उपवनविनोद (आचार्य शार्ङ्गधर - वृक्षायुर्वेद, भू-जल संधान एवं उद्यान-विज्ञान सटीक)

14 UPAVANA VINODA
Bīja-bījaṃ (seeds)—Pubbaṇṇaṃ (7 dhānyas-paddy), Apparaṇṇaṃ (Pulses,
Cucurbita, etc.)¹.
V. SOWING OF SEEDS
As for the sowing of seeds Kautilya's Arthaśāstra has the following
prescription :—
“The seeds of grains are to be exposed to mist and heat (tushārapā-
yanamuṣṇaṃ ca) for seven nights; the seeds of Kośi (such as mudga
māsha, etc.) are treated similarly for three nights; the seeds of sugarcane
and the like (kāṇḍabījānaṃ) are plastered at the cut end with the mixture
of honey, clarified butter, the fat of hogs, and cowdung; the seeds of
bulbous roots (kanda) with honey and clarified butter; cotton seeds (asthibīja)
with cowdung; and water pits at the root of trees are to be burnt and
manured with bones and dung of cows on proper occasions,”²
“To ensure inflorescence, etc., (कुसुमयुक्तामिव) Varāhamihira directs that
the seeds before being sown should be treated as follows :—The seeds
should be taken up in the palm greased with ghee and thrown into
milk; on the day following the seeds should be taken out of the milk
with greased fingers and the mass separated into single seeds. This process
is to be repeated on 10 successive days. Then the seeds are to be carefully
rubbed with cowdung, and afterwards steamed in a vessel containing the
flesh of hogs or deer. Then the seeds are to be sown with the flesh, with
the fat of the hogs added in a soil previously prepared by being sown
with sesame³ and dug up or trodden down, and then to be sprinkled
daily with water mixed with kṣi'ra”⁴
“To ensure the growth of Ballaris (i.e, sprouting and the growth of
luxuriant stems and foliage)”, Varāhamihira further directs, “the seeds should
be properly soaked in an infusion of powdered paddy, māsha (bean),
sesame, and barley mixed with decomposing flesh, and then steamed with
haridrā (turmeric). This process will succeed even with the Tintiḍi (Tamarind).
For the Kapittha the seeds should be soaked for about 2 minutes (literally
such length of times as it would take one to make a hundred rhythmic claps
with the palms, तालशब्दः), in a decoction of 8 roots :—Āsphota, Āmalaki,
Dhaba, Vāsika, Vetula, Sūryyavallī, Śyāmā, and Atimuktaka boiled in milk. The
seeds then should be dried in the sun. This process should be repeated for 30
1 The Sumangaa-Vilāsinī, P. T. S. 1, p. 81. D, 1. 1, ll. Cf. Hemchandra—Kuraṇṭyādyā
agrabījā mūlajastūtpalādayaḥ, Parvayônaya ikshvādyah skandhajāḥ sallakīmukhāh. Śālyadayo
bījaruhāḥ sammūrcchajāstṛṇādayaḥ. Syurvanasptikāyasya ṣaḍété mūlajādayaḥ.
2 Chap. 24, 117. p. 145.
3 Cf. Atharva Veda (II. 8. 3.)
4 Chap. Liv, 19-26. Eng. Trans. from Seal's Positive Science.