[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Science, technology and education](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science) › [History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956) › c19 # History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray c19: Chapter V. Chemistry In Dhatuvada History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray c19 - **Language:** English ### Chapter V. Chemistry In Dhatuvada ### [c19.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c19.1) \*(Translated from the Tibetan Xylograph by Pandit Vidhushekhara Bhattacharya.)\* ### [c19.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c19.2) 1. In order to effect the fulfilment to the fullest extent of charity I shall speak of the teaching (\*upadesa\*) of Dhatuvada for those who are explorers. ### [c19.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c19.3) 2. \*Bilva\* (wood apple), \*dadima\* (pomegranate), and \*smantshos\* (a kind of dye)—these are to be burnt and mixed with sour wine in a copper pot and kept for three days. ### [c19.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c19.4) 3. Thus there will be a paint, and if it is applied first three times, then seven times, and then twenty-one times to a thin piece of iron it becomes copper. ### [c19.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c19.5) \[The action of sour wine (vinegar) on the copper pot will give rise to a solution of copper acetate; and a piece of iron, when coated repeatedly with this solution, will have a deposit of metallic copper upon it.\] ### [c19.6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c19.6) 4. Quicksilver, clay for making pottery (\*kham. sa\*), and \*sems. rtsi\* (? a kind of paint possibly)—these are to be mixed with cow-dung. Then if a piece of copper is put into that mixture it turns into silver. ### [c19.7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c19.7) (This is obviously an amalgam of copper.) ### [c19.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c19.8) 5. \*Asvaksa\* (\*rta. mig.\*, lit. the eye of the horse, a kind of plant), \*mesasringa\* (\*lug ru.\*, lit. the horn of a ram, also a kind of plant), \*kurmacarman\* (\*rus. sbob.-sun.-lhags\*, lit the skin of a tortoise, probably also a plant), and \*sila\* (red arsenic) are to be melted with gold, and into that mixture silver is to be put. Then, if with the eighth part of this solution lead is liquefied it becomes silver. ### [c19.9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c19.9) (This evidently produces a gold-silver-lead alloy.) ### [c19.10](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c19.10) 6. Take silver and \*kamsya\* (\*khar. ba\*, bell-metal) in equal portions, and mix them according to the weight of lead. Afterwards when these are liquefied in a pot, they all become silver. ### [c19.11](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c19.11) 7. Eight palas (48 gms.) of \*mahamamsa\* (\*sa. chen\*, a kind of little shrub), and lead and silver of equal weight, two palas of \*sarji\* (natron), as well as of \*smantshos\*, one pala \*visaghna sebesten\*, \*Cordia myxa\* (\*dug. bsad\*), and quicksilver of equal weight—these drugs are to be crushed with the \*rasa\* (liquid—\*khu. ba\*) of the substantial drug. And all these to be put in \*svetasringa\* (barley—\*rwa. dkar\*) or in an earthen pot. ### [c19.12](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c19.12) 8. Then having the mouth (of the pot) tied up one is to burn it, till the fire turns into ashes, and when that substance (lit. the medicine) is taken out it will be found changed into silver, (as bright) as the moon. ### [c19.13](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c19.13) 9. Having taken the foul matter (i.e. pith) inside a stag's horn (\*sa. ru = mrigasringa\*) that has just come into being, keep it in the sun and it will melt. Then (this liquid together) with the powder of lead and silver is to be poured into the clarified butter of a cow (\*zum. mar\*), and when the water dries up, that matter turns into silver. ### [c19.14](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c19.14) 10. \*Sman. tsha\*, 'vida' (borax—\*tsha. le\*), \*yavakshara\* (ashes of burnt green barley corn), \*sarjika\* (natron), the fluid called \*svetarasa\* (\*rtst. dkar\*, mixture of equal parts of buttermilk and water), \*visa\* (poison—aconite, \*dug\*) and the urine of a 'hanumat' (large monkey—\*ha. nu. man ta'i. chu\*)—mix these with buffalo-curd (\*ma. he'i. zo\*), and keep lead in this mixture for three days, and burn in such a way that no smoke comes out from it (and it turns into silver). And thus on account of the change (of a metal) into silver one's poverty and miseries are removed. ### [c19.15](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c19.15) \[By this process the surface of lead is possibly coated with a layer of white lead.\] ### [c19.16](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c19.16) 11. Now having described the method of making silver I shall speak of making gold which is just like nectar, 12. In the Himalayas there is a very good and well-known plant called \*kustha\* (\*Costus speciosa\*—\*ru. rta\*), from the leaf of which drops towards the earth (\*sa. phyogs\*) a fluid having a colour like bright gold. This and the ashes of pure lead (\*za. ne. dkar. po\*), and quicksilver when, according to the instruction given, come into contact with the copper mixed with silver, they turn into gold. ### [c19.17](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c19.17) 13. First quicksilver is to be put on a fire in such a way that it does not ooze out Then, when one knowing as to how the paint is to be prepared from drugs (\*sman. gyi. rtsi\*) (applies it) in (proper) way, there is effected gold If it (quicksilver) does not remain on the fire it does not turn into gold. ### [c19.18](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c19.18) 14. Therefore (quicksilver) is to be enclosed (in a vessel), having its mouth covered with a circular stopper, and it becomes gold. ### [c19.19](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c19.19) Here ends the \*Dhatuvadopadesa\* of Acharya Nalina. ### [c19.20](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c19.20) 1 The last line of the verse being defective and obscure has not been translated. ### [c19.21](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c19.21) CHAPTER VI --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c19](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c19) · Pramāṇa