INTRODUCTION.

...recension of recensions, made by Nāgárjuna (1). All opinions agree in identifying him with the celebrated founder of the Mádhyamika school of Buddhist philosophy—a fact which significantly helps us in fixing the age of the present Samhitā. A few quotations from the Vriddha (old) Sushruta are all that are preserved of the original Samhitā. But their authenticity is questionable, and we are not sure whether they are the work of less significant figures, or of ancient though less renowned commentators, attributed to the master to grant them greater sanctity and authority—a practice which was quite common among the bibliographers of Ancient India.

Date of Nāgárjuna:

At all events, Nagarjuna, who revised the Sushruta Samhita, lived about the latter part of the fourth century before the Christian era (2) and the,

(1) "यत्र यत्र परोक्षं नियोगस्तत्र तत्रैव प्रतिसंस्कर्तृमतं ज्ञातव्यं। प्रतिसंस्कर्त्ता-
पीहनागार्जुन एव"।

Dallana mentions the names of Jejada, Gayadasa, etc., as the editors of the original Samhitā, and rejects as fake or of doubtful authority the texts which cannot be found in their editions of the work. Most probably the authoritative verses are quotations from the Vriddha Sushruta.

Revision or Pratisamskāra consists of shortening statements that have been made excessively detailed, and in expanding upon truths that have been very briefly handled in the original book. A Redactor or Pratisamskartā makes an old book new again.

A Samhitā, on the other hand, deals with aphorisms contained in the Vedas.

(2) तदा भगवत: शाक्यसिंहस्य परनिर्वृते:।
अस्मिन्महीलोकधातौ सार्द्धं वर्षशतं ह्यगात् ॥
बोधिसत्त्वश्च देशेऽस्मिन्नेको भूमीश्वरोभवत्।
स च नागार्जुन: श्रीमान् * ॥