Rasaprakāśasudhākara

I have published this clearly; no further deliberation is needed regarding this matter.

The fifth method of metal-binding.

Take mercury, kāntaloha a type of magnetic iron, and tīkṣṇaloha a sharp or high-quality steel. (101)
Mix these with the essence of mica and the essence of tāpya pyrite or iron pyrites, along with gold. Grind all these equal parts together with the juice of lemons. (102)
Steep it for one day, then perform a dolāyantra a swinging-pot apparatus for steaming. Place the mixture into a ripe mūṣā crucible and insert the sphere into its center. (103)
Use gojihvā elephant-foot yam or borage, kākamācī black nightshade, nirguṇḍī Vitex negundo, dugdhikā milkweed, kumārī aloe vera, and meghanāda amaranth, combined with honey and saindhava rock salt. (104)
The physician should steam the sphere repeatedly in the juices of these plants until it achieves complete firmness. (105)
Worn in the mouth, this destroys old age and death, without a doubt. It quickly destroys all diseases and certainly arrests the aging process. (106)
If worn on the ear, neck, hand, or even on the head, negative influences such as abhicāra sorcery or malevolent rituals will never occur. (107)

Conclusion of the chapter.

The four types of binding of the great King of Mercury have been declared by me. Those scholars of the essence who perform these become worthy of honor in the homes of kings. (108)

This ultimate secret of the King of Mercury, obtained from the great ocean of alchemical treatises, is a precious jewel. Those who are experts, who know the essence of all virtues, and who are wise in the curiosities of the art, will carry this in their hearts and upon their throats. (109)

Thus ends the second chapter, titled "The Fourfold Binding of Mercury," in the Rasaprakāśasudhākara authored by Śrī Yaśodhara, son of Śrī Padmanābha.

Now, the Third Chapter.

Varieties of mercury ash.

Now, I shall describe mercury ash as instructed by all the scriptures on mercury. It is adorned with four colors: white, black, yellow, and red. (1)

Method of extracting mercury from cinnabar.

Take darada cinnabar, well-decorated with silken threads, and grind it thoroughly with the juice of all sorts of lemons. (2)
Let it soak for four yāma periods of three hours each; twelve hours total in sour liquid, then dissolve and dry it. (3)
Place it in a ḍamaruka a kettle-drum shaped apparatus, then add iron filings and chalk. Grind it well with milk and salt, and, excellent physician, seal the mouth of the apparatus. (4)
Cook the mercury alone over a gentle fire for four yāma. Sprinkle water on top; in this way, the mercury is extracted from the cinnabar. (5)
By this supreme method of purification, it becomes devoid of all defects related to the kañcuka the 'sheaths' or superficial impurities of mercury. It is most pure and removes many impurities, having originated from cinnabar. (6)

Method for mercury camphor.

Take eight pala a unit of weight, approximately 48 grams of pure mercury. Then take chalk, powdered iron, and pādukākṣikā a specific medicinal mineral. (7)
Take four pala portions of each of these, along with eight pala of alum. (8)
Grind them together with water for one yāma, and mix with brine (salt and acidic liquid). Place the mercury into a crucible containing the aforementioned group of metals. (9)
Cook it using the superior ḍamaruka apparatus for twenty-four hours over a fire. This is a supreme medicine that forever destroys the imbalances of wind, bile, and phlegm, and cures all diseases. (10)
It gives strength to men like the king of elephants, gives sight like the eyes of the king of birds original: "dvijapati", referring to the eagle or Garuda, and is always pleasurable, acting as a provider of youthful desire. (11)
This supreme mercury, which I have described, is known as camphor-mercury ghanasāra-rasa camphor-essence mercury; it bestows radiance and destroys all leprosy. (12)

Udayabhāskararasa (The Rising-Sun Mercury).

After purifying mercury and sulfur of their defects, soak them in the juice of luṅga citron. (13)

Footnotes from the original text: 1. 'daradadaṃ savipākasuśobhitam' is an alternative reading. 2. 'nimburasena' is an alternative reading. 3. 'dvijapati' refers to the vulture or eagle. 4. This Udayabhāskararasa is famous in other books by the name Rasasindūra.