कृषि-पाराशर (महर्षि पराशर - प्राचीन भारतीय कृषि, मृदा-परीक्षण, वर्षा-पूर्वानुमान व बीज-संस्कार)

82 KṚṢI-PARĀŚARA
Now the procedure of the kaṭṭana¹ of paddy
186. A wise man should perform the kaṭṭana of paddy in the
month of Āṣāḍha (and) Śrāvaṇa. The paddy, of which kaṭṭana has
not been done, remains like the seeds.²
187. One, mindful of agriculture, should perform kaṭṭana of
paddy in Śrāvaṇa when there is no rainfall. Kaṭṭana being in Bhādra
there is the acquisition of half the harvest, and there is no hope for
fruits (if it is done) in Āśvina.
188. One should not do kaṭṭana and transplantation of paddy in
a low land nor put manure, but should merely weed out the grass.
Now the removal of weeds from paddy³
189. Paddy, though grown but not rendered free from grass,
does not bear sufficient fruit ; agriculture suffers loss due to weeds.
190. The paddy, from which weeds are removed between
Cancer (i.e. Śrāvaṇa) and Bhādra, becomes twofold even though it be
full of grass.
191. Weeding out of paddy being done twice in Āśvina, it
yields produce like māṣa⁴ without ripening.
192. Therefore, with all care, render agricultural produce free
from weeds ; the agricultural produce, from which weeds are removed,
becomes wish-yielding to cultivators.
Now the release of water in Bhādra
193. For freedom of paddy from disease, drain off water in
Bhādra ; preserve water then up to the roots only.
194. Paddy (fields), filled with water in Bhādra, is damaged by
various maladies and does not yield the best produce to cultivators.
Now the incantation for the cure of the diseases of paddy
(Let there be) success, salutation to the preceptor, (let there be)
welfare. The paramount king, Lord Rāma, the venerable and
¹ This is probably a Deśī word, and means thinning out.
² This, perhaps, means that there is an indifferent and poor growth of
paddy in the absence of kaṭṭana.
³ nistṛṇīkaraṇam—c.f. the modern Bengali word 'niḍi' or 'niḍāna'.
⁴ A kind of pulse or cereal.