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A History of Indian Medical Literature v3.c51.s10: The Rasopaniṣad

A History of Indian Medical Literature v3.c51.s10

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English

Contents

The Rasopaniṣad

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The Rasopaniṣad ²⁰⁵ is an anonymous alchemical treatise that is mainly concerned with the transmutation of base metals into gold and silver by means of processed mercury (lohasiddhi); rasāyana and dehasiddhi are important subjects in the last few chapters. ²⁰⁶

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²⁰⁵ The Rasopaniṣad

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²⁰⁶ chapters.

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The Rasopaniṣad is composed in the form of a conversation between Śiva and Pārvatī. The work may have formed part of a larger work, called Mahodadhi, unless Mahodadhi be an alternative title of the Rasopaniṣad. ²⁰⁷

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²⁰⁷ Rasopaniṣad.

Contents

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The Rasopaniṣad has been incompletely preserved, ²⁰⁸ as appears from a table of contents found in chapter one (1.20–84), which gives an analysis of the contents of chapters one to eighteen, followed by information on the topics dealt with in chapters twenty-four to thirty; verses on chapters nineteen to twenty-three are missing. The edited part of the treatise consists of about 2,500 verses and some prose. ²⁰⁹

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²⁰⁸ preserved,

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²⁰⁹ prose.

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Chapter one (rasakaraṇabandha; 119 verses) is concerned with śodhana, tejana, pācana, dāśana, cāraṇa, and pātana (which constitute the sixfold rasakarman), nigraha, bandhana, aṅkuśa, pakṣaccheda, agnikarman, rasakriyā, rañjana, krāmaṇa, sāraṇa, pratisāraṇa, and saṃkarabandha. ²¹⁰

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²¹⁰ pratisāraṇa, and saṃkarabandha.

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The subjects of chapter two (rasavṛddhikaraṇa; 42 verses) are bandha and drāvaṇa, ²¹¹ those of chapter three (sparśavṛddhikaraṇa; 30 verses) ²¹² are sattvapātana, aṅkuśabandha, aṅkuśanipātana, ²¹³ and sparśavedhirasa. ²¹⁴ Chapter four (bījavidhāna; 121 verses) deals with bījas and their uses in rañjana, with groups of substances (varga), and with the dīpikā(yantra). ²¹⁵ Chapter five (vedhapaṭṭa; 14 verses) is concerned with the paṭṭabandha of mercury by means of jyeṣṭha- and madhyamabīja. ²¹⁶ Chapter six (lohakaraṇa; 59 verses) discusses the sattvapātana of rasaka (6.3–19) and other substances: mākṣika, vimala, śaila, capala, and sasyaka. ²¹⁷

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²¹¹ drāvaṇa,

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²¹² 30 verses)

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²¹³ aṅkuśanipātana,

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²¹⁴ sparśavedhirasa.

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²¹⁵ dīpikā(yantra).

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²¹⁶ madhyamabīja.

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²¹⁷ sasyaka.

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The subjects of chapter seven (rañjanakalakavidhi; 79 verses) are pakṣaccheda, loharañjana (in particular the colouring of lead and tin, which makes them resemble gold), and the preparation of bījas, viḍas, and other substances. ²¹⁸ Chapter eight (golakavidhāna; 18 verses) describes the preparation of two kinds of golaka (a variety of baddha mercury), used in transmuting other metals into gold. ²¹⁹ Chapter nine

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²¹⁸ substances.

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²¹⁹ gold.

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(auṣadhibandhana; 14 verses) is about the bandha of mercury by means of plant juices and about bījarañjana. ²²⁰ Chapter ten (nāgasaṃkramaṇa; 13 verses) is about the saṃkramaṇa (i.e., the rañjana and bandha) of mercury by means of nāga and vaṅga, ²²¹ chapter eleven (tārotkarṣavidhāna; 24 verses) about tārotkarṣa (the colouring of silver, which makes it resemble gold) and the six types of kūrpa, which remove impurities. ²²² Chapter twelve (śulbarākalikkaccheda; ²²³ 77 verses) is concerned with the removal of the impurities (kālikkaccheda) left in copper (śulba) and brass (āra). ²²⁴

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²²⁰ bījarañjana.

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²²¹ vaṅga,

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²²² impurities.

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²²³ śulbarākalikkaccheda;

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²²⁴ (āra).

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Chapter thirteen (vaṅgastambhasodhana) gives an account of the stambha (i.e., bandha) of mercury by means of vaṅga. ²²⁵ Chapter fourteen (śodhanavidhi; 47 verses) describes bhāvana, garbhadruṭi, guṭikās, etc. ²²⁶ The subjects of chapter fifteen (abhrakadrāvākādhikaraṇa; 251 verses) are the drāvaṇa, i.e., druṭi, of mica, its cāraṇa and jāraṇa, the preparation of surā, viḍas, and the processes called sāraṇa, krāmaṇa and vedha. ²²⁷ Chapter sixteen (drāvaṇādhikāra; 289 verses) describes the drāvaṇa of dhātus, upadhātus, ratnas, etc. ²²⁸ Chapters seventeen (guhyabandha; 616 verses) and eighteen (rasakaraṇabandhasamnyāsavidhāna; 720 verses) are concerned with the making of gold and silver, mercurial preparations for purposes of rasāyana and dehasiddhi, plants useful for particular alchemical operations, etc. ²²⁹

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²²⁵ vaṅga.

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²²⁶ etc.

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²²⁷ vedha.

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²²⁸ etc.

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²²⁹ etc.

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By far the majority of the verses are ślokas. Long metres and an ornate style are found in particular in chapters seventeen and eighteen (17.138–148, 531–535, 593–603; 18.387–413).

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The Rasopaniṣad refers to earlier works on which it is based (1.14): Prābhṛta-, Vātula-, Brāhma-, Vaiṣṇava-, Aindra-, Śāṃkara-, Bṛhaspati- and Śaukra(mata). Authorities mentioned are Māṇḍavya (18.77) and Nāgārjuna (16.10).

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The Rasopaniṣad is in the Rasatattvavivecana. Both Rasopaniṣad and Mahodadhi, the work on which the former is said to be based, are named in the Bhūtiprakaraṇa of the Gorakṣasaṃhitā. ²³⁰

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²³⁰ Gorakṣasaṃhitā.

Special features

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The terminology regarding the saṃskāras differs from what is found in other treatises. Two series are mentioned. The first series consists of six processes (ṣaḍvidha rasakarman): śodhana, ²³¹ tejana, ²³² pācana, ²³³ dāśana, ²³⁴ cāraṇa ²³⁵ and pātana ²³⁶ (1.20cd–21ab). The second series is composed of ten operations: nigraha, ²³⁷ bandhana, ²³⁸ agnyaṅkuśa, ²³⁹ pakṣaccheda, ²⁴⁰ vahnikarman, ²⁴¹ rasakriyā, ²⁴² rañjana, krāmaṇa, sāraṇa and pratisāraṇa (1.21cd–22). Vedha is absent from the second series, although it is a very important process in the Rasopaniṣad.

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²³¹ śodhana,

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²³² tejana,

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²³³ pācana,

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²³⁴ dāśana,

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²³⁵ cāraṇa

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²³⁶ pātana

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²³⁷ nigraha,

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²³⁸ bandhana,

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²³⁹ agnyaṅkuśa,

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²⁴⁰ pakṣaccheda,

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²⁴¹ vahnikarman,

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²⁴² rasakriyā,

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The impurities of mercury are enumerated in one of the later chapters (15). The kañcukas are referred to in chapter one. Their removal is accomplished by means of the pākaṣṭakavidhi (1.61–63). ²⁴³ The fermented fluid called surā or saṃdhāna, used for the pakṣaccheda of mercury, is made with the juice of thirteen plants (1.78–79). The most suitable substance for the bandhana and rañjana of mercury is lead (nāga; 2.1–2). The process called saṃnyāsa is carried out with a substance called mahāviḍa (2.19–22). The preparation of various kinds of kṛṣṭi (used in jāraṇa) is described (2.23–28). The bījas are said to be twenty-four in number (4.1–3).

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²⁴³ (1.61–63).

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Many groups of substances are listed in chapter four. Seven mahārasas are distinguished: mākṣika, vimala, rasa(ka), vaikrānta, sasyaka, capala and śaila (= śilājatu) (4.4), and seven uparasas: kāsīsa, añjana, kānkṣī, haritāla, manaḥśilā, gairika and gandhapāṣāṇa (4.5).²⁴⁴ Seven metals, called loharasa, are enumerated (4.6);²⁴⁵ tin and lead are called pūtiloha; bronze (kāṃsa) and brass (āra) are the alloys (saṃkara; 4.7). Deva(loha), vaikrānta²⁴⁶ and vajra are grouped together as the mahāsāras; another substance is referred to as rasaloha (4.8). The seven gems (maṇi) are: gomedaka, amṛtāma, 247 śyāma, 248 añjanamūlaka, 249 lohitākṣa, 250 kūrpa, 251 and jyotirasa²⁵² (4. 9–10ab). The seven salts comprise saindhava, romaka, sāmudra, biḍa, cūlikālavaṇa, kṛṣṇasuvarcala and uṣṭrī²⁵³ (4.10cd–11).

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²⁴⁴ ...

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²⁴⁵ ...

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²⁴⁶ ...

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²⁵² ...

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²⁵³ ...

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An unusual list of forty poisonous substances (viṣa) is found in chapter four, as well as a list of eighty minor poisons (upaviṣa). The forty major poisons (mahāviṣa) are: amṛta, āyudhapātana, bilva, chidrāṅga, citraka, duḥkha, ghurṇaka or cūrṇaka, hālāhala, kālāhva, kālakūṭa, kāṇḍa, karkaṭa, kītaṅhna, madaviḥvala, madhusiddha, maṇḍa- or muṇḍamūla, māraka, markaṭa, māruja, mūlaka, nāgara, nārāca, nirjīva, pāṇḍara, parpaṭa, pauṇḍara, pītamustaka, praṇavardhana, romanāśana, rudhirasaṃbhavadoṣa, rūkṣa, saktuka, sukṣīra, tamoghnabīja, tīkṣṇa, ugra, vaṭodumbarasaṃkāśa, vatsanābha, and viṣa (4.12–17ab). The eighty minor poisons are: agnimanthaka, ākhumāraka, akṣa, aṅkola, arka, bhallātaka, bilva, brahmasomā, cakramardaka, ciribilvaka, citraka, dhātrī, dvipā, 254 gandharvavāruṇī, 255 gāṅgeyī, guṇḍī, hastivallī, 256 iṅgudā, kābukī, 257 kākajaṅghikā, kandakī, 258 kaṇika, 259 kāraka, 260 karavīra, karṇika, kaṭuka, kaṭukālābu, kaṭuvetasa, kohala, 261 the two kinds of kośātakī, kuraṇḍa, kuṭaja, lāmbukā, lāṅgalī, lodhra, madanā, madanakodrava, 262 mohanā, nāgāhvā, nicula, nimbakī, niśācarī, 263 palaṇḍuka, palāśa, pāṭhā, pīlu, piṇḍālu, the two kinds of pippalī, priyālu, pūtika, śabara, sahā, śaivala, śāka, śigru, simha, śirīṣa, śleṣmātakī, snuhī, śuka, 264 śukanasā, 265 śūraṇa, suvarcalā, svayaṃguptā, syanda, taptasūdana, trivṛtā, unmattā, uttamā, 266 vacā, vajra, vajrakanda, vajravallī, vajrī, vandāka, vāsā, vāyu, and vyāghāta (4.17cd–26ab).

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Other groups enumerated are the drāvaṇāṅga (4.26cd–28ab), raktavarga (4.28cd–29), amlagaṇa (4.30–31), bījavarga (4.32–33), surāvarga (4.34), pittavarga (4.39cd–40ab), a second raktavarga (4.40cd–42ab), and the viṣṭhāvarga (43–44). The items belonging to the drāvaṇāṅga are the animals called bheka (a frog), citrāṅga, dvimukhī, indragopaka, ṣaḍbindu, mātṛvāha, maṇḍalī, and gopamaṇḍalī, the plants called kharjū and rāmaṭha, and ṭaṅkaṇa.

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Chapter four describes the way to prepare the following substances: mahācūrṇa (4.48–50), nāga-, vaṅga-, tāmra- and māramākṣika, nāga-, vaṅga-, rakta- and mārahātaka (4.73–80), 267 dvi-, tri- and caturhātaka (4.82); 268 vimala may be used as a substitute of mākṣika (4.94–95) in the preparation of related substances. The mahārasas are described: vimala and mākṣika (4.93cd–95), rasaka (4.96–100ab), sasyaka (4.100cd–108ab), capala (108cd–112ab), and śaila (4.114cd–115ab). Three types of śaila are mentioned (4.114cd–115ab). 269 The number of bījas is said to be one thousand according to some authorities, five hundred according to others; the best among the ācāryas, however, take them to be 210 in number (4.117cd–118ab). The best varieties of rasaka are those found in Ahicchatra and Aihikāpatha (6.4).

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Chapter seven describes a kind of gold called caturthasāra (7.55–56), which re-

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sembles mātṛkā. 270 The term kūrpa is explained in chapter eleven; kūrpa is said to be sixfold and to consist of dāśana, pāśana, śodhana, mārdava (= mṛdūkaraṇa), bodhana and rañjana (11.12–18). Chapter twelve mentions types of gold called māṭṛkottara (12. 25)²⁷¹ and hemaṣaṣṭha (12.26). 272 The preparation of alloys of brass and gold is also described (12.59ab and 68ab). Chapter thirteen describes the purification of tin in a mixture of acidic and alkaline fluids. 273

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²⁷¹ ...

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Chapter fifteen enumerates eight innate (sahaja) mahādoṣas of mercury: kṛṣṇatva (blackness), sneha, the inability to fuse with (saṃkrama) metals, vepathu (= cañcalatā), sparśasaṃkrānti, bhuktamokṣa (vomiting of the grāsa), and saśabdatā (15. 55–56). It also lists six avasthās of mercury: puṭasaha (able to withstand the heat of puṭa), lepasaha, andhamūṣāsaha (able to withstand the heat in the mūṣā), sāraṇasaha, the absence of loss in weight (kṣaya) after liquefaction (druti), and lohāvarta (15.58– 59). The six avasthās during abhrakacāraṇa are: bhrama, bhaṅgasthiti, kampa, jalūkābandha, kākaviṣṭhā, and piṇḍa (15.88); 274 the six doṣas are: pārśvagrāhin, puccagrāhin, grasita, veṣṭita, mūrcchaka, and hiṃsaka (15.89). The characteristics of mercury after jāraṇa of abhraka are: kapila(varṇa), anucara, niḥśabda, anyadarśaka, akṣiṇa, and agnisaha (15.91). The six characteristics of rasajīrṇa are enumerated (15.92). Mercury is said to baddha when the seven gatis are absent (15.97). 275 The preparation of various types of surā (15.160cd–162 and 238–251) and of a number of viṣas is described (15.198–235). 276

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The best type of mākṣika is found near (the river) Tāpīyasī²⁷⁷ (16.1). A process is described, called lakṣmīpatikriyā, which turns silver into gold (16.2–6ab). Another process, which makes copper assume properties of silver, is ascribed to Nāgārjuna (16. 6cd–10). Another process, transmuting copper into gold, is carried out by help of small pebbles of the size of grains of pepper, which contain gold; these pebbles are found in the neighbourhood of a village called Prīti, situated in Kerala, not far from the coast (16.11–17). Some more methods to make by means of these pebbles are added (16.18–27).

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²⁷⁷ ...

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Chapter sixteen contains a vaikṛntakalpa (16.28–77ab). 278 Vaikṛntaka is said to be found near the river Vikṛntā, 279 in a country called Valkala. 280 The usefulness of vaikṛnta in a number of alchemical operations is delineated. 281 Seven varieties of vaikṛnta, each variety having a distinct colour (16.78–79ab), are described, 282 together with their uses (16.79cd–100ab). More uses of vaikṛnta are dealt with in the prose passage that follows. This passage also enumerates a series of regions where vaikṛnta is found: Medhapāṭa, 283 Svāyṛṭanagara, Nepāla, Camūraṅga, 284 Kāśmīra, Āndhradeśa, Śrīparvata, 285 Dramiladeśa, and Karaḥaṭṭa. 286 The same prose passage deals with devaloha, a mahārasa found near a Śiva temple in the neighbourhood of Rāśina, a village in the Śeṣaṇa region of southern India; this substance comes forth spontaneously from the pātāla (a region under the earth) during thunderstorms in the early raining season and is also found in mines. The verses following upon the prose give an account of the wonderful actions of this devaloha, used for rasāyana and for vedha of all the metals (16.101cd–137ab). The next section of chapter sixteen is concerned with agnijāru, 287 a substance deriving from the jarāyu of marine animals; it resembles devaloha in being sparśavedhin, i.e., it turns base metals into gold or silver by its mere touch. Agnijāru should not be handled with one's hands, but with an aṅkuśa (hook) only. Five varieties are described, called after five birds: pārāvata, haṃsa, cakravāka, agnika and śuka (16. 137cd–185). 288 The remaining part of the chapter is devoted to druti of the metals.

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²⁴⁷ ...

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²⁴⁸ ...

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²⁵¹ ...

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²⁵⁴ ...

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²⁵⁶ ...

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²⁶² ...

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²⁶³ ...

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²⁸⁶ ...

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Chapter seventeen is about guhyabandha, a process to be carried out with the assistance of a suitable woman, selected for this purpose. The characteristics that should be present in this woman and her male partner are described (17.3–9), followed by the guhyabandha, revealed by Umā, who received her knowledge from Īśvara (i.e., Śiva); the product of this complicated process is suitable to aurifaction (17.15–26). The next subject is cāraṇa; the plants employed in this process are listed (17.37–38). The preparation of a pārātīya rasendra, called amṛta, is dealt with; this substance is endowed with a long series of miraculous actions. A mythological story about the appearance of various substances during the churning of the ocean and the ensuing great battle is inserted (17.63cd–74). The proper way of using mercurial products (rasa) and the results obtained 289 are explained (17.75–116). The symptoms of improperly assimilated (ajīrṇa) rasas are given, together with the treatment of this type of disorder (17.117–129), followed by the proper behaviour after the ingestion of mercurial products (17. 130–137). The wonderful effects of rasas are colourfully described in elegant verses in long metres (17.138–148), 290 followed by the preparation of pathyāguḍa and other rasāyanas (17.149–188), and a ritual to be performed (17.189–208).

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A large series of plants employed in various alchemical processes, called jaṭharagrāhī or jaṭharagrāhīmūlī, is described (17.210cd–240), 291 followed by those called piṇḍagrāhī or mahauṣadhi (17.241–300). These lists are preceded by an agnimantra.

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The remaining part of the chapter is filled with processes resulting in the production of artificial gold and silver.

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The jaṭharagrāhī and piṇḍagrāhī plants 292 are: ādityavallī (220), agnivṛkṣa (300), ajamārī (300), āmrātakī (228), arṇśumatī (223), bhūśirīṣaka (299), bhūtakeśā (218), brahmadanda (278), brahmaṇī (294), chattrī (252), citrakapattriṇī (282), deva (254), devaśrī (284), garuḍā (291), gomārī (275, 299), hemalatā (293), jyotihkanda (273), jyotirvṛkṣa (273), jyotiṣṭṛṇa (273), kesarī 235), khadirapattrikā (276), khadyotaddhūlikā (275), kimśuka (226), kītamūlī (288), kṛṣṇamūlī (219), kumārī (267), kuravakī (300), madhuṭṛṇa (278), nāginī (282), nārācī (265), naravandī (270), nīlacitraka (262), padmadaṇḍa (278), pītakodravamārī (299), raktapuṣpā (225, 300), śabarakā (253), saptaparṇī (296), sārā (229), sarṣapapattrikā (300), śataparvikā (227), siṃhikā (290), somā (251), śrījayā (280), sthalajapadminī (259), suvarṇadaṇḍa (278), tilakapattrikā (269), triśūlī (299), vajrī (255), vanakustumbarī (300), vārāhī (224), vijayā (281), and yavacarcikā (299). 293

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Chapter eighteen is about the transmutation of various metals into gold and silver. Seventy divyauṣadhis are enumerated (18.81–90), followed by plants called jaṭharagrāhika (18.101cd–111ab) 294 and sparśavedhin (18.111cd–117). Numerous divyauṣadhis, sparśavedhin plants and other ones are described in prose (between 18.117 and 118). The verses which follow mention series of plants which are rañjana (18.136cd–139), pāśana (18.142), dīpana (18.151cd–152), chedana (18.153cd–156ab), etc.

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The seventy divyauṣadhis 295 are: adhaḥparṇī, ajamārī, ajanānī, ambaṣṭhikā, amṛtā, aṃśumatīśikhā, 296 analadruma, 297 anantā, ardhakeśī, 298 bhogavatī, bhūkadamba, bhūśirīṣakā, calāmadhuk(?), chattrī, damṣṭriṇī, dāsīvallī, ghanamustakā, ghaṭābhra, ghonaśī, gomārī, hutāśanataru, kākapadī, kāminī, kapilā, karavikā, karavīrakā, kumārī, kumudaprabhā, kumudī, kuraṅgī, kuravakī, kustumburu, kvāthinī, lalakambunā, marīcī, meghā, mūlī, nābhilā, nahuṣī, nārāca, nīlacitrakā, pauṇḍarīkā, pītakodravamārikā, raktajihvā, raktapuṣpā, rocanā, sahasrāṃśā, saṃopetā, sarṣapaparṇī, sarvacchedanikā, śatapuṣpī, śatruviśruti, somā, sthalapadminī, suparṇī, suraktā, tālī, tejovatī, tīkṣṇā, tilakapattrikā, tridaṇḍī, triśīkhā, triśūlī, udgatā, vajrā, vārā, viṣadharā, viṣaparvikā, and yakṣiṇī (18.81–90).

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The jaṭharagrāhika plants 299 are: abhayā, ādityavallikā, amlavetasī, āmrātakī, apāmārgā, apattrā, āpītikā, aṭavī, bhūtakeśinī, brahmaputra, brahmavṛkṣa, cakramardaka, carcikā, devadālī, dhūsārā, dravantikā, ekamūlinī, gaṇḍakī, gaṇḍikā, 300 garuḍī, hastikarṇī, janitrā, jārā, kaṇṭhakālī, kaṭukā, karṇikā, kesarī, ketakī, kovidārā, kṛṣṇavallikā, kṛṣṇaiṅguḍā, kuheṭaka, laśunī, mahīrā, 301 maṇḍūkapattrikā, mārjārapadī, 302 nāginī, naradevā, netrapuṣpā, nīlāñjalikā, nīlotpalā, pañcaviṃśatiparvikā, parājītā, pārijātā, pātali, pīlu, pilupattrikā, 303 pumspattrā, rājakosātaki, rasadūtī, reṇukā, śabarī, śamī, sārā, śigrukā, śikhā, siṃhilāṅgulikā, śrīdantī, sthalasamaṅgā, sucitriphalā, surabhī, suvarṇapuṣpī, śvānapucchā, śvetagirikarṇikā, tālī, tilakavallikā, trivṛt, vārāhī, viṣavṛkṣakā, viṣṇukrāntā, and viṣandā (18.101cd–111ab).

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The sparśavedhin plants are: amṛtāśanī, bhramarī, bhūmikadambikā, bhūmiśamkocā, brāhmaṇī, devaśrī, garuḍā, gorocanā, hastimatā, khadyotā, khaṭāmārikā, kuravakī, kuravikā, madhuṭṛṇa, mīṇavallikā, mṛgadūrvā, mūrdhnī, nīlā, padmadaṇḍā, pītamustakā, pṛthivī, rohiṇī, śākī, saptaparṇī, sarṣapī, śaśakarṇī, siṃhikā, śiphā, śrījayā, śuṇṭhī, śyāmakā, tāmbūlavallī, vajranārācī, vajriṇī, vāruṇī, vijayā, and vīrā (18.111cd–117).

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The divyauṣadhis of the prose section between 18.117 and 118 are: adhaḥparṇī, ajamārī, amṛtā, amṛtāśanī, aṃśumatīśikhā, bhogavatī, bhūmikadambikā, bhūmiśamkocā, bhūśirīṣakā, chattrā, cilavallī, damṣṭriṇī, dāsīvallikā, devaśrī, drumā, ekamūlī, mābalā, madhuṭṛṇa, marīcī, meghāśmanā, 304 mṛgadūrvā, mūlī, mūrdhnī, nāgodarī, 305 nahuṣī, nāśinī, nīlā, nīlacitrakā, padmadaṇḍā, pauṇḍarīkā, pītamustakā, pṛthivī, rādhanā, raktajihvā, raktapuṣpā, rohitā, sahasrāṃśā, śākī, samopetā, saptaparṇī, saralā, sarṣapā, sarvacchedanikā, śatapuṣpikā, śilā, siṃhikā, somā, śrīmūlī, śrīvijayā, sthalapadminī, śuṇṭhī, suparṇī, suraktā, tāmbūlavallī, tejovatī, tīkṣṇā, tiktā, tilakadambakā, tilakapattrikā, tridaṇḍī, 306 triśūlī, udgatā, ūrdhvakeśī, 307 vajrā, vajranārācī, 308 vajriṇī, vārā, vijayā, viṣadharā, viṣaparvā, and yakṣiṇī.

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The other plants described in the same section are: abhayā, ādityavallī, amlātakī, amlavetasī, apāmārgā, āpītikā, aruṇī, aśvatthapattrikā, aṭavī, bandhakī, bhūmipātalī, brahmaputraka, citrā, deva, devadālī, dhūsārā, dhuśrutā(?), dravantī, ekamūlikā, gaṇḍikā, garuḍī, hastikarṇī, heṭaka, janitrā, jarā, kākamācī, kalinarā, kaṇḍakī, karṇikā, kaṭukā, kesarī, keśī, ketakī, kovidārī, kṛṣṇaphala, kṛṣṇavallī, kṛṣṇeṅguḍā, laśunī, maharā, 309 nāḍī, nāginī, netravṛkṣā, nīlāñjalikā, nīlotpalā, pārājītā, pāriyātaki, pī- lupattrikā, pīluvṛkṣa, rājakośatakī, rasadūtī, reṇukā, śabarī, śamī, sārā, śataparvan, 310 śikhā, siṃhilāṅgulikā, śrīmatī, sthalasamaṅgā, surabhī, suvarṇapuṣpī, śvānapucchā, śvetagirikarṇikā, trivṛt, vārāhī, vastuvallī, viṣavṛkṣakā, viṣṇukrāntā, and viṣyandī.

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Metal ores (18.464–481, mixed with prose) and the extraction of the metals from them are also described.

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Some interesting terms employed in the *Rasopaniṣad* are: aravindaka (4.118), 311 ariṣṭaka (12.70), 312 aśmanṛpa (7.26), 313 bhūpa (12.68), 314 campaka (4.118), 315 chidra-yantra ((6.9; 16.15 and 198), 316 ghanāṅkuśa (1.108), 317 ghaṇṭaloha (2.42), 318 govāla (12.33), 319 kaṭaśarkara and -śarkarā (2.26; 15.27), 320 mahākhu (13.12), 321 nirvāhika-yantra (10.2), prakāśamūṣā (12.8), raktaśulba (12.23), 322 śakalendra (16.25), 323 strī-sambhava (4.85), 324 sutīkṣṇa (4.118), 325 utpala (4.118), 326 vaiṣṇava (4.119; 327 6.43), and vaiṣṇavāstra (15.194). 328

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Human flesh (naramāṃsa: 7.44) 329 and human blood (nararudhira: 6.20 and 14.27; mānuṣa rakta: 16.13) are occasionally used in alchemical operations.

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Uncommon names of plants are: adhaḥpuṣpī (15.75), 330 agniparṇī (15.75, 139, 144), 331 bhikṣumārī (17.373), bhūmikurava (7.60), dalottamā (14.22), devī (15.44, 143), 332 dharākura (9.2), 333 dravamūlī (17.394), gandharvavāruṇī (4.19), godhā (15.103), 334 govandanā (17.38), halā (1.78; 9.2; 15.108), 335 hastivallī (4.20), jalabhā-ginī (17.37), kābukī (4.21), kadambinī (14.44), kalyāṇī (17.37), 336 kanakabandhanī (7.37), 337 kandalī (1.100; 16.73), 338 kāntā (15.44), karaṭī (17.8), kaṭuvetasa (4.17), kavāṭī (15.100), 339 kuraṭī (14.8 and 22), lohitākṣa (9.12), 340 lohitākṣī (18.33), mahāvṛ-kṣa (12.63), 341 malaghnī (17.451), mārjāravallī (1.82), 342 muktā (1.79), 343 muktamūlī (1.79), nādeyī (17.451), niśācarī (4.21), piñcholā (17.125), piśācī (14.29), 344 raktā-sana (9.2), samudrakārpāsa (15.72), śaśatṛṇa (7.37), setubandhinī (17.37), śiṃśumāra (14.30; 18.26), smarajihvā (15.76), 345 śukā (15.139; 17.38), 346 suputriṇī (1.78), 347 vanyakukkura (1.78), 348 viṣālu (1.78; 13.14), viṣāluka (17.429), viṣaparṇī (12.18), viṣṇuparṇī (17.37 and 373), 349 vṛttaparṇī (15.102), 350 yavacarcī (7.77; 14.16), and yavacarcikā (15.93).

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Date The period of composition of the *Rasopaniṣad* is unknown. Indications pointing to a relatively early age are the similarities as to structure and contents with the *Rasārṇava* and the absence of references to zinc. 351

Cites (1)