, Nandirāja, Naravāhana, Nityanātha,¹⁸ Rāma,¹⁹ Ratnakośa, Śambhu, Sāttvika, Somadeva,²⁰ Śukrācārya,²¹ Surānanda, Śūrasenaka, Vāgbhaṭa,²² Vyāḍi, and Yaśodhara.

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Apart from the authorities referred to, sources are not indicated by the author. Some of the texts from which verses were borrowed are: Rasacintāmaṇi,²³ Rasaratna,²⁴ Rasaratnākara,²⁵ Rasaratnasamuccaya,²⁶ Rasārṇava,²⁷ Rasasāra,²⁸ Rasendracintāmaṇi,²⁹ Rasendracūḍāmaṇi,³⁰ and Rasendrasārasaṃgraha.³¹

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The Rasajalanidhi is one of the sources of the Rasavidyāmahārṇava.

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Hariprapanna is mentioned in Hazārīlāl Sukul’s commentary on the Rasaratnasamuccaya.

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The eighteen saṃskāras are: śodhana, svedana, mardana, uddhṛti, pātana, rodhana, niyāmana, dīpana, anuvāsana, grāsana, mūrchana, saṃcāraṇa, garbhadṛuti, jāraṇa, māraṇa, bhasmīkaraṇa, rañjana, and vedhana (I, 39).³² A type of vedha, added to those borrowed from the Rasendracūḍāmaṇi (4.107cd–111), is sparśavedha (I, 248–249).

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The svedanī- and kaṇḍukayantra are regarded as identical (I, 251).³³ The same applies to the vidyādhara- and pātanāyantra (I, 251–252).³⁴ Yantras added to the series found in the Rasaratnasamuccaya are: khalacarīyantra (I, 268), jalayantra (I, 272–273), ṭaṅkaṇayantra (I, 279), pātālayantra (I, 279–280), tejoyantra (I, 280), gaurīyantra (I, 282), cakrayantra (I, 283), nāḍikāyantra (I, 284), and vāruṇīyantra (I, 285). The hiṅgulākṛṣṭiyantra and valabhīyantra of the Rasaratnasamuccaya are absent.

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Two series of plants and some other substances which are helpful in killing mica are enumerated (II, 29 and 37).

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Mākṣika is said to be found along the river Tāpī, in Kirāta, Cīna and Kānyakubja (II, 61); three varieties are mentioned: svarṇamākṣika, yellow in colour, vimala, red in colour, and tāramākṣika, white in colour; dependent on its shape, four varieties are distinguished (II, 62–63).

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A kind of copper, called nāgatāmra, can be extracted from peacock’s feathers; a ring, made from this material, cures śūla and overcomes all sorts of poison (II, 108–110).

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Four varieties of kāsīsa are described: (a) vālukākāsīsa, white in colour; (b) puṣpa- or padmakāsīsa, yellow in colour; (c) dhātu- or muktakāsīsa, black in colour; (d) a green variety (II, 149–150). Two varieties of kāṅkṣī, tuvarī or saurāṣṭrī are distinguished: piṭikā and phullikā or phullatuvarī; gopīcandana is one of the names of kāṅkṣī (II, 152); the essence of tuvarī is called sphaṭikā (II, 154). Haritāla is of four kinds: pattra- and piṇḍaharitāla, godanta, vakadāla (II, 155). Manaḥśilā is of three kinds: śyāmāṅgī, kaṇavirakā and khaṇḍākhyā (II, 196). Añjana is of six kinds: sauvīrāñjana, nīlāñjana, rasāñjana, sroto’ñjana, kulatthāñjana and puṣpāñjana (II, 201); three types of rasāñjana are distinguished (II, 203). Gaurīpāṣāṇa is also called dārumūṣaka, mūṣaka and sambala; a red, yellow and white variety are distinguished (II, 213). A varāṭī or kapardī is killed by means of an apparatus called pāṇikāyantra (II, 219). Girisindūra is regarded as an upadhātu of lead; two varieties are distinguished: girisindūra and nāgasindūra (II, 222–223).³⁵

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King Rāmacandra is said to have distinguished eight kinds of iron: sāmānya, krauñca, kāliṅga, bhadra, vajra, pāṇḍi, nīrava and kānta (III, 4–5). The three usual types of iron are described: muṇḍa, tīkṣṇa and kānta. The three varieties of muṇḍa are mṛdu, kuṇṭha and kaḍāra (III, 6); the six varieties of tīkṣṇa are khara, sāra, hṛnnāla, tārāpaṭṭa, vajraka and kālalauha (III, 7); the five varieties of kānta are bhrāmaka, cumbaka, karṣaka, drāvaka and romakānta (III, 14–15). Curved lines on the surface of steel are called pogara (III, 8–9). Plants helpful in the killing of iron are gaṇḍinikā (also called sālahañcī, haritaparṇī and martakalambukā), kuṭhāracinna, vikaṅkata and raktamāriṣa (III, 63–64). One method of killing iron, resulting in a product called sudhāsāgaralauha, has to be continued for 4,380 days and requires the juice of 4,380 different plants (III, An apparatus called bhṛṣṭayantra is employed in one of the operations leading to the killing of lead (III, 132). Rītikā (brass) is of two varieties: rājarītikā, consisting of two parts of copper and one part of zinc, and brahmārīti or kākatuṇḍī, an alloy of copper, zinc, and lead (III, 141). The alloy called triloha is composed of twenty-five parts of gold, sixteen parts of silver, and ten parts of copper (III, 152).

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A particular gem, called bhallāta, is said to resemble an emerald (III, 201). Three kinds of sphaṭika are described: mandakāntika (found in the Vindhyas), a black kind (found in Sri Lanka), and jyotīrasa; the last kind is of three varieties: rājāvarta, rājamaya and brahmamaya (III, 236). Upala is of three kinds: marmarāśman (chalcedony), varopala (opal) and rudhirapālaṅka (agate); a white marmarāśman is called karpūramaṇi; a black variety of upala is called bhramaramaṇi (III, 257–258).

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Treatment with duly purified poison is said to cure the eight types of kuṣṭha; the unusual series of eight kuṣṭhas consists of puṇḍarīka, visphoṭa, śveta, audumbara, chinnabhinna, kāpālākhya, klinnāhva and śavagandhi (III, 319).

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The chapter on upaviṣas (III, 330–360) enumerates many names of the poisonous plants described; five varieties of karavīra are distinguished (III, 337) and four varieties of opium (III, 348); the resin from the flowers of hemp (i.e., hashish) is called gañjārasa (III, 351).

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A fermented fluid not known from other texts is jāli (III, 381).³⁶

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The order of the diseases in volumes IV and V does not agree with any of the current arrangements.³⁷

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The author and his date

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The name of the author is Bhūdeva Devaśarman Mukhopādhyāya. He was a brāhmaṇa of Bhāradvājagotra, a son of Harilāla and Nistāriṇī, and was born in Bengal, in a village called Hastiśāla on the banks of the river Mayūrākṣī, in the year 1885. The author mentions Śrīharṣa, who composed the Naiṣadhacarita, as one of his forefathers.³⁸

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Bhūdeva Mukhopādhyāya (Bhudeb Mookerjee) was a practising āyurvedic physician in Calcutta.

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The Rasakāmadhenu

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The Rasakāmadhenu by Cūḍāmaṇi¹ is a compilation, based on earlier texts devoted to alchemy and iatrochemistry.

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Contents²

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The Rasakāmadhenu consists of four sections: upakaraṇapāda (seven chapters), dhātusamgrahapāda (five chapters), sūtakriyāpāda (nine chapters), and cikitsāpāda (fifty-nine chapters). Sections one to three comprise 5,566 verses, interspersed with comments in prose. The verses are borrowed from a large number of sources, mostly mentioned by name; the prose is added by the author.

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The subjects of the chapters (adhikāra) of the upakaraṇapāda are: (1) the alchemical apparatus, implements, etc. (yantra; 179 verses); (2) the fire place (culhī), fuel, puṭas, weights and measures, vessels, etc. (culhyādiprakīrṇa; 73 verses); (3) plants used in alchemical operations (vanauṣadhi; 138 verses); (4) major and minor poisons (viṣa and upaviṣa), substances of animal origin (jaṅgamavarga), oils (taila), various groups of substances, salts and caustics, bidas, and rañjana (viṣajaṅgamavasā-pittatailamalamūtraṣāralavaṇabīḍarāga; 311 1/2 verses); (5) the preparation of bījas (bījasādhana; 141 1/2 verses); (6) the making of mixtures (dvandvamelana), krāmaṇa and rañjana (dvandvamelakrāmaṇarañjana; 182 verses); (7) the teacher, the sādhaka and his female companion, the initiation (dīkṣā), the rasaliṅga and its worship, behavioural rules (ācāra) (rasasādhanopāyakathana; 170 verses).

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The subjects of the chapters of the dhātusamgrahapāda are: (1) the metals, their purification, killing, uses, etc. (sarvalohavidhāna; 923 verses); (2) the gems (maṇi or ratna), their purification, killing, liquefaction (druti), etc. (maṇiratnaśaṅkhavarāṭikādividhana; 167 verses); (3) the mahārasas, their purification, the extraction of their sattvas, their killing, etc. (mahārasāṣṭakavidhāna; 384 verses); (4) the uparasas, their purification, the extraction of their sattvas, their uses, etc. (uparasavidhāna; 273 verses); (5) salts and caustics (lavaṇakṣāra; 50 verses).

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The subjects of the chapters of the sūtakriyāpāda are: (1) the names of mercury, its eulogy, origin and varieties, a māhātmya devoted to mercury, the blemishes of mercury and the disorders caused by them (rasanāmabhedamāhātmyaguṇadoṣanirūpaṇa; 78 verses); (2) the saṃskāras, their number, short descriptions of the saṃskāras (rasasaṃskāravivekalakṣaṇasaṃsepakathana; 99 verses); (3) śodhana, svedana, mardana, mūrchana, pātana, nirodhana, niyamana, and dīpana (rasarājāṣṭasaṃskārakathana;

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190 verses); (4) jāraṇa and related subjects (sūtajāraṇa; 372 verses); (5) additional information on the divine herbs (divyauṣadhi) and their uses (496 1/2 verses); (6) jāraṇa of gems (ratna) for the purpose of rañjana (ratnādijāraṇa; 108 verses); (7) the types of bandha (baddhajāraṇa; 692 verses); (8) the preparation of various pills (guṭikā; 210 verses); (9) sāraṇa, māraṇa, vedha, sevā (sāraṇādi; 329 verses).

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The subjects of the chapters of the cikitsāpāda are: the nidāna and therapy of (1) jvara, (2) dāha, (3) tṛṣṇā, (4) mūrchā, (5) apasmāra, (6) unmāda, (7) madātyaya, (8) pāṇḍurogādi, (9) raktapitta, (10) chardi, (11) amlapitta, (12) arocaka, (13) agniroga, (14) saṃgrahaṇī, (15) atisāra, (16) ānāha, (17) udāvarta, (18) urograha, (19) hṛdroga, (20) kṛmi, (21) śūla, pariṇāmaśūla, annadravapittaśūla, jaratpittaśūla, (22) gulma, (23) udara, (24) śotha, (25) ślīpada, (26) aṇḍavṛddhi, (27) galagaṇḍa, gaṇḍamālā, apacī, arbuda, (28) medoroga, (29) prameha and pramehapiḍakā, (30) mūtrakṛcchra, (31) mūtrāghāta and aśmarī, (32) kṣayaroga and rājayakṣman, (33) kāsa, (34) śvāsa, (35) hikkā, (36) svarabheda, (37) vātavyādhi, (38) āmavāta, (39) vātarakta, (40) kuṣṭha, (41) śitapitta, udarda, koṭha (42) kodrava and masūrikā, (43) kṣudraroga, (44) śūkaroga, (45) upadamśa, (46) arśas, (47) bhagandara, (50) vidradhi, (51) śarīravraṇa, (52) āgantukavraṇa, (53) nāḍīvraṇa, (54) dagdhavraṇa and snāyuroga, (55) netraroga, (56) ūrdhvajatrugataroga, (57) strīroga and somaroga, (58) bālaroga, (59) viṣa, (60) sāmānyavidhividhāna.³

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The last chapter deals with general subjects: the doṣas, their excitation, general remedial measures (sveda, virecana, vamana, raktamokṣa, laṅghana, dhūma, nasya, vraṇopakrama, śastrakarman, etc.).

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The works and authorities quoted or referred to are:⁴ the author's own Abhidhānākāmadhenu (I.4.5–6, 167–172, 175cd–182ab; II.1.65cd–69ab, 162–167ab, 690–695ab; 4.4–5), also quoted as Kāmadhenu (II.2.1–2 and 6–7; 3.218, 261, 276, 282, 319–321ab; 4.16–17ab, 173cd–175ab, 189, 194–197ab, 239–240; 5.1–9ab; III.1.1–2), Ajīrṇamañjarī (I.4.166),⁵ Ayurvedaprakāśa (II.1.168–170; 4.241–242),⁶ Bhāluki (II.4.220), the author's own Bhāvacintāmaṇi (I.4.4 and 145; II.1.197–198, 666–671, 695–699, 720; 2.8 and 35–39; 3.72; 4.20, 175–176, 201–203, 211–212, 238; III.1.34–37), Candrajñānatantra (mantras between I.7.141 and 142),⁷ Caraka (prose between II.1.689 and 690;⁸ 3.332–333, prose between 342 and 343), Devanāthamīśra (II.4.31–34; III.2.38),⁹ Devendragiri (I.1.69 and 157–158; 4.201cd–203ab; 5.30; 6.26–34; prose between 7.46 and 47; II.1.132–133ab and 576–580; 3.84–85; prose between III.4.39cd and 40; 7.472cd–489ab; 9.212), Devendragiri's Rasāyanasārasaṃgraha (I.5.136–141; II.1.256–267ab),¹⁰ Devendragirisamgraha (II.1.46, 498–505, 735–736; 3.67–68ab and 124–127; 4.26cd–29; III.7.32cd–36, 78–80ab, 112cd–119, 125cd–151, 249cd–252ab, 302–308; 8.55–68 and 73–117; 9.39cd–50 and 97–100ab),¹¹ Devīyāmala (1.66–69ab; 2.1–4; 4.311; 5.136cd; II.1.874–879; 3.149–157ab; 4.57–60ab and 230–231ab; III.2.36 and 39–47; 9.74–78),¹² Dhanvantariya (II.1.98),¹³ Gorakṣamata (II.3.362–367), Hemacandra (prose between IV.9.242 and 243), Kakṣāpuṭi (III.5.316),¹⁴ Lohapaddhati (II.1.78–79, 668–675ab, 685–687, prose between 690 and 690, 699–702, 719, 723–724, 758–807; 3.69–71 and 80–82),¹⁵ Lohasāstra (II.1.675–685ab), Manthānabhairava (I.3.54), Nāgārjuna (II.3.287), Nighaṇṭurāja (I.4.149),¹⁶ Purandararahasya (II.3.360–361), Rasacintāmaṇi

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(I.4.240–256ab; II.1.81–83, 109–111ab, 317–318, 320–321, 349–403, 428–456, 478–482, 495–497, 519cd–521, 533–575, 610–647, 752–754, 852–860, 911–915; 2.125–127 and 133–137; 3.162–167ab, 246cd–248, 307cd–310; 4.104–173ab, 218, 252–254, 273; III.3.147–150ab and 160cd–163; 4.7–20, 37–40ab, 169cd–177ab, 264–268; 7.120–122, 212ab–220, 319–363, 431–454ab; 8.37cd–49ab and 118–131ab),¹⁷ Rasadarpaṇa (I.1.61–62ab; II.1.101–108; 3.383; III.1.44; 3.59), Rasahṛdaya (often), Rasālaṃkāra (III.5.287cd–291), Rasamañjarī (often), Rasamārtaṇḍa (I.4.2–3ab, 83–84, 174cd–175ab, 239, 300cd–304ab; 7.45–46; II.2.31cd–35ab; 3.311–312; III.2.20–22; 3.2 and 5cd–7ab; 9.313–328), Rasāmṛta (II.1.4–5ab, 20, 74, 889–897ab), Rasapaddhati (often), Rasapaddhatiṭīkā (often), Rasapradīpa (II.1.506), Rasarahasya (III.5.280cd–287ab), Rasarājahamsa (II.4.21–22; III.4.177cd–178ab), Rasarājalakṣmī (I.4.150–158ab, 191–197, 203cd–211; II.1.34–43ab; 3.2cd–4ab; prose between 3.4 and 5, 24cd–26ab, 221, 265cd–270ab; 4.3; III.1.40; 3.7cd–9ab; 4.113–139 and 312–325ab; 7.204–205), Rasaratna (II.1.111cd–116), Rasaratnadīpikā (III.3.1; 8.49cd–54), Rasaratnākara (often), Rasaratnapradīpa (II.1.518cd–519ab; III.4.198–200; 7.203), Rasaratnapradīpikā (I.5.21–22; II.1.918–923; 4.30; III.1.55; 3.25cd–27, 80cd–81, 103–104; 4.187cd–189ab and 211–214; 5.343–344), Rasaratnasamuccaya (I.1.25–29ab), Rasārṇava (often), Rasasamketakalikā (I.4.51–52ab, 62cd–63, 74cd–75ab, 77cd–80ab; II.1.73cd, 117–119, 171, 308–309, 314, 322–326, 465, 689, 866–870ab; 3.135 and 215; III.1.12cd–15), Rasasāra (often), Rasavāgbhaṭa (I.1.130cd–131; III.4.164cd–169ab), Rasāyanasārasamgraha (II.1.599cd–601ab; III.7.182cd–202),¹⁸ Rasendracintāmaṇi (often), Rasendracūḍāmaṇi (often), Rudrayāmala (III.3.165cd–185; 4.236–241), Śaivālābhakṣya(mata) (I.1.133–144; II.3.359), Somadeva (I.3.54),¹⁹ Somanāthasamgraha (II.1.344cd–347),²⁰ Suśruta (I.4.9; prose between 4.35 and 36; II.5.17; prose between 5.29 and 30), Trilocana (prose between I.2.40 and 41), Vāgbhaṭa (prose between II.3.342 and 343), Vaidyakalpadruma (II.1.472cd–477, 511cd–514ab, 885cd–888; 3.170cd–174, 233, 335cd–338ab, prose between 377 and 378; 4.69cd–72ab and 215–216), Vaidyakalpataru (II.1.182–184ab), and Yāmala (I.1.161–164; II.4.190–192ab).

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Some quotations are from a source not mentioned by name.²¹ Variants of verses quoted are occasionally referred to in the comments of Cūḍāmaṇi.²²

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The Rasakāmadhenu is, in spite of its compilatory character, an interesting and valuable work. The quotations abound in readings which may profitably be compared with those of the manuscripts and editions of the works cited.²³ The Rasakāmadhenu also contains numerous passages from less well-known treatises.

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Particularly interesting are the quotations from the Abhidhānākāmadhenu and Bhāvacintāmaṇi, written by Cūḍāmaṇi himself, and those from the Rasāyanasārasamgraha or Devendragirisamgraha by Devendragiri. The Abhidhānākāmadhenu is one of the sources of the Pāradasamhitā; it is quoted in one of the pariśiṣṭas of the Ānandakanda.²⁴ The Bhāvacintāmaṇi is cited in Hāzarīlāl Sukul's commentary on the Rasaratnasamuccaya. Devendragiri and his Rasāyanasārasamgraha are quoted in Gulrājśarmamiśra's commentary on the Āyurvedaprakāśa.

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The passages from the Abhidhānākāmadhenu show that it was an alchemical nighaṇṭu in verse, dealing with the origin, names and varieties of many substances employed in alchemical operations. Distinctive features of the Abhidhānakāmadhenu are, for example: sixteen poisons of vegetable origin, which constitute an unusual series: viṣa, hālāhala, brahmaputra, saurāṣṭrakāhvaya, pradīpana, dārādākhya, kākola, śauktikeyaka, ahicchattra, meṣaśṛṅga, kuṣṭha, haimavata, pippala, pātāla, malina, and kambala (I.4. 5–6); groups of kṣāras, consisting of up to ten items (4.175cd–179); twelve varieties of tīkṣṇaloha: khara, yogala or yogara, vājara, honnāla, pāraśava, sāndra, sāra, auṇḍra, kāliṅga, bhadra, pāṇḍya, and kṛṣṇāyas (II.1.690–695ab); some of the names of rasaka: jasada, caura, śīśakākāra, kharpara, kharparikā, kiṭibha, hematāraja (I.4.282); the series of uparasas: gandha, tāla, śīla, saumya, 25 añjana, 26 tuttha, abdhiphenaka, khaga (= kāsīsa), sindūra, girija, khaṭī, aśman, kācamṛttikā, sphaṭikā, goja, kaṅkuṣṭha, rājāvarta, the salts and the caustics (II.4.4–5).

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The Bhāvacintāmaṇi was concerned with the merits and defects (guṇas and doṣas) of these substances. This work also listed the items belonging to some groups of substances; an example is the vidvarga (I.4.145).

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Devendragiri’s Rasāyanasārasaṃgraha was, as appears from the quotations, a complete alchemical treatise in verse, containing independent descriptions of many processes; Devendragiri’s views deviated in some respects from those of earlier authorities. 27

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The Rasakāmadhenu is quoted in the prakīrṇaka pariśiṣṭa of the Ānandakanda, Gulrājśarmamiśra’s commentary on the Āyurvedaprakāśa, the Āyurvedīya Khanijavijñāna, Hazārīlāl Sukul’s commentary on the Rasaratnasamuccaya, Narendranātha’s Capalanirṇaya, incorporated in the Rasataraṅgiṇī, and in the Rasatattvavivecana. It was one of the sources of the Bheṣajasamhitā, Devasimha Viṭṭhal’s Bṛhadasavāriṣṭasaṃgraha, Harīśaraṇānanda’s Kūpīpakvavasanirmāṇavijñāna, the Pāradasamhitā, Rasadhātuprakāśa, Rasayogasāgara, Rasendrasambhava, Rasoddhāratantra, and Somadevasarman’s commentary on the Āyurvedaprakāśa.

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Cūḍāmaṇi is quoted in Gulrājśarmamiśra’s commentary on the Āyurvedaprakāśa and Hazārīlāl Sukul’s commentary on the Rasaratnasamuccaya.