Origin of shilajatu

The author now gives the shilajatu kalpa together with its origin and nature. In summer the mountains, scorched by the fire-like rays of the sun, exude from the hard, cracked rocks of their high peaks a red juice like lac juice, as ichor flows from the temples of a rutting elephant; this juice is called shilajatu, said to be of the highest potency and to give the three worlds great strength and vigour.