Part 15 - Mercurial operations (13): Internal liquefaction of mercury (garbhadruti)

The great annotators are of opinion that the exhaustion of mercury comprises the three different stages, viz., swallowing of the metals etc, internal liquefaction (garbhadruti), and movement.

When metals etc., thrown upon mercury, disappear altogether, it is a case of swallowing, but when the metals etc. thrown upon mercury turn into liquids without any heat being applied, it is a case of internal liquefaction (as distinguished from external liquefaction of metals etc. which means the liquefaction of the metals, at the touch of mercury).

First of all, mica is to be swallowed by mercury, then gold is to be so swallowed; next to that, is to be effected the internal liquefaction of mercury. The man who does not know this makes a waste of his money.

Mercury undergoes internal liquefaction, if mixed with half its weight of the essence of mica, and half its weight of the essence of makshika, (the latter two being mixed together before being put upon mercury).

Thus, gold mica and silver mica^[1] are to be freed from hostile elements and applied, as necessary.

Gold, silver, ete. are to be mixed with the essence of svarnamakshika, and rubbed with sour vegetable juices. Mercury undergoes internal liquefaction, if such gold or silver is put upon it. Lead, killed with manas-sila, or svarnamakshika (pyrites) killed with salt, if rubbed with “bija” (gold or silver to be swallowed by mercury), causes an immediate internal liquefaction of mercury. Alkalis made of jambira, changeri, and amlabetasa are suitable for internal liquefaction. According to some chemists, internal liquefaction (garbhadruti) is indispensable to the exhaustion of mercury.

Now, we are going to describe the process by which mercury, which has already been made to swallow a sufficient quantity of gold, mica etc., is to be exhausted and; then killed and reduced to ashes. The man who kills mercury without exhausting it and making it swallow a sufficient quantity of gold, mica etc. is a great sinner, and is to be taken for an enemy of the great God. Hence, mercury is to be exhausted very carefully before it is killed.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

See later, under Alchemy.