The Positive Sciences of the Ancient Hindus c4.s2.18

c4.s2.18

*Qualities of Compounds.*—The isomeric modes of each Mahábhúta have specific colours, tastes, etc., due to their structure, *i.e.* the arrangement of their atoms, and the physico-chemical characters of compounds, whether of the same or of different Mahábhútas, result from the collocation in unequal proportion of the different forces latent in the atoms of the component substances. Charaka adds that the varied forms (textures) and colours of organic substances, whether vegetable or animal, are derived in the same way. (एवमेतेषां रसानां षट्त्वमुपपन्नं न्यूनातिरेकविशेषात् महाभूतानाम्। भूतानामिव स्थावरजङ्गमानां नानावर्णोक्कृतिविशेषाः।)