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

xiv KṚṢI-PARĀSARA
rites in order to ensure safety and bountiful returns. Definite rules,
some of which appear to be superstitious, have been laid down regard-
ing the choice of bulls. Black bulls are the best, black-and-red ones
tolerable, and the all-white bulls are the worst.
In the next place are given some omens and portents. For example,
the raising of a tortoise by the plough, in course of ploughing, fore-
bodes the loss of the cultivator’s wife, and the breaking of the plough
portends the death of the master of the land. The bellowing of the
bulls engaged in ploughing, or their licking of their noses (nāsā-līḍha),
or their voiding dung, however, foretells a bumper crop.
Then we have the author's suggestions regarding the suitability
of the soil for cultivation in different months. The soil is said to be
like gold in Māgha, silver in Phālguna, copper in Caitra, and so on.
Cultivation in the dewy season (hemanta) is held to yield the richest
produce, while, at the advent of the rains (ghanāgame), it results in
dire poverty.
Regarding seeds—their collection, preservation and sowing—
detailed rules, which appear to be of great practical value, are laid down
in the work. All seeds must be collected in Māgha or Phālguna.
After drying them up in the sun, they should be kept in small bundles
after separating the husk. Seeds of different classes must never be
mixed up, and the grass particles should be carefully thrown away;
the mixed seeds yield a poor harvest, and grass-particles in them result
in the growth of weeds detrimental to paddy. The seeds, closely tied
up, must not be allowed to come in contact with remnants of one’s
food, a woman in her monthly impurity, a barren woman, etc. They
become useless by coming in contact with fire, smoke, rain-water
and fish. For the sowing of seeds, Vaiśākha¹³ is the best month,
Jyāiṣṭha tolerable, Āṣāḍha bad, and Śrāvaṇa worst (v. v. 159-177).
Of the lunar mansions and lunar days, some are bad for sowing while
others are salutary. For averting damage to crops by locusts (śalabha)
and rats, one should avoid sowing seeds on Saturdays and Tuesdays
13 Cf. vaiśākher pratham jale/
āsu dhān dugun phale// Khanār vacan.