[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Science, technology and education](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science) › [A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D.](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902) › v1.c11.t28 # A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D. v1.c11.t28: The Killing of Metals—“Vida” A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D. v1.c11.t28 - **Language:** English ### The Killing of Metals—“Vida” ### [v1.c11.t28.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v1.c11.t28.1) “Hear attentively as I shall now speak of the killing of metals. ### [v1.c11.t28.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v1.c11.t28.2) “There is no such elephant of a metal which cannot be killed by the lion of a sulphur.” VII. 138-148 ### [v1.c11.t28.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v1.c11.t28.3) Bhairava said : “Kāsisa¹, rock-salt, the pyrites, sauvira², the aggregate of the three spices³, sulphur, saltpetre, the juice expressed from mālati⁴—all these moistened with the juice of the root of moringa pter., makes a vida, which would kill all \[the metals\].” IX. 2-3 ### [v1.c11.t28.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v1.c11.t28.4) “Sulphur, orpiment, sea-salt, salt, sal-ammoniac, borax—these digested with the ashes and the urines, give rise to another kind of vida.” \* \* \* \* \* \* Having thus collected the ingredients, O goddess ! begin the chemical operations. I have told you all, what more do you want to hear ?” IX. 4-20 ### [v1.c11.t28.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v1.c11.t28.5) (1) Green vitriol. (2) Stibnite. (3) namely, black pepper, long pepper and dry ginger. (4) Echites caryophyllata, Rox. ## Cites (1) - [Rasaratnasamuccaya](https://indike.org/pramana/in.med.rasa.samuccaya.pramukha.rasaratnasamuccaya.9.2) — Vāgbhaṭa (alchemist), Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v1.c11.t28](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v1.c11.t28) · Pramāṇa