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

INTRODUCTION xv
respectively. Sowing of seeds in Ambuvācī, when the earth is supposed
to be unclean, is said to be dangerous. After the sowing is over, the
cultivator must level the field with the madikā (=ladder; the mai¹⁴ of
present-day Bengal); otherwise the growth of the plants becomes uneven
(v. 184). This part of the operations also, like the others, must be
accompanied by certain religious practices. To seedlings for transplan-
tation, the same prohibitions or recommendations concerning the days of
the week, lunar days and lunar mansions, etc. as in the case of seeds,
are also applicable. Śuci (=Iyaiṣṭha or Āṣāḍha, according to some, and
the hot season in general, according to others) is the best time for sowing
seeds for transplantation¹⁵ (v. 171). While seeds are free from defects
(doṣa-nirmukta), seedlings may be beset with diseases (sagada). So, care
must be taken to choose the right type of seedlings and those of
mature growth must be avoided. Seedlings, transplanted in Śrāvaṇa,
should be one cubit apart from one another, in Bhādra half a cubit,
and in Āśvina they should be four fingers apart (v. 187). Ropaṇa is
forbidden in low lands. (v. 190).
For kaṭṭana or weeding out, and levelling the field after the seeds
have sprouted up, the months of Āṣāḍha and Śrāvaṇa are the most
suitable.¹⁶ Preservation of water in the field is an essential thing.
In Bhādra, an outlet for water should be made in the field in such
a manner as would release the excess water; only as much water as is
necessary for dipping the roots of plants should be allowed to remain
in the field. (v. 195).
14 According to Dr. De, mai in cultivation does not signify ladder. It is a
kind of appliance which is emlpoyed in making the hard soil powdered to dust.
S. K. De, Bānglā-Pravād, Calcutta, 1359 B.S., p. 500, No. 4959.
15 śrāvaṇer pur, bhādrer vāra/
roo er madhye yata pāra//
vaiśākhi vonā, āṣāḍhi royā/
jāygā nā hay dhān thoyā// Khanār vacan.
16 āṣāḍhe kāḍān nāmke/
śrāvaṇe kāḍān dhānke//
bhādre kāḍān śīṣke/
āśvine kāḍān kiske// Ibid.