Page:A History of Hindu Chemistry Vol 1.djvu/67

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xlix

Buddhistic emblem, clearly reveals the religious faith of its author, there is a tradition current among the learned Pundits of S. India, "that Vágbhata, formerly a Brahmin, was persuaded by a Bauddha priest to adopt his religion, which he embraced in the latter part of his life."[1] Internal evidence also fully supports our author's proclivities towards Buddhism,[2] and he seems to have flourished

  1. Preface to Vaidyakasabdasindhu. p. 6.
  2. See the numerous passages quoted by Dr. Kunte in his Introduction to Vágbhata, pp. 14-15.

    The remarkable passage we have cited above, in which our author asserts the right every man to think for himself (p. xxix), is quite in keeping with the rationalistic age in which he lived, and he further observes in the same place that a medicine will have its efficacy all the same by whomsoever it is prescribed, be he Brahma himself or any body else. It should be commended to those who are lost in admiration over the "keen edged intellect" of Samkara, who does not find a better weapon to fight with his opponents than an appeal to the Vedas and other scriptures, see foot note to p. 195.

    वाते पित्ते श्लेष्मशांतौ च पथ्यं
    तैलं सर्पिर्माक्षिकं च क्रमेण।
    एतद् ब्रह्मा भाषते ब्रह्मजो वा
    का निर्मन्त्रे वक्तृभेदोक्तिशक्तिः॥
    अभिधातृवशात् किंवा द्रव्यशक्तिर्विशिष्यते?
    Uttara. XL. 85, 86.

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