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

UPAVANA-VINODA
INTRODUCTION
THE ŚĀRṄGADHARA-PADDHATI is an Anthology compiled by
Śārṅgadhara. It is an encyclopædic work dealing with a variety of
subjects, such as asceticism, erotics, rhetoric, medicine, politics, economics,
botany, chemistry, cosmetics, criticism in general, philosophy, science
of war, and so forth. It practically surveys the whole of human life in
its most superficial as well as its deepest aspects. Of this an interesting
chapter, Upavana-Vinoda, treating of Arbori-Horticulture, is translated
in these pages.
The author of this treatise was, as is clear from the introductory verses¹,
Śārṅgadhara, a courtier of king Hammīra of Śākambharī-deśa (modern
Bundelkhand) who flourished in the 13th century A. D. (1283-1301).
Hammīra was a powerful monarch, a great patron of learning and himself
a writer.² He was defeated and killed by Alauddin Khiliji, and had he not
been a contemporary of the latter he would perhaps have figured in history as
a conspicuously great monarch.³ It appears from the opening verses that
the author undertook to compile the treatise at the command of his king for
the benefit of his subjects.
The chapter Upavana-Vinoda from the Śārṅgadhara Paddhati, the English
translation of which is offered here, deals with the following topics :—
(1) Glory of Trees, (2) Good and evil omens relating to residence near trees,
(3) Selection of soil (for planting trees), (4) Classification of plants, (5)
Sowing of seeds, (6) The process of planting, (7) Watering of plants (after
planting), (8) The rules for the protection of plants, (9) Construction of a
garden house, (10) Examination of the soil where wells (for watering) are
to be dug, (11) Rules for the nourishment of plants, (12) Kuṇapa water
(recipe for a nutrient solution), (13) Treatment of plants in disease and
health, (14) Botanical marvels and (15) Ascertainment of the price of things.
1 पुरा शाकम्भरीदेशे श्रीमान्हम्मीर भूपतिः ।
चाह्वानान्वये जातः ख्यातः शौर्ये इवार्जुनः ॥२
2 Hammīra Mahākāvya of Naya Chandra Sur, Ind. Ant. VIII, pp. 55-73 (Text-ed.
(N. J. Kirtone, Bombay, 1879).
3 For further information see Dr. H. Roy's Dynastic history of Northern India, Vol. II.