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

PREFACE
The text and translation of the Upavana-Vinoda presented in the
following pages with introduction, critical notes and appendix containing
some additional texts bearing on the subject, is only a bye-product of a
systematic investigation undertaken by the author into the Indian knowledge
of Plants and Plant-life. The text of the Upavana-Vinoda is substantially
an extract from Peterson's edition of the Śārṅgadhara-Paddhati with variants
supplied from Dr. Gananath Sen's edition of the Upavana-Vinoda.
The Śārṅgadhara-Paddhati, as pointed out in the Introduction, is a
Sanskrit compilation of so late a date as the end of the thirteenth century of
the Christian era. But the Introduction, citing evidences from the text of all
ages, may sufficiently convince the reader that the science of Arbori-Horti-
culture had developed in India in an early age,—an age which is decidedly
earlier than the birth of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. If the beginnings
of all sciences and philosophies in Europe are traced in Greek Civilization,
the historian of Western developments in the Science of Botany and allied
subjects is not required to think of ancient countries other than Greece and
Rome. But if China has so far found reference in the history of such
developments and India has found no mention, it must be due to no other
reason than that the Indian aspect has not been properly studied as yet.
There is nothing to complain, nothing to be ashamed of. The plant perspec-
tive of Indian Civilization needs a very careful attention and patient study.
The texts furnished are to serve as samples of textual materials which
are now available.
The Indian Research Institute has done the author much honour by
starting its Indian Positive Science Series with this work, and Sir Brajendra
Nath Seal by writing the foreword. The author is much indebted to
Professor Pramathanath Sarkar of the City College for some valuable
assistance rendered by him in editing the text of the Upavana-Vinoda, and
his thanks are due no less to Mr. R. C. Adhikary, for his general assistance
in preparing this work for the press. It needs no further mention that the
author has availed himself of the helpful criticism and guidance of Dr. Barua
in the whole of the undertaking of which this work is only a part.
Presidency College
Calcutta. } GIRIJA PRASANNA MAJUMDAR
Nov. 1934, /