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

84 KṚṢI-PARĀŚARA
The incantation for that (is as follows :—)
201-203. Let all the paddy plants, tender, young, old and
others, the largest and the smallest, the diseased and the healthy,
being touched by the Nala, be of uniform growth at the command
of Suṣeṇa, Rāma and also of Pṛthu, (and), having uniform growth,
let (them) yield abundant produce; let the cultivator be healthy and
endowed with wealth and paddy.
204. Having implanted the Nala in the field with this incanta-
tion in due order, farmers rejoice at the acquisition of a great increase
of paddy.
205. All classes of paddy of those, who do not implant Nala
in the field in Dhaṭa-saṃkrānti,¹ become uneven and fruitless.
Now the taking of a handful (of paddy) in Agrahāyaṇa
206. Then, at the advent of Agrahāyaṇa, one, being pure,
should, on an auspicious day, shear off two and a half handfuls of
paddy in the field.
207. One should shear off (paddy) in the north-eastern corner
(of the field) after having duly worshipped the paddy plants with
sandal-paste, flowers, incense and offerings.
208. Then carrying that (bundle) on the head, with the stalks
turned forward, one should make for one's home silently without
touching anybody anywhere.
209. Then, entering the main room and walking seven steps,
one should place it, well-worshipped, to the east.
210. Never should one take a a handful in Kārtika and Pauṣa.
The taking of a handful in Agrahāyaṇa is the best and conducive to
wealth and paddy.
211. He, who harvests (paddy) without cutting off two handfuls
and a half in Agrahāyaṇa, meets with failure at every step; whence
shall there be paddy in his house?
1 The last day of Āśvina, when the sun passes on to the Zodiac Dhaṭa
(=Tulā) or Libra; in other words, the advent of the month of Kartika.