History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray c39.s6.8

c39.s6.8

In fact with the exception of Susruta's waters which are mechanical mixtures, or rather solutions, all these *ap-substances* are organic products and, as such, *penta bhautic*, i e., compounded of all the five *mahabhutas*; and the particular ‘taste’ which is developed depends on the relative proportion of the *mahabhutas*, and the predominance of one or more of them in the *penta-bhautic* compound in question.