A History of Indian Medical Literature v3.c49.s6.71

v3.c49.s6.71

Actually, Yaśodhara belongs to a later period, because he was acquainted with the drug usually called cobacīnī, but referred to in the Rasaprakāśasudhākara as dvīpāntarotthā (8.36). 119 This drug, of foreign origin, as indicated by its name, was introduced by the Portuguese in the sixteenth century. 120 In agreement with this date is the description of rasakarpūra (3.6–10ab). Both cobacīnī and rasakarpūra were employed in the treatment of syphilis, a disease left unmentioned in the Rasaprakāśasudhākara, which may mean that Yaśodhara, although belonging to the sixteenth century, 121 preceded Bhāvamiśra, who composed the Bhāvaprakāśa. 122 This chronological position implies that Yaśodhara’s work and the Rasaratnasamuccaya are not far removed from each other in time.