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works of supererogation. We have, therefore, confined ourselves to quoting only such parallel passages in the foot-notes as are calculated to throw light upon or corroborate the authenticity of, the text of R. R. S.
Nágárjuna.An account of this period will be scarcely complete, which fails to take note of the conspicuous figure whom the Indian alchemists unanimously look upon as the inventor of the processes of distillation and calcination—the renowned and the venerable Nágárjuna, the reputed author of Kakshaputatantra, Rasaratnákara and Arogyamañjarí, etc. Our R. R. S., in the opening lines, invokes him as one of the 27 alchemists, and in the chapter on minerals quotes him as an authority. So does Rasendrachintámani as also Chakrapáni while describing the process of roasting iron (p. 62).
We have already seen that according to Vrinda and C. p., Nágárjuna was the first to introduce the preparation known as Kajjvali (black sulphide of mercury p. 61). Dalvana also makes him the redactor of the Susruta.
