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

SCIENCE OF ARBORI-HORTICULTURE IN ANCIENT INDIA 63
नानावर्णैर्घटितं कन्दं कुमुदस्य सूत्रसंघटितम्^a ।
घृतमधुविलिप्तमुप्तं सूते कुसुमं तथावर्णम् ॥२१५
माहिषकरीषमूत्रैर्मृ दितविशुष्कं दिनानि यत्सप्त ।
कुमुदफलबीजमुप्तं जनयति करवीरविटपं तत् ॥२१६
कूष्माण्डवार्ताक पटोलकादि-
बीजं वसाभावितमुप्तसिक्तम् ।
विशोधितायाम् भुवि सर्वकालं
फलान्यनस्थीनि महान्ति धत्ते ॥२१७
वार्त्ताकबीजं घृतमाक्षिकार्क-
विशोषितं गोमयलिप्तरन्ध्रे ।
बालस्य कूष्माण्डफलस्य तप्तं
पक्काद्गृहीतं^b फलितं महत्स्यात् ॥२१८
मन्दारद्रुमरन्ध्रे या कौष्माण्डी निर्गतालता ।
मृद्गोमयघृते^c तस्मिन्सिक्ते फलति सा सदा ॥२१९
सूकरासृग्वसासिक्तमङ्कोलतैलभावितम् ।
एरण्डबीजं कारञ्जीफल^d सूतेति कौतुकम् ॥२२०
खरतुरंगविड् निवेषिततापितया या शलाकया मूले ।
तिर्यग्विद्धा कदली फलति फलं करिकराकारम् ॥ २२१
कोलशोणितमेदोभ्यामङ्कोलक्वथितेन च ।
सिञ्चिता कदली सूते दाडिमीफलमुत्तमम् ॥ २२२
नरमांसवसारक्तदन्तिदन्तविचूर्णितैः ।
मिश्रितेनाम्भसा सिक्ता रम्भा चूतफला भवेत् ॥ १२३
अङ्कोलक्वथितं स्विन्नं नृमांसं छागदुग्धयुक् ।
पिण्याकसहितं मूले सहकारस्य निक्षिपेत् ॥ २२४

(a) गणनाथ—कुमुदस्य सूत्रसंघटितं ।
(b) ,, पक्कं गृहीतं etc.
(c) ,, मृद्गोमययुते etc.
(d) ,, एरण्डबीजं कारञ्जीफलं etc.

64 UPAVANA VINODA
द्राक्षावल्लीसमाकारः सहकारः सदाफलः।
जायते निश्चितं धत्ते सर्वेषामद्भुतं यदि॥^a २२५
शशकूर्मासृङ्मध्ये बहुभावितमाम्रजं बीजम्।
रूढं सिक्तम् दुग्धैः फलति फलं सर्वकालेषु॥ २२६
कृमिरिपुयवयष्टीमधुगुडदुग्धविलेपनेन निम्बतरुः।
भवति जलदुग्ध सिक्तः स्वभावतिक्तोऽपि मधुरफलः^b॥ २२७
बीजं नरपलाङ्कोलतैलस्विन्नं शुभं सदा।
उद्गच्छति मृदा पूर्णेऽमम्भःसिक्तं करे क्षणात्॥ २२८
अङ्कोलतैलभावितमुषितं गोशकृति कुमुदकन्दमलम्।
करकाम्बुकर्दममृते कलशे कुसुमं समुद्वहति^c॥ २२६
गोकोलास्थिकरीषैस्तु दग्धे गर्त्ते विशोधिते।
उसं च वालुकापूर्णं मूलकं गर्तवद्भवेत्॥ २३०
[L14

SCIENCE OF ARBORI-HORTICULTURE IN ANCIENT INDIA 65
आम्रैः क्षेमं भल्लातकैर्भयं पीलुभिस्तथारोग्यम् ।
खदिरशमीभ्यां दुर्भिक्षमर्जुनैः^a शोभना वृष्टिः ॥ २३६
पिचुमन्दनागकुसुमैः सुभिक्षमथ^b मारुतः कपित्थेन ।
निचुलैनावृष्टिभयं व्याधिभयं भवति कुटजेन^c ॥ २३७
एते नानावृक्षायुर्वेदशास्त्रेभ्यः ॥
समाप्तः ।

(a) गणनाथ—दुर्भिक्षमर्जुनेन etc.
(b) ,, सुभिक्षमपि etc.
(c) ,, निचुलैनावृष्टिः स्याद्व्याधिभयं वै भवति कुटजेन ॥
एते नीता ह्यत्रा आयुर्वेदादि शास्त्रेभ्यः ।
अन्येऽपि सन्ति बहवस्तेषु च कथिता वनस्पतयः ॥
9

अ

UPAVANA-VINODA
THE TRANSLATION

The provided image contains a blank page (flyleaf/endpaper) with no legible text.

HERE BEGINS THE CHAPTER OF "THE SCIENCE OF PLANT-LIFE"
DEALING WITH UPAVANA-VINODA---THE ART OF
ENJOYMENT BY GARDENING

1. He is verily the king whose abode is provided with spacious gardens,
   containing large tanks or pools adorned with beautiful lotus blossoms over
   which humming bees fly---that may be regarded as the consummation of all
   happiness on the part of men, and that give intense pleasure to the mind of
   sportive and pleasure-seeking ladies puffed up with the pride of beauty.
2. If pleasure-seeking sovereigns have no gardens wherein to seek
   pleasure, the delicate and fine bodily from, bevy of fair and youthful ladies,
   compeers excelling in pleasing arts and sonorous lutes and profusion of
   wealth---all these are useless.
3. I am expounding in detail that subject after a thorough study of the
   treatises compiled by the sages of old. May the noble-minded and upright
   readers find delight in looking it through, and judging it as a whole (for what
   it is worth).
   HERE BEGINS THE SECTION CALLED TARUMAHIMA---
   THE GLORY OF TREES
4. Better to have a tree (planted) by the wayside where many rest under
   its shade than to have many sons born who are devoid of wealth and virtue.
5. We read in the Śāstras that (excavation of) a pond is equivalent (in
   virtues) to (sinking of) ten wells, a lake is equivalent to ten ponds, and a son is
   equivalent to ten such lakes and a tree is as good as ten sons.
6. He, who for pleasure makes him a good garden full of fruit and
   flower trees, is destined to go to the abode of Śiva and resides there for as many
   as three ages.
7. One should plant trees with full knowledge of these particulars, in as
   much as, from trees proceed virtues, material prosperity, fulfilment of desires
   and salvation---all these four sovereign things.
8. A man is sure to reside in Vaikuṇṭha (the abode of Viṣṇu) for as
   many thousand years as there are Basil plants planted in his house.
9. Lakṣmī (the Goddess of Wealth) lives for generations in the house
   of a man who plants the Vilva trees, peculiarly favourite with Śiva.
10. He, who plants Aśvattha trees after proper methods, no matter
    where, goes to the abode of Viṣṇu,

70 UPAVANA VINODA
11. He, who plants the Āmalaka trees, reaps the fruit of constant as-
ceticism, the giving of earth and of many sacrifices (yajña).
12. He, who plants after a proper method two Banyan trees, goes to the
abode of Śiva, and is waited on by the seraphim.
13. The virtuous man who plants three Nimba trees attains to the abode
of the Sun and stays there for three thousand years.
14. There can be no doubt of the fact that the man who plants four
Plakṣa trees enjoys the fruits of a Rājasūya sacrifice.
15. He, who plants five Āmra trees by the wayside or in the garden,
secures the salvation of fourteen generations past and future, backward and
forward.
16. He, who plants six Śirīṣa trees by the wayside, attains to the abode
of Garuḍa and spends his days there in as much pleasure as the gods do.
17. The man who plants either seven or even one Palāśa tree, gets at
the abode of Brahmā and is waited upon there by the best of gods.
18. He, who plants eight Udumbara trees himself or gets them planted by
others, reaches the abode of the Moon and enjoys intensity of pleasure there.
19. He, who plants a Madhuka tree, becomes free from all diseases,
and by him all the gods, especially, the goddess Pārvatī is pleased or gratified.
20. He, who plants a tree along with any of these trees: Kṣirīka,
Kadalī, Drākṣā Piyāla, Panasa, etc., ensures himself against all diseases for
seven lives (births) to come.
21. He, who plants a Jambū tree, either with knowledge or in ignorance,
enjoys the fruits of virtue in his own house every day.
22. He, who plants trees capable of bearing fruits and flowers besides
those that have already been mentioned enjoys the fruits of the gift of one
thousand cows of gold.
23. He, who plants Aśvattha, Pichumanda, Nyagrodha, one each; ten
Tamarind trees, and Kapittha, Vilva and Āmalaka, three each, and five mango
trees, is never fated to see hell
II. HERE BEGINS THE SECTION CALLED NIBASASANNATARU-
SUBHASUBHALAKSHMANANI—THE GOOD AND EVIL
OMENS RELATING TO RESIDENCE NEAR TREES
24. The presence of Banyan tree in the east of a house means ful-
filment of all desires, and Udumbara tree in the south, Pippala in the west
and Plakṣa in the north are productive of good,—everything else is to be
strictly forbidden.
25. One should do well to avoid Aśvattha tree in the east of a house,
Plakṣa tree in the south, Banyan tree in the west and Udumbara in the north :

SCIENCE OF ARBORI-HORTICULTURE IN ANCIENT INDIA 71
26. For this simple reason that gods and demons and semi-celestial
beings, gandharvas and kinnaras, snakes and voracious demons, beasts and
birds and men,—all these have recourse to trees, or take shelter under them.
27. Hence one should do well to avoid the shades of all trees in one's
house; one should not plant in front of one's house a tree even if it is
made up of gold.
28. Children do not multiply in the house of a man wherein germinate
(grow) Vadarī, Kadalī, Dāḍima and Vījapūraka.
29. A man desirous of happiness should not plant in his house Palāśa,
Kāñchana, Śleṣmāntaka, Arjuna and Karañja,—all these five trees.
30. A thorny plant nereby is productive of danger from enemies, and
the proximity of a Kṣīri-vṛkṣa causes loss of wealth, and a fruitful thorny
tree which is also milky leads to loss of human lives: one should do well to
avoid even the very good of these trees.
31. If one plants Nīlī and Haridrā, one is destined to be ruined himself
together with his sons and all his wealth. If these trees grow even of
themselves the persons versed in the laws should cut them off in accordance
with the sayings of the Sages.
32. One should never make a garden in the nairt or agni corner of
one's house; if one does so distress and sorrow will be the outcome.
33. If one lays out a garden in the north or in the west of one's house,
one's children and grandchildren multiply; hence a landlord, i. e., the
proprietor of a house, should make gardens after these rules.
III. HERE BEGINS THE SECTION CALLED BHUMINIRUPANAM
—THE SELECTION OF SOILS
34. Three main types of soil, viz., Jāṅgala (barren), Anūpa (moist) and
Sāmānya (ordinary) are divided into six on the basis of colour and taste.
35. Soils having black, pale (shady), blue, red, yellow and white
colour or appearance are respectively associated with sweet, acid, salty, sour,
bitter and pungent tastes.
36. The soils that are poisonous, or stony, or full of anthills, or barren, or
full of gravels, and that which still remain uneven even when ploughed, or
that which has water hidden in its depths are not favourable to the growth
of trees.
37. Do well to know that the soil which has the brilliance of blue
gems, that which is as soft as the feather of the Śuka-bird, that which is as
white as the conch, the Kumuda flower, or the moon, and that which
has the colour of melted gold, or that of a blown Champaka flower,—all
these are favourable for the growth of trees.

72 UPAVANA VINODA
38. All kinds of trees flourish in the soil which is even, the soil near
which there is water, and where the sprouts of trees put on green appearance.
39. The soil, which is neither barren nor watery, may be said to be
Ordinary, and there all types of plants grow.
40. Panasa, Lakuca, Tālī, Baṁśa, Jambīra, Jambū, Tilaka, Vata,
Kadamba, Āmrātaka, Kharjūra, Pūga, Kadalī, Tiniśa, Mṛdvī, Ketakī and
Nālikera,—all these trees grow in Anūpa soil.
41. Vijapūraka, Punnāga, Champaka, Amra, Atimuktaka, Priyāṅgu,
Dāḍima and similar others,—all these trees grow in the ordinary soil.
42. The trees which do not ordinarily grow in a particular type of
soil may do so if there is wealth hidden under it, or through the grace of
gods, or through the grace of sovereigns.
IV. HERE BEGINS THE SECTION CALLED PADAPAVIVAKSHA—
THE CLASSIFICATION AND PROPAGATION
OF PLANTS
43. Plants are classified into trees, shrubs, creepers and herbs, and
they propagate through seeds, cuttings, and bulbs.
44. The trees which produce fruits without flowers, are called Vanaspatis,
and those which produce fruits and flowers are called Drumas.
45. Those that spread themselves on the ground are called Latas
and those that spread themselves in several branches a little above the
ground are called Gulmas.
46-47. Do well to know that Jambū, Champaka, Punnāga, Nāga-
keśara, Ciñciṇī, Kapittha, Vadarī, Vilva, Kumbhakārī, Priyaṅgu, Panasa,
Amra, Madhūka and the like, Karamarda and similar others grow out of
seeds ; and Tāmbūlī, Sindhuvāra, Tagara and such others grow out of kāṇḍa
(portions of stems, i. e., cuttings).
48. And Pātalā, Dāḍima, Plakṣa, Karavīra Vata and such others,
Mallikā, Udumbara, Kunda and others grow out of seeds and cuttings.
49. Kuṁkuma, Ārdra, Rasona, Āluka, grow out of kanda (bulbs, and
such other underground stems), and Elā, Padma, Utpala and such others
grow both out of kanda and seeds.
V. HERE BEGINS THE SECTION CALLED VIJOPTIVIDHI—
THE RULES FOR THE SOWING OF SEEDS
50. One should sow pulses and sesamum on a level ground after
it has been thoroughly ploughed with a plough, and should cut the crops
when they are ripe and then should sow seeds on that ground again at
pleasure.

SCIENCE OF ARBORI-HORTICULTURE IN ANCIENT INDIA 73
51. First of all one should take well-matured seeds of fruits of the
season, sprinkle milk and clarified butter over them, keep them for five days
(in this condition), and then fumigate them with frankincense. Or,
52. One should besmear these seeds thus sprinkled with milk, with
powders of Vṛhatī and sesamum mixed with ghee, dry them and besmear
them again with cowdung, and then fumigate with fat of some animal. If
the seeds thus prepared are sown they sprout in a single night.
53. After besmearing with cowdung the seeds sprinkled with milk,
one should dry them and besmear them again many times with powders of
Viḍaṅga mixed with honey and sow them ; and they will sprout very soon.
54. The seeds of Jambū, Panasa, Cūta, Sarala, Lakuca should be treated
with milk and sown with ghee, cowdung and Viḍaṅga dust mixed therewith.
55. A person (the master of the household) after taking ablution and
putting on well-washed clothes, and after worshipping the gods, and making
obeisance to his Guru (spiritual preceptor) and giving away earth or money
to a qualified Brahmin, and making obeisance again to the presiding deity of
foundation (Vāstupuruṣa) should himself sow seeds. His attendants should
follow suit.
56. One should first of all sow seeds in the seed-bed, spread grass over
it and sprinke milk and water, and then when the seeds germinate, remove
the grass, dry the earth a little, and transplant these sprouts together with
their roots and the earth attached thereto.
VI. HERE BEGINS THE SECTION CALLED ROPANAVIDHANAM—
THE PROCESS OF PLANTING
57. The process of planting trees is being laid down, because the trees
when planted irregularly lose their beauty and vigour.
58. Dhruba (Rohiṇī, Uttaraphalguṇī, Uttarāṣāḍā and Uttarābhādrapada),
Mṛdula (Citrā, Anurādhā, Mṛgaśirā and Revatī), Mūla Viśākhā, Puṣya, Śravaṇā,
Aśvinī and Hastā—all these constellations are characterised as mild, and they
are favourable to the planting of trees according to the sages.
59. When a sprout planted after being sprinkled with milk grows one
cubit in length, one should dig it out together with the earth attached thereto
and then apply to it roots of Uśīra, Viḍaṅga and ghee pasted together and
then replant it in a pit together with cowdung.
60. One should plant a tree (seedling) in a pit two cubits in depth, well
watered, filled with fine dusts of earth free from sands, and filled with
cowdung. Plantain sprouts and kṣīrī (with milky sap) trees should be
planted after applying only cowdung to their roots.
61. First of all one should knead well a ripe plaintain fruit and besmear
a long straw rope with this paste (thus prepared), then put the rope (thus
10

74 UPAVANA VINODA
treated with banana paste) down in the ground lengthwise. Then for a
long number of days one should go on sprinkling water upon it little by little.
62. Then, sprouts having bluish and reddish appearance like the fresh
Tamāla tree, will sprout out of that rope; and then when by degrees
branches, leaves and roots will become visibly manifest, one should plant
these sprouts elsewhere and sprinkle water upon them.
63. Seeds (of trees and other garden plants) should be sown during the
months of Āṣāḍha and Śrāvaṇa; and some opine that they may be sown
in any season of the year, except the summer.
64. One should lay out the trees in the garden so as to look like an altar,
a nandyāvarta, a swastika, a caturasra, a sarvatobhadra, a bīthi (avenue
lined with trees), a nikuñja (grove—bower), and in clusters (here and there).
65. One should plant trees at an interval of 10 cubits in the lower level
of the garden, and at 20 cubits in the higher and at 16 cubits in the middle;
but if the surface of the garden be plane one should plant grass-like plants at
an interval of 2 cubits, trees at 4 and gulmas at 3 cubits apart.
66. Trees if thickly sown are hindered in their growth and if sown very
sparsely they are in danger of falling down even in consequence of mild
winds; hence for lean plants, in the laying out a garden, planting after the
method described above is wise.
67. The trees, the fruits and flowers whereof are not enjoyable by men,
the upper parts whereof drop off, which produce fruits without producing
flowers, are regarded as inauspicious in the Śāstras : Jackfruit tree is an
example.
68. Mātuluṅga, Rajanī, thorny plants, Kiṁśuka, Girikarṇikā, Asitā,
Tintiḍī, Viphalākṣa, Nīlikā, Kovidāra,—are productive of danger.
69. A fruitful tree, Aśoka, Punnāga, Śirīṣa, Nimba and Champaka—are
conducive to welfare and should be planted before all. Do well to know
that Bhallātaka is productive of diseases.
70. One should plant Karamardda and Bamboo in the east of a garden,
Pārāvata in the south, Vadarī and Kapittha in the north, and Dhātrī in the
west. One should plant trees with an eye to the fact that there is room
for the spread of their roots and one must see that the leaves of each other
do not touch.
VII. HERE BEGINS THE SECTION CALLED NISHECHANA-
VIDHI—THE-RULES FOR WATERING OF PLANTS
71. One should water the newly planted trees both in the morning and
evening, and should systematically protect them against cold and strong
wind.

SCIENCE OF ARBORI-HORTICULTURE IN ANCIENT INDIA 75
72. One should water them every alternate day in autumn and in
winter ; every day in spring and twice a day during the summer, i.e., once in
the morning and once in the afternoon.
73. During the rainy and autumn seasons when it does not rain one
should fill the circular ditch under the tree with water.
74. One should go on applying water till the earth attached to the roots
of the tree becomes wet ; one should not measure the quantity of water
applied to this purpose.
75. Trees suffer from indigestion if the water in the ditches is not dried
up, hence one should not pour fresh water in it till that is the case.
76. A person versed in the laws should not hesitate, in the interest of
trees, to extirpate the weeds, creepers and shrubs which grow beside them.
VIII. HERE BEGINS THE SECTION CALLED DRUMA-RAKSHA—
THE RULES FOR THE PROTECTION OF TREES
77. One should carefully protect trees against (destructive influence of)
dew, strong wind, smoke, fire and spiders.
78. Trees blessed with flowers should be placed in the middle of the
row of trees ; and the fruits of those which produce good fruits should be
kept covered, and all trees should be well protected with walls having ditches
around them.
79. One should take up the ashes of trees struck by lightning, throw
the same round other trees and this will ensure the latter against cold. These
have the power to allay (extinguish) even the burning fire.
80. Throwing boiled Śāli rice of white variety mixed with curd and rock
salt round trees ensures their protection against poisonous (harmfull) rain
injurious to them.
81. If one apprehends danger from mice, locusts, ants, etc., one should
utter the following formula (mantra) 108 times, and write it down on the leaf
of a tree.
Oṃ svasti kiṣkindhāsthita prakaṭaparākramāntarhitārkamaṇḍalopajīvitasya ca
Śrīhanumānājñapayati mūṣakapataṅgapīpilīkāśalabhakarabhānvakakīṭagandhi-
kānivahairnasthātavyam. Ājñāmatikramamāṇasya śarīranīgraha samāvartayati.
Tasya vānarasīṃhasya kramamāṇasya sāgaram. Kakṣāntaragato vāyurjīmūta
iva nardati. Huṃ phaṭ namaḥ.
82. And after writing down the (above) formula on the leaf and reciting
it one should burry it in the ground under the tree. This will lead to the
destruction of locusts, mice and ants of the field.

75 UPAVANA VINODA
IX. HERE BEGINS THE SECTION CALLED UPAVANA-PRAKRIA—
THE CONSTRUCTION OF A GARDEN
83. One should construct garden-houses in a place where the sun's
rays are prevented by a canopy of newly grown leaves, which is adorned
with blooming flowers, rocked by breezes and covered with Mādhavī creepers
bristling with restless black bees.
84. There one should make a swing out of the strong creepers attached
to the branches of two trees, fit for a couple to sit on.
85. In some places within the garden one should, for the purpose of
enjoyment, make (artificially) a nice, beautiful or lovely cave adorned with
branches of trees, leaves and creepers ; or, artificial peaks situated on a mound
covered with trees ; or a variety of caves associated with a good many gems
and precious stones brought from mountains ; or many artificial mountains
adorned with metals of different colours.
86. And there for the purpose of preventing fear from snakes as well as
for the display of beautiful dance one should keep peacocks.
87. In places one should dig ponds, the rows of trees on the bank of
which will mistake their own shadows reflected in the water for their own
bodies.
88. Steps should be constructed in places whereby men can descend
with ease into the vast artificial lake with pleasure boats in it, and on all
sides of the steps flower trees should be planted ; and care should always be
taken to see that ferocious animals do not live in the water of that beautiful
lake, and that the lake is always tenanted by birds like swans Attempt should
be made to intensify the beauty of the lake by having flowers of various
colours, like lotuses, mallikā, blue lotus, etc. in different places of it.
89. In places one should construct artificial lake with such eye-delighting
water in it that the reflection of the moon-beams in it causes the illusion
of a garden in water.
90. One should plant trees bent down under the weight of sweet flowers
on all sides of the white and well-ventilated houses—houses as white as the
peak of the Himalayas—built inside the artificial lake referred to above. And in
places of the garden one should construct circular seats as white as marble,
and should make bowers of plantain trees in places where there is gentle
breeze.
91. In places of the garden deep wells, paved on all sides with stones,
with sweet water in it, should be dug with the water of which all the trees
of the pleasure garden may be well watered.
92 & 93. If the water of the well be polluted, and become pungent, bitter,
tasteless, salty or malodorous, Añjana, Musta, Uśīra, Nāgakeśara, Kośātaki,

SCIENCE OF ARBORI-HORTICULTURE IN ANCIENT INDIA 77
powdered Āmalaka together with Katakaphala should be thrown into it ; and
this will make the foul water transparent, tasteful and fragrant, and in
addition will confer on it many other good qualities.
X. HERE BEGINS THE SECTION CALLED KUPARTHAM
BHUMIPARIKSHA—THE EXAMINATION OF THE
SOIL WHERE WELLS CAN BE DUG
94. The ascending veins of water issuing out of the nether regions
spread in all directions ; hence before digging a well a man should acquire
the knowledge of these veins inside the earth.
95. If there be Vetasa trees in a waterless region, 3 cubits to the west
of it, 6 cubits and 18 digits below the earth there will be found a vein of
water flowing to the west.
96. If a yellow frog and yellow soil be found 2 cubits and 6 digits
below the surface of the ground in the field, the bend of a river full of water
is sure to be found even beneath hard rock (there).
97. If there be anthills to the east of and near a Blackberry tree, water
is sure to be found 2 cubits and 6 digits beneath the surface of the ground
there.
98. If fishbones, stones having the colour of pigeons, or blue soils are to be
found 2 cubits and 6 digits beneath the surface of the ground somewhere,
there beneath these things water is sure to continue long.
99. To the south of a Nirguṇḍa tree grown on soil covered with
anthills, at a distance of 3 cubits, and 10 cubits and 3 digits beneath the
ground, tasteful and undriable water is sure to be present.
100. If 2 cubits and 12 digits beneath the ground Rohita fish, yellow
soil or thin sands and gravels are to be found successively, water beneath
these is sure to be there.
101. If an anthill be found in the east of a place where a Vadari tree
is, and if a white lizzard is there 2 cubits and 2 digits below the ground, then
water will certainly be found in the west (of that locality) 13½ cubits below
the surface.
102. One is sure to find water 14 cubits and 15 digits below
the ground in the west of a fruitful Vadari tree towards the west of which
if there are to be found signs of the existence of a cobra.
103. One is sure to find a vein of water moving to the west 14 cubits
and 15 digits below the ground where there one finds anthill beneath a
Kākodumbara tree.
104-105. One is sure to meet with water 6 cubits below the ground
in the west of a place where there the ground is a little yellowish and the
stone is of the colour of milk ; and also where 2 cubits and 6 digits below the

78 UPAVANA VINODA
ground one finds a white mouse, and very nearby an anthill in the south a
Vibhītaka tree.
106. If an anthill is there in the west of this particular place one cubit
away, then 20 cubits and 6 digits below the ground a vein of water moving
to the north is sure to be found.
107. Where the white insect, named Viśvambharaka, is to be found
4 cubits below the ground as well as stone of mixed yellow and red colour,
there a vein of water is to be found in the west of the place when the soil
is dug out. But the vein will cease to exist three years after it has been
found out.
108. Where an anthill is to be found between white Kuśa and Kovidāra
trees, there 25 cubits towards the west one can find profusion of water 24 cubits
and 18 digits below the surface.
109. Water is sure to be found below the ground of a soil where 4
cubits below the surface a serpent, soil having the colour of a lotus, and a
kind of stone, named Kuruvindaka, are to be found.
110. Water is verily present 20 cubits and 6 digits beneath the ground
where-ever a tree has a frog one cubit below the soil on which it is situated.
111. If there be the abode of a serpent towards the north of a Madhuka
tree, then 5 cubits away towards the north and west of the place (on which
the tree, is situated) 38 cubits and 6 digits below the ground, water is sure
to be found.
112. The ground 4 cubits below which a king serpent, earth of ashy
colour and stone of the colour of Kulattha are to be found, there a vein of
water flowing to the east is to be found below the ground,—a vein the water
of which is always full of foam.
113. Where there is the abode of a serpent towards south-west of a
Kadamba tree, there towards the east, 3 cubits away, 27 cubits below the
ground profusion of water is to be found.
114. Where there is to the west, 6 cubits away from the place (on
which the tree is located) a palmyra, or a cocoanut tree is surrounded by
anthills, 18 cubits beneath the ground a vein of water flowing to the west is
sure to be found.
115. Where to the left of a Aśmantaka tree, either a Vadari tree or
the abode of a serpent is to be found, there 6 cubits away towards the west
15 cubits and 18 digits below the ground water is to be found.
116. Where 4 cubits below the soil a tortoise, stone of ashy colour,
and soil mixed with sand are to be found, there beneath the ground a vein
of water flowing to the south is to be found too, and a little to the north east
thereof another vein of water is to be found.
117. Where in a waterless (dreary) tract signs of watery region are

SCIENCE OF ARBORI-HORTICULTURE IN ANCIENT INDIA 79
found, and where Vīraṇa and Dūrvā are seen, there 4½ cubits below the
ground water is to be found too.
118-119. If wet anthill is to be found beneath any of these trees :
Tilaka, Āmrātaka, Varuṇaka, Bhallātaka, Vilva, Tinduka Aṅkola, Pindīra,
Śirīṣa, Añjana, Paruṣaka, Vañjula, Ativalā—then to the north thereof 3 cubits
away 20 cubits and 6 digits below the ground there is water.
120. Where in the midst of a grassless ground a grassful spot is to be
found, and vice versa, there is water below the surface.
121. If a thorny tree is to be found in the midst of a number of trees
without thorns, then if one digs the ground there 3 cubits away to the west,
one is sure to find water or riches 15 cubits below the soil.
122. If the branches of a tree are bent down or of yellow colour, then 13
and half cubits below the soil, under the top part of the branches water is
sure to be found.
123. If earth and stone of yellow colour are to be found 18 cubits beneath
the soil, lying 3 cubits away to the east of a tree which has developed signs
of disease in its fruits and flowers---there water is to be found beneath its
surface.
124. If a Kaṇṭakārī plant with flowers of white colour is found thornless,
then 2 cubits 6 digits beneath the soil, or 13 cubits beneath thereof, water is to
be found.
135. If in a waterless ground a date tree with 2 heads is to be found,
then to the west of the ground, 13 cubits beneath the surface water is to be
found.
126. If a Karṇikāra tree with white flowers, or a Palāśa tree is to be found,
then to the north of the ground on which these are located, 15 cubits beneath
the soil there is water.
127. The ground which is always warm, or out of which smoke seems
to come out, 9 cubits beneath thereof a vein of water full of strong current is
to be found.
128. The ground where the corn becomes of yellow colour while
unripe and dies away, there 9 cubits beneath the soil a strong vein of water
is to be found.
129-130. Then we are describing the signs of vein of water in the
desert : If an anthill of yellowish colour is to be found in the north-east of
a desert then in the west thereof 20 and half cubits below the ground a strong
vein of water flowing to the west, which is like a hot spring, is to be found.
131. The soil where first a frog and then earth of yellow colour, and
then 4½ cubits below heat is felt, there beneath the ground water is sure to
be found,
132. The ground where a Vadarī tree is found adjacent to a Rohita

80 UPAVANA VINODA
tree, there even in absence of an anthill 3 cubits away in the west and 94½
cubits below the ground water is to be found.
133. The ground where first a serpent is to be found 2 cubits and
6 digits below, then soil of white colour and then stone of the same colour,
there in the north thereof a vein of water flowing to the south is to be found.
134. If a Karīra plant is to be found beneath a Vadarī tree, then 3 cubits
away to the west, 81 cubits below the ground a vein of water flowing to
north-east is to be found—a vein which is full of a profusion of water.
135. The desert where Kakuva and Karīra, or Kakuva and Vilva, trees
are seen very near to one another, there in the west 3 cubits away, 94½ cubits
below water is to be found,
136. If over an anthill grasses of yellow colour and Dūrvā are to be
found, and one digs a well between the two then 189 cubits below the
ground water is to be found.
137. Where an anthill is to be found to the north of a Śami tree
with knots (tubercles) all over its body, there 5 cubits away to the west,
225 curbits below the ground water is sure to be found.
138-139. Jambū, Trivṛtā, Śyāmā, Śiśumārī, Śārivā, Śivā, Dūrvā :
all these gulmas ; or such trees as Vārāhî, Jyotiṣmatī, Garuḍavegā, Śūkarikā
Māṣalatā, Vyāghrapadā,—if any of these is to be found on stony ground,
then 3 cubits north of the anthill adjacent thereto, 13½ cubits below the ground
water is to be found.
140. The above rule (as laid down in 138-139,) applies to mountainous
regions of Anūpa country, but in accordance with the spirit of this formula
even in the mountainous grounds of Jāṅgala region water is to be found 30½
cubits below the surface, and in the case of a desert 36 cubits below.
141. Where the ground is uniformly even and is devoid of
grasses, trees, anthills and shrubs, there if a change is noticed in any of
these, water is sure to be found below the surface.
142. It is good to begin digging a well when the moon is in any of
the constellation in the Zodiac : Hastā, Maghā, Anurādhā, Puṣyā, Dhaniṣṭhā,
Uttaraphālgunī, Uttarāṣāḍā, Uttarabhādrapada, Rohiṇī and Śatabhiṣā.
143. The presence of a well in the south-east of a house or a village
is productive of perpetual fear, and causes the conflagration of houses, as if
by a human agent.
144. A well in the south-west of a house or a village means loss of
property to the inhabitants ; one in north-west causes loss of wives, and
one in the north-east causes fear. The digging of a well anywhere else is
propitious.
145. The water below the surface of the ground which is full of Kāśa
and Kuśa grass, or where the earth is of blue colour, or full of fine gravels,

SCIENCE OF ARBORI-HORTICULTURE IN ANCIENT INDIA 81
or the earth is black and pungent to the taste, is sure to be both tasteful
and sweet.
146. There where the earth is yellowish and full of gravels and pungent
to the taste, the water below the surface is caustic ; where the earth is of
any colour other than pale the water below the surface is salty, and the
water is sweet where the earth is of blue colour.
XI. HERE BEGINS THE SECTION CALLED POSHANAVIDHI—THE
RULES FOR THE NOURISHMENT OF PLANTS
147. Trees do not produce fruits and flowers merely for being planted ;
hence we are going to state the rules relating to the nourishment of plants as
framed by the Sages.
148. If one applies powdered oil-cakes of white mustard or sesamum
at the root of Kharjūra, Vilva and Lakuca trees,—all these three grow ; and
the mango tree grows if it is watered with water in which husks are soaked ;
Āirāvata and Nichulapatra grow by simple watering, but they grow also
if watered with flesh and paddy washings.
149. For the (growth of) old Āmalaka trees the pulse māṣa is extremely
beneficial ; for young Tinduka trees application of water and milk is very
helpful ; powders of barley help the growth of cocoanut trees ; and all
trees rapidly grow if in the planes.
150. Mango trees bear very fragrant and sweet fruits at an early date
if they are watered with decoction made up of milk, pañcapallava, i.e.,
leaves of mango, Aśvattha, Vata, Plakṣa and Yajñadumura, together with
the fat of deer, boar, jackal, elephant, horse, etc.
151. A decoction made up of clarified butter, kuṇapa water, vacha,
and pig's stool—is extremely favourable to the development of fruits of Dāḍima
trees. And water or decoction made up of powders of kulattha is favourable
to the roots of the same tree.
152. If one, after besmearing the trunk of a pomegranate tree with
Saphari fish and powders of triphalā (fruits of Āmalaka, Harītakī and Bayeḍā),
applies to its roots the powders of above three fruits and mango paste and
also fumigates with frankincense, the fruit of the said tree is sure to be as
large as the palmyra fruit.
153. If one waters a fruitful Kādamba or Nāgakeśara tree with the
compound liquid made up of curd, fermented rice water, wine made out
of rice, plum, sesamum, menthi, kuṇapa water, and wine prepared from
sugar and milk, they are sure to bear innumerable fragrant flowers.
11

82 UPAVANA VINODA
154. If one fills the trenches around a Nāgakeśara or Champaka tree
with the decoction made up of priyaṅgu, gujña fruit, nimba, pippalī, vachā,
haridrā, tila and sarṣapa—all taken in equal parts together with clarified butter
and broth of Aśvakarṇa (bark) they are sure to grow luxuriantly.
155. If one waters the roots of vines with the compound liquid made up
of stools of fowls, (flesh and fish), straw and husks of paddy, it bears fruit and
flowers and grows ; and if one compounds 6 maunds and 10 seers of
Gāruḍī creepers with leaves and besmears the trunk of a jackfruit tree from
top to foot with it and waters the roots of the said tree with the broth of
vachā,—it bears fruits all over its body from head to foot.
156. If a Kapittha or Vilva tree be watered with clarified butter, milk
and honey, it bears fruits which are sweet to the taste, full of fleshy substance
containing scanty number of seeds.
157. A Madhuka tree puts on a beautiful and dignified appearance like
a worshipable being when it is watered with the compound made up of the
broth of the roots and leaves of Kośātakī, Pippalā, kuṇapa water, and powdered
resin.
158. A plum tree bears fruits which are as sweet as sugar when its
roots are developed through being watered with the decoction of tila and
yaṣṭīmadhu and with kuṇapa water.
159. A Vījapūra tree bears fruits again and again when the compound
substance consisting of the stools of goat, sheep, pig, etc., viḍaṅga and the
stools of men, is applied to the roots and then these roots are watered
with the urine of horses and sheep.
160. All creepers are bent down under the weight of their fruits when
their roots are pierced with the stings of scorpion and fumigated with clarified
butter and watered with the fats of mice and pig.
161. A Ketakī tree if watered with the urine of cows and kuṇapa water
in summer, bears fragrant flowers and sharp thorny leaves in the rainy
season.
162. One should apply to the roots of all trees, in profusion, soil scented
by fragrant flowers.
163. Any flowering tree bears fragrant flowers in course of a month
if it be watered with the liquid compound of the powders of kuṣṭha, patra,
murā, mustā, tagara and uśīra.
164. If one applies to the roots of a lotus plant which is barren, the
compounded dust of kulattha and the tusks of elephants, it is sure to be
graced with sweet lotuses every day.
165. If one applies to the roots white mustard, plantain leaf, safari fish,
stools of pig and cat in equal shares mixed with clarified butter, besmears the
trunks and fumigate them therewith, they (trees) become free of all diseases.