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If the essence of Vaikranta is to be taken out, give saturation to it by grinding Mokha, Moratala ta and Dhaka in cow's urine. Again, mix the ash of Vaikranta into the essence of Vajrakanda and haldi (turmeric), the powder of Triphala (amalakı haritaki and vaheḍā), borax and powder of lac and nausādar (nisada = Sal ammoniac) and rub it in the juice of Megasrmgi (Amaranthus Polygamus) and pill of it, again put it in a closed crucible and give it intense fire. There takes place the falling out of the essence of Vaikranta by this process.1
Maksika2 (Pyrites).
Mākṣika (pyrites as mentioned in the Suvarna-Raupya-Siddhi-Sastra) is used in various chemical processes. This work refers to only one kind of Maksika, viz. Sonamakhi (golden pyrite),3 But according to the Rasaratna Samuccaya of Vagbhata there are two kinds of Makṣika, viz. golden pyrite (hemamākṣika) and silvery pyrite (taramākṣika). Mākṣika is born of the Sumeru mountain and is produced in the river-Tapi and in the land of the Kiratas, the Chinese and the Yavanas.5
It is further stated that golden pyrite is found in Kanauj (Kanpur, U.P.) and it is golden yellow coloured and that which is produced in Tapi is of five colours. Silvery pyrite is associated with stone and is of inferior quality.6
The purification of golden and silvery pyrites can be made by frying them in the castor oil or by cooking in the juice of Bijaura Nibu (a kind of lemon) or in the juice of stem of the plaintain plant. If it is put into 1. Mocamoratapalasakṣaragomutrabhavitam / Vajrakandaniśakalkaphalacūrṇasamanvitam // Tatkalkam tamkaṇam lakṣācurṇam Vaikrantasambhavam // Navasarasamayuktam meşaśṛngidravānavitam / Piṇḍitam mukamusastham dhmapitam ca hathagninā // Ibid., Ch. 2/66-68 2. SRSS. Ch. I. 49, II 14, XIV. 13. Rasaratna Samuccaya, A. 1. 5. SRSS., Ch. 5. 30, 7. 28; 9. 2.
Makşika dividho hemamākṣikastaramākṣikaḥ // Rasaratnasamuccaya, Vagbhat, 2. 75.
5. Suvarnasailaprabhvo...
3.
4.
Tapyam Kiratacinėşu yavane şu ca nirmitaḥ // Ibid. 2/73 Tatra' daym makṣikam kanyakubjottham svarṇasannibham // Tapatitirasmbhūtam pamcavarnasuvarṇavat /
Paṣaṇabhahulaḥ proktastarakhyo' alpa guatmakaḥ // Ibid., 2/76, 6. Erandatailamatulungaṁbusiddham śūddhyati makṣikam / Siddham vā Kadalikandatoyena ghaṭikädvayam // Taptam kşiptam varakvāthe juddhimayāti mākṣikam / Ibid., 2/78
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