Rasayana (rejuvenation)

Among the eight limbs, the introduction defines jarā-cikitsā as treatment undertaken to regain youth and says it is the same as rasāyana therapy.

Mercury is said to be rasayana only when it is properly bound.

Abhaya (haritaki) taken constantly is said to be like a rasayana for the growth of the rasas.

Constantly drinking the triphala rasayana in its many combinations is said to give steadiness, intellect, strength, clarity of the senses and virility, and a long life.

Taking the combinations of the kalpas, divided into many kinds, by the rule of the science is said to give a person special strength, splendour, long life, virility, invincibility and freedom from disease.

The author says a healthy body is needed for protecting the self (ātmasaṃrakṣaṇa), and so turns to very potent formulas, the rasāyanas, to remove all diseases.

The after-drink for a drug taken as a rasāyana is the decoction of that same drug, as triphala decoction with the triphala rasāyana; or the decoction of any one of bhallātaka, guḍūcī, grapes or triphala, which suit almost every rasāyana.

People who take the beneficial rasas, rasayanas and special medicines described daily by the rule of the science are said to become always happy; the commentary says there is no need to doubt whether the formulas work, and that the wise who can tell genuine from false should take them with thought, as prescribed, and see their effect, for their virtue will surely appear.

After drinking the after-drink, once it is digested, food is eaten with milk, or with ghee and green-gram soup, but not with sea salt and other sharp things; then great diseases go and one lives many years free of old age and wrinkles.

One who wants to become healthy through medicine should first give up alcohol, meat, astringent, pungent and salty things, alkalis such as yavakṣāra, dry things and every kind of sour.

He should keep free of anger, exertion, sexual intercourse, sun, wind, incompatible food and the trouble of indigestion, stay firm in truthfulness, be compassionate to all beings, and always worship the munis and dharma with devotion to the omniscient Tīrthaṅkaras; one who takes rasāyanas while keeping this conduct gains their full benefit.

Wholesome food (rice, ghee, curd, jaggery, milk), seasonal purification, self-restraint, exercise, compassion for all beings and mastery of the five senses are together called a rasayana that overcomes all diseases.

Along with taking killed mercury, a rasayana regimen is to be arranged every day.

In its survey of the Vedic period the introduction says the story of the sage Cyavana supports a formula (yoga) that restores youth.

The text says there are many other medicines even more powerful than chandramrita, whose leaves bear many shining circles and varied lines, some being creepers with one or two leaves; taken by the same procedure they give many kinds of results, and the commentary says their use gives a form like that of Indra, king of the gods.

Even the very rich and generous are said to fail to obtain these great medicines because of fate, ignorance, lack of money, unavailability of the drug, an unsteady mind, lack of steady effort, their own nature, lack of a suitable house, contact with unfriendly relatives and friends, or unbelief.

The formulas are described as having results that are directly evident (experienced) and famous in the world, and as set out by teachers who mastered the doctrine; those who use them with rule and care are said to become so strong that no enemy can defeat them.