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

68 KṚṢI-PARĀŚARA
47. There is wind throughout day and night under (the Nakṣat-
ras) Mūlā and Yama (=Bharaṇī). Know for certain the Nakṣatras
Ārdrā and the like for the sake of rainfall.
Now the knowledge of rainfall in Vaiśākha
48. Ascertain rainfall after planting a post into (the bed of) a
flowing river at night on the first day of the bright half of the moon
in Vaiśākha.
49. Having mutttered the incantation. “Om Siddhiḥ” (let there
be success) for two hundred times, and put a mark on the post, throw
it into as much water as would reach up to the mark.
50. One, desirous of (having knowledge about) the (quantity of)
future water, should suddenly get up in the morning, and ascertain
whether the water is on a level with, above or below the mark.
51. If (it be) equal, rain-water and flood will be like those in
the preceding year. If (it be) below (the mark) rainfall will be less,
and flood too will be similar.
52. In case (the water is) above the mark, rainfall and flood
will be twofold ; this is declared by Parāśara to be the indication of
future rainfall.
53. *Viṣuva (-saṃkrānti)*¹ taking place at sunrise, there will be
calamity to the worlds, at midday there will be destruction of many
crops, at sunset there will be half the crops, and unparalleled enjoy-
ment of prosperity (will ensue if it takes place) at midnight.
54. Having drawn three lines (from north to south) multiply
them by 3 (so that nine lines may be drawn across them), and put a
hill at each corner (indicated by a) triangle.
55. (Then) write the figures² starting with 3³ southwards beginn-
ing from north-east. The result as to the rains will be in accordance
with (the Nakṣatra) in which the Aja-saṃkrānti⁴ (will take place).
1 The sun's passage from one Zodiac to another at the equinoxes. Viṣuva-
saṃkrānti marks the end of Caitra. In this verse are described the effects of
the sun's saṃkramaṇa (passage) at different periods of the day.
2 The figures indicate the order of the Nakṣatras beginning with Aśvini.
3 Indicates the Nakṣatra Kṛttikā, third in the order.
4 Sun's entrance into the Zodiac Aries.