वृक्षायुर्वेद (सुरपाल - प्राचीन भारतीय पादप-विज्ञान, कृषि एवं वृक्ष-चिकित्सा सटीक)

as Surapala, and that of his patron as Bhimapala. It is a
systematic composition starting with the glorification
of trees and tree planting. It then proceeds to discuss
various topics connected with the science of plant life
such as procuring, preserving, and treating of seeds
before planting; preparing pits for planting saplings;
selection of soil; method of watering; nourishments and
fertilizers; plant diseases and plant protection from
internal and external diseases; layout of a garden;
agricultural and horticultural wonders; groundwater
resources; etc. The topics are neatly divided into
different sections and are internally correlated. The
author has expressed indebtedness to the earlier scholars
but claims that in writing the present text he was guided
by his own reason.
All these observations lead one to accept the text as an
independent, full-fledged work on the subject of
Vrikshayurveda. The following observations proved
beyond doubt that such a branch of learning existed in
ancient India:
• There are frequent references to this science in
ancient Indian literature. It consists of works such
as Atharvaveda, Brhatsamhita of Varahamihira,
Sarngadharapaddhati of Sarngadhara, etc. which
bring out the botanical and agricultural aspects;
works such as the Samhitas of Caraka and Susruta
which bring out the medicinal aspect; and works
such as Grhyasutras, Manusmrti, Arthasastra of
Kautilya, Sukraniti, Krishisangraha of Parasara,
Kamandakiya Nitisara, Buddhist Jatakas, Puranas
(Matsya, Varaha, Padma, Agni, etc.), and literary
works (the Mahabharata, the Bhagavata, the
classical poetry, and drama) which emphasize the
economic, political, and socio-religious aspects. A
subject so widely spread into so many branches of
knowledge and so continuously preserved by
tradition through a period spread over thousands
of years must have a deep-rooted and firm
foundation in the culture itself in the form of a
systematic and independently developed branch of
science.
• In this text, Surapala refers to several texts
composed by many sages.
• Upavanavinoda, a chapter of Sarngadharapaddhati,
also recognizes its indebtedness to several works
on Vrikshayurveda.
• As early as in the sixth century, Brhatsamhita of
Varahamihira refers to the expositions of his
predecessors on various subjects including the
present one. The chapter on Vrikshayurveda in
Brhatsamhita which appears to be too brief must
be an extract from a larger text.
• Majumdar (1935) stated that the students of
medicine and agriculture had to study the science
that existed in ancient India as a necessary part of
their program.
In this light one can safely presume that the present
manuscript represents one of the authentic texts of the
lost science.
The colophon of the manuscript mentions Surapala as
the writer of the text. He is described as a scholar in the
court of Bhimapala, a "valorous" and "prominent" king.
Surapala is stated to be "Vaidyavidyavarenya", a
prominent physician. He is said to have earned
reputation on account of "Siddhayogas" (perhaps title
of some work). Like several other Sanskrit texts the
37

manuscript gives no clue to the date or place of the
author. The subject deserves an in-depth study;
however, any attempt at fixing a date of an author is
bound to be at best a conjecture for want of definite
proof. King Bhimapala, mentioned in the colophon as
Surapala's patron, is known in traditional history as the
son of Trilocanapala. However, there were two kings of
that name belonging to the eleventh century, one who
ruled Lata (Central Gujarat, India) and the other Punjab
(in Pakistan).
The reference to "Siddhayoga" in an epithet describing
Surapala in the colophon is open to several
interpretations. An ayurvedic work "Siddhayoga" is
ascribed to "Vrnda" (for which reason the work is also
known as "Vrndamadhava"). If Surapala had gained
fame due to this work, it could be by helping its
propagation by writing a commentary on it. This is quite
probable in view of the fact that Surapala was a
prominent physician of his time. The above said
"Siddhayoga" belongs to the fourteenth century and
according to some scholars there is no difficulty in
placing Surapala in that century. The reference under
discussion uses plural for "Siddhayoga" which has to
be explained for promoting the theory. Alternately,
Surapala has to be credited with many texts on
"Siddhayoga" himself. All this, however, would only
be a guesswork.
Surapala's language, style, vocabulary, and expression
also do not help much in providing any clue to his time
or place. As for external evidence of Surapala's time, it
is reasonable to expect his name to be cited in the other
texts of Vrikshayurveda. In the absence of such texts,
however, we have only the other two works which deal
with the same topics. Between the two, Brhatsamhita is
too ancient and Upavanavinoda does not mention him.
Keith (1929) places him after 1300 AD. Sarngadhara's
work (Upavanavinoda) at the most can be contemporary
to it and it is difficult to expect Surapala to be cited in it.
Interestingly, it is in Subandhu's Vasavadatta—a
Sanskrit prose romance of the seventh century—that we
come across the name Surapala. In one of his punning
allusions (Subandhu claims special credit for his double
meaning expressions), while describing the Vindhya
forest, Subandhu uses an epithet "Surapalavrttimiva
darsitaganikarikam", meaning "the forest revealed (had
in plenty) the trees named ganikarika (arani or the fire-
producing tree of the Vedas, Premna serratifolia Linn.,
syn. P. integrifolia Linn.) just as (incidentally) Surapala's
vrtti (brief commentary) too revealed ganikarika". In this
superficial or verbal resemblance of Surapala with the
forest he is said to have revealed, i.e., identified the tree
ganikarika. This might be a reference to some Surapala
who through his writings or commentary could throw
light on the plant. At least, there is a reasonable ground
to accept such a proposition. An ancient work on plants
mentioning "ganikarika" may have existed on which
Surapala might have written a vrtti and might have
earned credit for identifying or throwing more light on
the plant. Even though it is a reasonable conjecture, the
reference must have been to some other Surapala of the
seventh century. Besides the word "Surapala" can also
be interpreted as "the ruler of the Gods—Indra" as has
been done by some scholars. Many scholars, however,
accept "Surapala" as a proper noun and translate the
text accordingly adding a note that the reference to
Surapala cannot be traced.
It is worthwhile to set aside the opinion which
places Surapala in the fourteenth century in order to
38

solve the riddle of the common verses in the two texts.
The theory for want of definite proof may be regarded
as unproved.
It becomes possible then to give a serious thought to
another theory putting Surapala in the tenth century. It
can satisfactorily explain Sarngadhara's compiling in
his work extracts from Vrikshayurveda, an authentic text
on that science by a reputed scholar like Surapala. Any
other theory which makes Surapala Sarngadhara's
successor will be hard put to explain why a great expert
in the science should borrow from compilations of his
predecessors. "A prominent physician" under the
patronage of a "great" king must do better than that to
deserve the "spotless" fame and the tribute that tradition
has paid to him by preserving his name through the
centuries. In spite of these difficulties, the facts—that
the science of Vrikshayurveda was well developed in
ancient India, that Vrikshayurveda was also the name
of an authentic text of that science, and that its author
was Surapala—which were already accepted have been
fully corroborated by the existence of the present
manuscript.
The existence of the manuscript has solved some
problems but it has also given rise to some new ones.
The most important problems are:
• How does one explain the overwhelming
resemblance between Upavanavinoda and the
present text of Vrikshayurveda?
• If in Upavanavinoda Sarngadhara compiled extracts
from several Vrikshayurvedas, then which extracts
could be the portions of the science of
Vrikshayurveda which Sarngadhara did not
compile?
• Does the present manuscript provide any clue to
it?
A comparison of the two texts, thus becomes essential.
The third text, viz., Brhatsamhita also can be considered
alongside as both the texts have borrowed material from
it.
The starting point for such a comparison is obviously
the scrutiny of the three texts with regard to the various
topics they discuss (Table 1). Even such a superficial
comparison of the three texts helps us to make the
following observations:
• The topics are more exhaustive, systematic, and
balanced in Vrikshayurveda than in the other two
texts.
• Topics such as planting, nourishment, diseases and
ailments, and treatment are most directly and vitally
connected with the science of plant life.
Vrikshayurveda treats them in the most exhaustive
manner and thus, justifies its title. While
Brhatsamhita treats these topics very briefly,
Upavanavinoda too compares unfavorably with
Vrikshayurveda.
• The basic principle of Ayurveda is the "Tridhatu"
theory according to which a perfect balance of the
three humors, viz., kafa, pitta, and vata signifies good
health and any imbalance indicates lack of it among
the human beings. If Vrikshayurveda is a science
concerning the trees it should also, in order to justify
its title, make the same "Tridhatu" theory applicable
to the trees. Curiously enough Brhatsamhita which
has a chapter "Vrikshayurveda" does not even refer
to this theory. Upavanavinoda mentions it and
makes it applicable to trees, but the treatment is

39

Table 1. Topics of verses in three Sanskrit texts.
Vrikshayurveda Upavana.¹ Brhatsamhita²
No. of Verse No. of No. of Verse
Topics verses nos. verses verses nos.
Benediction — — — — —
Introductory composition 3 1–3 3 — —
Glorification of trees 5 4–8 4 1 —
Glorification of planting 15 9–23 16 — —
specific trees
Merits and demerits of trees 11 24–34 10 4 85–88 (ch. 53)
planted around the house
Soil 10 35–44 9 4 2, 3, 10, 11 (ch. 55)
Classification of plants and 7 45–51 7 — —
multiplication
Seed 7 52–58 4 — —
Sowing 4 59–62 3 — —
Planting 34 63–96 14 8 4–8, 12, 13, 31 (ch. 55)
Protection of plants 4 97–100 6 — —
Nourishment 64 101–164 34 1 9 (ch. 55)
Dangers, diseases, and ailments 56 165–222 20 3 14–16 (ch. 55)
of plants, and treatment³
Horticultural wonders 70 223–292 37 14 17–30 (ch. 55)
Pleasure gardens 8 293–300 11 1 1 (ch. 55)
Groundwater 19 301–319 53 125 1–125 (ch. 54)
Suitability or otherwise of land 5 320–324 6 14 1–14 (ch. 29)
for crop and animal production as
indicated by natural vegetation
Colophon 1 325 — — —
Total 323 237 175

1. Upavana. = Upavanavinoda.
2. ch. = Chapter no.
3. In Vrikshayurveda, there are 19 verses (nos. 165–183) on dangers, diseases, and ailments of plants and 37 verses
   (nos. 185–201, 203–222) on treatment.
   40

inexhaustive and unsystematic with the symptoms
and remedies mixed-up. It is only in
Vrikshayurveda of Surapala that we find a more
satisfactory application and a systematic exposition
of the "Tridhatu" theory as applied to the plants.
• The topic of groundwater receives an exhaustive
treatment in Brhatsamhita and both Vrikshayurveda
and Upavanavinoda have borrowed verses from it
or made use of the contents in their respective texts.
However, being primarily concerned with plants,
Surapala finds it sufficient to expound the topic in
seventeen verses only.
• From the title one would expect a very exhaustive
description of laying out pleasure gardens in
Upavanavinoda. But it has treated the subject
almost in the same number of verses as in
Vrikshayurveda.
• Vrikshayurveda surpasses the other two texts very
widely in describing horticultural wonders.
• The topics are scattered in four chapters in
Brhatsamhita without any attempt on the part of
the compiler to correlate them. Thus,
"Granthopanayana" (Chapter 1) contains general
introduction to all the subjects including
Vrikshayurveda.
• "Kusumalata" (Chapter 29) in Brhatsamhita deals
with implications of natural vegetation (it is not very
clear why the chapter is named "Kusumalata").
Both Upavanavinoda and Vrikshayurveda deal
with this topic briefly towards the end.
• "Vastuvidya" (Chapter 53) in Brhatsamhita deals
with the science of constructing a house in 125
verses out of which about four or five deal with the
trees to be planted around the house. Both
Upavanavinoda and Vrikshayurveda deal with it
fairly exhaustively in the beginning of the texts.
• "Udakargala" (Chapter 54) in Brhatsamhita deals
very exhaustively with the subject of groundwater
resources in as many as 125 verses, while the other
two texts treat the subject briefly.
• "Vrikshayurveda" (Chapter 55) in Brhatsamhita
deals briefly with planting, soil, nourishment,
diseases and ailments, treatment, and a few
horticultural wonders in 31 verses. Both the other
texts discuss these topics in detail.
If in the above light we address ourselves to the earlier
questions which necessitated this comparison we can
answer them as below:
• The resemblance between Upavanavinoda and
Vrikshayurveda may be explained by either
proposing a theory that both have made use of texts
of their predecessors or by revising our opinion
regarding Surapala's date. Unless we ascribe to him
an earlier date and make him Sarngadhara's
predecessor so as to enable the latter to take extracts
from Vrikshayurveda for his compilation, we cannot
satisfactorily explain how the two works contain
more than seventy to eighty identical verses, and
perhaps an equal number of those which are
worded differently but have identical content.
• The science of Vrikshayurveda must have texts
dealing more exhaustively with plant diseases and
they must also have a more detailed treatment of
the "Tridhatu" theory as made applicable to the
plants. Topics such as plant morphology and plant
41

anatomy might have found place in the science too.
In the absence of more texts on the subject it is
possible only to venture such a guess.
• The present manuscript definitely indicates that the
application of the "Tridhatu" theory to plants and
providing more recipes for producing horticultural
wonders must have been the lines on which the
sastra must have developed.
• It is not possible to answer these questions more
satisfactorily until some more texts on the science
are discovered.
Surapala's merits as an author of a scientific work have
been brought out incidentally in course of these
discussions. Thus a systematic unfolding of the subject,
a balanced treatment of various topics, neatly divided
sections for the respective topics with clear demarcations
of commencement and conclusion, a better and more
logical expounding of various topics as compared with
the other two texts, regard for predecessors combined
with self-confidence and independent reasoning are
some of the characteristics of his writing. Although in a
work of this nature what is said is more important than
how it is said, the writer in any field must have the
essential language skill to express himself precisely and
effectively. There is often a danger of the writer erring
on the other side and oversimplicity, plainness, and
banality in expression result. It must be said in favor of
Surapala that his language is happily free from these
traits. Throughout, he shows a full command on
language illustrating its flexibility which characterizes
the Sanskrit language. He uses the highly developed
and refined form of language used in the classical
literature. It is simple and lucid. Compound words are
used but they do not hamper the flow of expression.
The contents of the work do not give much scope for
literary embellishments. However, in the description of
the blossoming of some trees at the loving glance or a
gentle kick of a charming young girl (as per conventions
in literature), Surapala's poetic talent reveals itself fully
and can match with the best of the classical poetry in
Sanskrit (verses 147–151). Similarly, when he describes
the plan and layout of a pleasure garden (verses
293–297), the poet in him automatically takes charge of
his pen.
Surapala has also expressed the most ordinary content
in a poetic manner. Thus, he uses three beautiful
comparisons for the colors and yet another for the
softness—a soft soil of blue, white, or yellow tinge is
good for planting (verse 38). One has to read it in the
original to fully appreciate the beauty of expression.
Verses 118, 119, 129, 134, 140, 153, 248, and 249 also
illustrate this ability of the author. Occasionally he uses
simple figures of speech like alliteration and simile.
However, all these graces of language come to him
without effort. His skill in using difficult and elaborate
meters is also noteworthy. Brevity and precision of
expression is yet another asset of the author. Thus in
this respect, too, Surapala's work can claim superiority
to the other two texts.

42

The Science of Plant Life
Salutations to Lord Ganesha.
Introductory composition

1. He is (rightfully called) the Lord of the earth in whose palace there are extensive gardens:
   • which provide people with an important means of all happiness, viz., mutual conversation;
   • which give immense pleasure to the minds of wanton women proud of their charm and longing for enjoyment;
   • which are provided with extensive, delightful oblong ponds with bees hovering around the fully bloomed lotuses (in them).
2. Youth, attractive physique, beautiful women, talented friend, music of a melodious tune, woods, everything is meaningless for a king longing for happiness, in the absence of pleasure gardens.
3. After studying the scientific works of the sages I have expounded (here in this book) the very same import although using my own reason in coordinating them and have not stated anything of my own. Keeping this in view, let gentlemen read my writing and derive joy (from it) which is so natural to them.
   Importance of trees
4. What is the use of several trees grown in the forest, or sons who do not serve the purpose of dharma or artha? (Instead,) a single tree by the wayside is far better whereunder people can rest.
5. (Planting) five trees is far better than (giving birth to) ten sons (as the former) offer libations to the father (planter) with leaves, flowers, and fruits.
6. Ten wells are equal to one pond. Ten ponds are equal to one lake. Ten lakes are equal to one son. Ten sons are equal to one tree.
7. And if one plants a pleasure garden abounding in boundless fruits (yielding many rewards), (then) gods, wise men, nymphs, yakshas, etc., reside there for three ages.
8. Knowing this truth one should undertake planting of trees since trees yield the means of attaining dharma, artha, kama, and moksha (the four aims of life).
9. A person is honored in Vaikuntha (Heaven) for as many thousand years as the days he resides in a house where tulasi is grown.
10. And if one properly grows bilva, which pleases Lord Siva, in his family, the goddess of riches resides permanently passed on to the sons and grandsons.
11. He who plants even a single asvattha, wherever it may be, as per the prescribed mode, goes to the abode of Hari.
12. He who has planted dhatri has performed several sacrifices. He has donated the earth. He would be considered a celebate forever.
    43

13. He who plants a couple of banyan trees as per the
    prescribed mode would go to the abode of Siva and
    many heavenly nymphs will attend upon him.
14. After planting neem trees a person well-versed in
    dharma attains the abode of the Sun. Indeed! He resides
    there for a long period.
15. By planting four plaksa trees a person doubtlessly
    obtains the fruit of Rajasuya sacrifice.
16. He who plants five or six mango trees attains the
    abode of Garuda and lives happily forever like gods.
17. One should plant seven palasa trees or even one. One
    attains the abode of Brahma and enjoys the company of
    gods by doing so.
18. He who himself plants eight udumbara trees or even
    prompts someone to plant them, rejoices in the lunar
    world.
19. He who has planted madhuka has propitiated
    Parvati, has become free from diseases, and has
    worshipped all the deities.
20. If one plants ksirini, dadimi, rambha, priyala, and
    panasa, one experiences no affliction for seven births.
21. He who has knowingly or unknowingly planted
    jambu is respected as a recluse even while staying in the
    house.
22. By planting all kinds of other trees, useful for fruits
    and flowers, a person gets a reward of thousand cows
    adorned with jewels.
23. By planting one asvattha, one picumanda, one
    nyagrodha, ten tamarind trees, the group of three, viz.,
    kapittha, bilva, and amalaka, and five mango trees, one
    never visits hell.

Merits and demerits of trees planted near the residence

24. Nyagrodha to the east of the house fulfills all wishes.
    Similarly udumbara to the south and pippala to the west
    are auspicious.
25. Plaksa is desirable to the north. Nonconformity with
    these (directions) should be avoided.
26. Avoid planting asvattha to the east, plaksa to the
    south, nyagrodha to the west, and udumbara to the north
    of the house.
27. Gods, demons, gandharvas, ghosts, snakes,
    rakshasas, beasts, birds, and human beings always take
    resort to the trees.
28. Shadow of no tree of any kind should fall on the
    house. Even a gold-yielding tree should not be planted
    at the entrance of the house.
29. The house where badari, kadali, dadimi, and bijapuraka
    are grown does not grow (prosper).
30. Eranda, kancanara, slesmataka, arjuna, and karanja
    must not be grown in the vicinity of the house of a happy
    man.
31. Thorny plants in the vicinity cause danger from
    enemies. Ksirini plants planted close by result in loss of
    wealth. Although fruit-yielding, it is better to avoid them
    as they cause loss of progeny. Even their wood should
    be avoided (in the construction of the house).
32. A person planting nili and haridra will always meet
    with loss of progeny and prosperity. Even when these
    44

sprout out of their own accord (naturally), they should
be uprooted by the wise, following the advice of the
sages.
33. One should not plant a garden to the south,
southwest, or northeast of the house as it leads to
quarrels, distress, and adversity.
34. Therefore, west, north, and east are the proper
directions for planting gardens near the house. It is
auspicious for a king and he is rewarded with progeny.

Soil

35. Arid, marshy, and ordinary are the three types of
    land. It is further subdivided into six types by color and
    savor.
36. Black, white, pale, dark, red, and yellow are the
    colors and sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and
    astringent are the tastes by which land is subdivided.
37. Land with poisonous element, abundance of stones,
    ant hills, holes, and gravel and having no accessibility
    to water is unfit for growing trees.
38. Bluish like saphire, soft like a parrot's feather, white
    like conch, jasmine, lotuses, or the moon, and yellow
    like heated gold or blooming champaka is the land
    recommended for planting.
39. Land which is even, has accessibility to water, and
    is covered with green trees is good for growing all kinds
    of trees.
40. Arid and marshy land is not good. Ordinary land
    is good as all kinds of trees grow on it without fail.
41. Panasa, lakuca, tala, bamboo, jambeera, jambu, tilaka,
    vata, kadamba, amrata, kharjura, kadali, tinisa, mrdvi, ketaki,
    narikela, etc. grow on a marshy land.
42. Sobhanjana, sriphala, saptaparna, sephalika, asoka, sami,
    karira, karkandhu, kesara, nimba, and saka grow well on
    an arid land.
43. Bijapuraka, punnaga, champaka, amra, atimuktaka,
    priyangu, dadima, etc. grow on an ordinary type of land.
44. If wealth, destiny, and the king are favorable any
    tree can grow anywhere with special effort.

Propagation

45. Vanaspati, druma, lata, and gulma are the four types
    of plants. They grow from seed, stalk, or bulb. Thus the
    planting is of three kinds.
46. Those which bear fruits without flowers are
    vanaspati (types). Those which bear fruits with flowers
    are druma (types).
47. Those which spread with tendrils are lata (types)
    (creepers). Those which are very short but have branches
    are gulma (types) (bushes).
    48–49. Jambu, champaka, punnaga, nagakesara, tamarind,
    kapittha, badari, bilva, kumbhakari, priyangu, panasa, amra,
    madhuka, karamarda, etc. grow from seeds. Tambuli,
    sinduvara, tagara, etc. grow from stalks.
48. Patala, dadimi, plaksa, karavira, vata, mallika, udumbara,
    kunda, etc. grow from seeds as well as from stalks.
49. Kumkuma, ardra, rasona, alukanda, etc. grow from
    bulbs. Ela, padma, utpala, etc. grow from seeds as well as
    from bulbs.
50. Seed is extracted from dried fruits which become
    ripe in the natural course and season. It is then sprinkled
    45

with milk and dried for five days. It is then smoked
with mustard seed mixed with bidanga.
53. Seeds sprinkled with milk, smeared with mustard
and ash of sesame and brhati, rubbed with cow dung,
and smoked with marrow sprout in no time.
54. Seeds sprinkled with milk, rubbed with cow dung,
dried and profusely smeared with maksika (honey) and
bidanga definitely sprout.
55. According to the experts, seeds soaked in milk, dried
well in shade, and rolled into powder of brhati, tila, and
nala (hollow stalk of lotus) mixed with mustard are also
excellent for sowing.
56. The seeds of makanda, jambu, and panasa are excellent
when wet and treated as stated above. The seeds of
ksirika and bakula are good when dried and treated as
stated above and when the tips are cut (or bent).
57. The seeds of urvaru become fit for sowing when
sprinkled with water mixed with plenty of jaggery tied
in a leaf-vessel, put on the ground, heated incessantly
with fire for three days and then taken out.
58. Seeds which are treated and preserved in this
manner are all good for use. Trees grown from such
seeds bear forever abundant flowers and fruits of an
excellent quality.
59. The owner of the farm should wear clean clothes
after bath, worship God, offer salutations to his
preceptors, offer wealth or land to the worthy, offer
salutations to the vastu deity (superintending deity) and
then (he) himself should sow some seeds. The servants
should then follow him.
60. After sowing, the seeds should be covered with
grass and sprinkled with water mixed with milk. Water
should be sprinkled after they sprout. Grass should be
removed and the soil should be allowed to dry.
61. The first day of the bright fortnight, fullmoon day,
the fifth or the thirteenth day (of the bright fortnight)
are good for sowing. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday,
and Friday are good days.
62. Visakha, Mrga, Mula, Citra, Uttara, Uttarasadha and
Uttarabhadrapada, Anuradha, Jyestha, and Krttika are good
stars. Steady Lagna is good.

Method of planting

63. The seedling then should be planted in beautiful,
    even ground, on which sesame or black gram is not
    grown earlier and which is strewn over with heaps of
    flowers.
64. The distance between two plants is fourteen, sixteen,
    or twenty forearm lengths. These distances result in
    inferior, mediocre, and excellent yield of trees
    respectively.
65. Distance between two bushes should be four or five
    forearm lengths. Puga, etc. are planted carefully at a
    distance of two to three forearm lengths.
66. If planted at farther distance there is the danger
    of strong winds. But if planted closer than this (2-3
    forearm lengths) there is no yield. So one should strictly
    adhere to the correct distance for proper yield from the
    trees.
67. The pits should be prepared well in advance.
    The length, breadth, and the depth of the pits should
    be a forearm measure uniformly. They should be
    properly dried, filled with cow bones and cow dung,
    and burnt.

46

68. After the ash is naturally cooled and removed,
    kunapa water (liquid manure) should be sprinkled and
    the pits should be filled with good earth.
69. Sowing seeds for makanda, dadima, kusmanda, and
    alambuka is good but planting is even better.
70. In the fertile lands which are used excessively,
    seeds of trapusa or of other vegetables are sown
    intermittently.
71. Here (in these fields), saffron, maruwaka, and
    damanaka are similarly grown in a small carry.
72. Large seeds should be sown singly but smaller ones
    should be sown in multiples. The seed of naranga should
    be sown in a slanting position with hand.
73. The seeds of phanijjaka (maruwaka) should be mixed
    with earth and then water mixed with cow dung should
    be sprinkled gradually and gently.
    74–75. Smeared with the pulp of a plantain ripened
    naturally and dried in the sun, a rope of the stalk of
    sastika (a rice variety that matures in 60 days) should be
    laid in the pits intermittently. Sprinkled with little water
    continuously in the hot days, it yields without fail
    sprouts blue like tamala.
74. The stalk should be eighteen angula, not too tender
    nor too hard. Half of it should be smeared with plenty
    of cow dung and then (it) should be planted with three-
    fourth part in the pit and should be sprinkled with water
    mixed with soft sandy mud.
75. The lower part of the stalks of satapatrika should be
    half-ripened and then in the month of Kartika (postrainy
    season) should be planted in a carry and drenched with
    water for about two months.
76. When they are covered with leaves they should be
    uprooted and transplanted wherever desired in the
    month of Asadha (beginning of rains).
    79–80. The branches of dadima and karavira should be
    bent and planted applying enough cow dung at the root.
    They should be watered regularly for two months. After
    the leaves start growing they should be cut in the
    middle.
77. Bulbs should be planted in pits measuring one
    forearm—length, breadth, and depth—and filled with
    mud mixed with thick sand.
78. Kadali should be planted after smearing the root
    profusely with cow dung. It should be planted in the
    pit along with the root and should be watered well.
79. Small trees should be transplanted by day time at
    the proper directions when they are one forearm tall.
    The roots should be smeared with honey, lotus-fibre,
    ghee, and bidanga and then planted in proper pits along
    with the earth.
80. Big trees should be similarly transplanted with their
    roots covered during evening after reciting the following
    mantra the previous day.
81. “Oh tree, I shall take you to a better place from here
    and shall water you in such a way that you shall be
    satisfied.”
82. “You will grow there and shall have no fear from
    lightning, etc. I shall look after you there, like a dear
    son.”
83. Ksirika, tuta, dadimi, bakula, etc. should be planted
    in the month of Sravana (midst of rainy season). Rajakosa,
    amra, lakuca, etc. should be planted in the month of
    Bhadrapada (when rains are receding).
    47

88. Golla, vartaka, etc. should be planted in the month
    of Asvina, Phanijjaka, satapatrika, dhanyaka, mulaka, etc.
    should be planted in the month of Kartika.
89. Patola, etc. should be planted in Phalguna (beginning
    of spring) and kakaruka, etc. in Caitra (spring). A wise
    man should plant kadeli, etc. in the month of Vaisakha
    (beginning of summer) and on a Friday.
90. Any tree as desired can be planted in the month of
    Asadha. Margasirsa, Pausa, and Magha (winter, i.e., coolest
    periods) are stated to be bad for planting.
91. A wise person should plant bhillota (bhallataka ?)
    without fail on all sides of all the trees for ensuring their
    health.
92. Phalini, asoka, punnaga, sirisa, and nimba must be
    planted first as they are auspicious and also prevent
    diseases and calamities.
93. Karamarda and vamsa to the east, paravata trees to
    the south, badari, kapittha, and dhatri to the north are
    auspicious. Other trees having fibrous (or flexible) roots
    and of good, mediocre, and bad categories also should
    be planted on the border along with the trees of the same
    category at regular intervals.
94. The designs for planting trees are: mandapa (canopy),
    nandyavarta (quadrangle with an opening to the West),
    swastika (famous diagram of religious significance),
    caturasra (square), sarvatobhadra (a square enclosing a
    circle), vithi (line), nikunja (arbour), and punjaka
    (multitude, cluster).
95. The fruit-yielding and flower-yielding trees should
    be at the center and other trees around them. They
    should be planted in pairs and they too, should be
    encircled by a trench.
96. Thus after knowing this technique the person
    concerned with trees should undertake planting after
    propitiating gods and preceptors and after removing
    all impurities.
97. Trees alone on the earth give happiness both here
    and hereafter. Since they "save" from abject poverty they
    are named "taravah" (the saviors).
98. Therefore, the trees should be carefully nurtured as
    through their shade, flowers, and fruits they help
    immensely in the pursuit of dharma, artha, and kama.
99. Trees must be protected vigilantly from mist, storm,
    smoke, fire, and spider.
100. An expert should treat the plant by coating with
     sesame oil cake and vidanga—the insecticide—by
     sprinkling mixture of milk and water and the liquid
     fertilizer (kunapambu), and by smoking with ghee.
     Nourishment
101. The excreta, marrow of the bones, and flesh, brain,
     and blood of a boar mixed with water and stored
     underground is called kunapa.
102. As per the availability the fat, the marrow, and the
     flesh of fish, the ram, the goat, and other horned animals
     should be collected and stored.
103. These should be boiled after mixing with water,
     and the mixture should be stored in an oiled pot after
     adding sufficient quantity of husk.
104. After roasting it in an iron pot, sesame oil cake and
     honey should be added. Soaked black gram of good
     quality should also be added. A little ghee should then
     be poured.

48

105. The items stated above should be taken at random
     as there is no measure for anything. One by one it should
     be placed in the pot in a warm place by a competent
     person.
106. This kunapa is highly nourishing for the trees. This
     is as stated by the ancient sages and I (Surapala) repeat
     it here after verifying the same.
107. For the growth of a young sapling a cold mixture
     prepared out of fish, flesh, and sesame should be given
     every seventh day.
108. So long as the color of their foliage is not similar to
     that of the coral, newly planted trees should be protected
     from the sun.
109. Newly planted trees in arid land should be watered
     every morning and evening for a period of fifteen days
     until the soil is fully soaked.
110. In marshy land, watering should be restricted to
     only once in five days. In ordinary soil, watering should
     be done for ten days every morning and evening, the
     quantity of water being limited.
111. Well-rooted plants should be watered every
     alternate day in winter, every evening in spring, and
     thrice a day in summer.
112. In the rainy season and autumn or when the soil
     becomes dry, juice of medicinal plants mixed with urine,
     marrow, and milk should be given.
     113-114. The kunapa water, the excreta, and flesh are
     the ingredients to be mixed with water previously
     treated with fermenting seed for trees to produce
     flowers and fruits in abundance.
113. A discerning person should weed out all the grass
     growing in the vicinity and should dig it out from near
     the roots of the trees with a spade.
114. The trees give extreme satisfaction by their fruits
     and flowers when rendered free even from suspicion of
     impurity by subjecting them to the treatment of smoking
     by the mixture of white mustard seeds, flowers of the
     arjuna tree, and flesh of the hare added to a combination
     of antiseptic (vidanga) and turmeric powder.
115. The trees yield rich reward in the form of flowers
     and fruits in a very short period when smoked with the
     mixture of plantain leaves, white mustard seeds, and a
     small, shining variety of fish.
116. The trees bear abundant fruits and flowers quickly
     if watered with the mixture of marrow of stag and hog,
     honey, ghee, and tender leaves of nicula.
117. Trees which are smoked heavily by a mixture of
     ghee, vidanga, milk-water, and honey become full of
     flowers and fruits in a short time.
     (A part of the verse is unintelligible.)
118. All the creepers bear flowers and fruits in
     abundance when watered by a mixture of the marrow
     of python and dhammina snake.
119. A creeper bears fruits and flowers when pierced
     with a sharp instrument (literally, with a sting of a
     scorpion), smoked with the fat of saphari (a tiny, shining
     fish), and sprinkled with the marrow of a hog and
     mouse.
120. The grape creeper bends down with flowers and
     fruits if the roots are nourished with powdered excreta
     of cocks and sprinkled with water mixed with fish fat.
     49

123. The mango trees are nourished well and are loaded
     with sweeter and bigger fruits if treated with water
     mixed with ripe fruits of ankolha, ghee, honey, and
     marrow of a boar.
124. The trees of the coconut type (palm, betel nut,
     kataka, and date) bear fruit if watered by the decoction
     of the flesh of cow, hog, and Gangetic porpoise and if
     manured with the powder of the saphari fish mixed with
     sesame.
125. The coconut trees become loaded with weight of
     huge fruits and also become free from disturbance if
     smeared at night with extracts of fermented liquor,
     sesame, black gram, and wine, mixed with honey, salt,
     and vidanga (an insecticide).
126. Coconut trees always produce fruits as big as pots
     if they are treated with soup of black gram, salt water,
     powder of barley, or husk-water in abundant quantity.
     (A word in the verse is unintelligible.)
127. Water mixed with white mustard, barley, husk, and
     oil cake nourishes trees of the type of breadfruit, date,
     and kamala.
128. The pomegranate trees produce fruits with bigger,
     sweeter, and juicier seeds of a bigger variety when they
     are profusely watered with milk of the buffalo mixed
     with the flesh of a cat, a blue jay, deer, elephant, and
     boar, and plenty of marrow.
129. When properly saturated with the treatment of
     being manured with lumps of flesh of the fox mixed
     with the flesh of cattle and when its basin is filled with
     water mixed with crystalline sugar, the pomegranate
     tree bends down with fruits extremely sweet and full of
     abundant juice.
     50
130. When its trunk is smeared with honey fully
     dissolved in fresh ghee and saphari fish and when
     smoked with the powder of triphala mixed with ghee,
     the pomegranate tree bears fruits of bigger size.
131. When saturated with fish-water and earthworms
     treated with milk, the pomegranate tree produces sweet
     and big fruits.
132. The pomegranate tree, when bent with fruits is
     ornamented with the skull of the blue jay. So also the
     amrata tree is decorated on the top with the ring of the
     neck of an earthen jar. (This appears to be some sort of
     an esoteric remedy for protecting the fruits.)
133. Watered with plenty of triphala decoction and
     covered immediately with husk, the jackfruit tree bears
     many fruits of a bigger size, very sweet and without
     seeds.
134. Kola, when watered profusely with the mixture
     of yastimadhuka, sesame, and honey and also with
     kunapa at the root bears fruits which are attractive,
     as big as the bilva fruits and with flavor and taste like
     nectar.
135. Karkandhu, lakuca, badari, dhatri, and jambu trees
     when smeared with a mixture of ghee, honey, krsara
     (spiced food preparation with sesame, rice, and
     peas), and lodhra, enriched with the thick paste of
     barley or when smeared and smoked well with
     sesame, honey, and barley for twelve days, and
     watered with milk-water at blossoming time bear good
     fruits.
136. Similarly when the above mentioned trees are
     amply watered and sprinkled with wine everyday, they
     bear fruits of big size with nectar-like taste.

137. The bilva and the kapittha trees when sprinkled with
     mixture of jaggery, ghee, milk, and honey bear plenty
     of juicy fruits.
138. The plantain trees bear many fat fruits when
     covered fully at the offshoots of the roots by plenty of
     ash of rotten straw and cow dung and when watered
     with kasa and flesh-water.
139. Tinduka trees are fed well with the water of rice
     and black gram, and paravata trees bend down with
     fruits when nourished with the extract of neem leaves.
140. The matulungi when fed well with the fermented
     water mixed with milk, flesh, fish, cow dung, rice, and
     with the thick water of sesame cake bends down with
     fruits which are extremely sweet, soft, fleshy, and big
     like a jar.
141. The bijapuraka bears fruits when watered with a
     mixture of minced flesh of the fox and the orange trees
     bear good quality fruits when fed with water mixed with
     flesh, jaggery, and milk.
142. Orange trees bend down with fruits when fed with
     plenty of water mixed with bidanga, black gram, sesame,
     mustard, and bilva along with water mixed with
     turmeric powder and the flesh of the rabbit, and when
     smoked with the rabbit flesh.
143. The madhuka trees bear flowers which are fragrant
     like camphor-dust when smoked well with big lumps
     of flesh, mixed with kalaya (a sort of pulse) and
     powdered bark of ankola and treated with the fibrous
     roots and leaves of jalini.
144. Sauvira is nourished well with curd, hog fat, and
     sesame mixed with country liquor, while ksirindika
     (ksirika ?) is nourished with kunapa water. The syama,
     the kadamba, the karikesaraka bend down with branches
     of fragrant flowers (with the same treatment).
145. All flowering plants blossom profusely when
     watered with the decoction of tender leaves of jantu,
     khus, and musta mixed with liquor.
146. Ketaki blossoms richly when watered well with the
     fragrant things like cardamom and when fed with
     decoction of flesh.
147. Ketaki blossoms well when nourished with excreta
     water. The bakula tree blossoms well when sprinkled
     with mouthful of wine by a beautiful (young) lady.
148. Makanda tree gets horripilation in the form of buds
     when it is scratched by a beautiful woman with the tips
     of her nails and also when scratched by the tips of the
     kuvara (?).
149. Asoka tree yields rich blossom when kicked by a
     lady who on account of her beauty is like the banner of
     love-god, gracefully and gently with her lotus-like foot
     painted deep red with lac dye and adorned with lovely
     anklet jingling melodiously.
150. The kurabaka and the tilaka trees yield rich blossom
     when embraced all around by a charming lady with her
     graceful creeper-like arms looking beautiful like the
     lotus stalks and adorned with dangling bracelet.
151. The syama creeper blossoms when wedded to the
     nearby tree after being decorated like a bride and after
     the pre-marriage bridal rituals are performed.
152. Madhavi, karavira, and kuranta bear rich blossoms
     when religiously sprinkled with wine at the time of
     sunset.
     51

153. Mallikā) produces abundant flowers when slightly
     fomented with the shaking flames of hay-fire, and patala
     (blossoms so richly that it) becomes the sole resort of
     the bees when profusely fed with water mixed with
     milk.
154. The cotton plant when sprinkled with water mixed
     with fish flesh, yuthi when fed well with the water mixed
     with milk, sesame, and dry cow dung, and the
     saptachhada as also the sephalika when fed well with water
     mixed with flesh and enriched with fish flesh yield better
     blossoms.
155. The vegetables of the type of birbhati, alambu
     (pumpkin), karkaru, trapusa, etc. produce rich yields
     when smoked in summer with the bones of hog.
156. The alambuka bears many fruits in a short period if
     watered with stale rice-water (starch).
157. Patola (pointed gourd) plants when stressed in the
     month of Phalguna (spring, usually February / March)
     with the flames of hay-fire and profusely sprinkled with
     water mixed with oil cake in Caitra (after Phalguna) yield
     gourds.
158. Trees should be provided with the warmth by
     dusting fire-ashes tied in a piece of cloth to eliminate
     the ill-effects of frost.
159. If cooked rice mixed with curd is sprinkled all over
     in the farms the hail shower can be immediately warded
     off.
160. If the farm is infested with rats, etc. the following
     mantra written on the plantain leaf with lac dye should
     be kept at the center of the field in a triangle.
     161–162. Om Swasti! (Let peace prevail!) The Lord
     Hanuman from Kiskindha, whose feet are ever
     victorious, who has displayed his valor in great
     disasters and by capturing the Sun, who is the Lord
     of lords, commands the rats, the shrews, grasshoppers,
     etc. in this particular land, "Leave this land and go
     elsewhere immediately on seeing this order of the king,
     otherwise the king will use his tail, powerful like the
     thunderbolt, to kill, burn, and destroy all of you. Hum!
     Phat! Swaha!"
161. After writing this mantra on a leaf and having
     recited it, the leaf should be buried in the ground. This
     will destroy all sparrows, insects, kites, rats, ants, etc.
162. Thus when these various well-proven rituals are
     practiced on all the superior, medium, and the inferior
     trees, including saplings, plants, or fully grown trees,
     they systematically and completely destroy (the above
     stated nuisances).

Ailments

165. The disease of all types of trees is stated to be of
     two varieties: internal and external.
166. The internal ones are those which are caused by
     vata, pitta, and kafa (humors); and external ones are those
     which are caused by insects, cold weather, etc.
167. Among these, the diseases caused by vata are due
     to the land that becomes arid on account of excessive
     supply of dry and pungent matters.
168. These diseases are: thinness and crookedness of
     trunk, appearance of knots on the trunk or leaves, and
     the fruits being hard, with less juice and less sweetness.
169. The diseases of the kafa type occur in winter and
     in spring if the trees are excessively watered with
     materials which are sweet, oily, sour, or cold.
     52

170. These diseases are: taking long time to bear fruits,
     paleness, dwarfing of leaves, tastelessness, and
     prematurity of fruits.
171. The diseases of the pitta type occur at the end of
     summer if the clouds disappear and the trees are
     excessively watered with materials which are bitter,
     sour, salty, and strong.
172. These diseases are: yellowness of leaves; untimely
     dropping of fruits; dryness; paleness of leaves, flowers,
     and fruits; and decay.
173. If the trees are exposed to scorching heat, the roots
     are eaten away by insects and result in drying,
     yellowness, and excessive paleness of leaves.
174. Excessive stormy winds cause stress and result in
     breaking, uprooting, and twisting of the trees. The break
     is of two types—one when the branches remain attached
     and the other when they fall off.
175. The trees dry up due to exposure to fire or
     lightning, as well as due to the aridity of the soil and
     absence of water.
176. When struck with an axe, etc. the trees are
     wounded and there results dryness of all types of
     trees.
177. Due to the imbalance of the kafa element, the trees
     ooze out even without wounds. If wrong treatment is
     given corresponding diseases of the vata type result.
178. Due to those (vata type of diseases) day by day the
     trees lose their leaves, flowers, and fruits. The same
     results occur due to excessive watering, exposure to
     heat, or due to the wrong type of soil and unfavorable
     season.
179. The imbalance of these elements, viz., vata, pitta,
     and kafa enhances the disease of jaundice (yellowing).
     Trees affected by that disease have their trunks, fruits,
     and leaves turned yellow.
180. An imbalance in the elements, viz., vata, pitta, and
     kafa develops due to faulty seed, lack of treatment, and
     wrong treatment and renders all the trees unproductive.
181. Due to the attack by ants and due to the indigestion
     caused by excessive water the trees suffer from bad
     smell, lack of original fragrance, and dwarfing of leaves
     and sprouts.
182. Fire, wind, friction with other trees, constant
     existence in shade, inhabitation by too many birds,
     excessive growth of creepers and growth of weeds
     nearby—all these destroy the trees.
183. In this manner, various diseases of trees should be
     diagnosed by the above-stated respective indications
     and treatment should be given by one whose industry
     is guided by superior intelligence.
184. (Verse is missing.)
     Treatment
185. Diseases caused by imbalance of vata can be cured
     by flesh, marrow, and ghee. The sprinkling of kunapa
     water also removes all the disorders caused by the vata
     element.
     (A quarter of the verse is missing.)
186. The diseases of the vata type can be quickly warded
     off by liberal fumigation of the mixture of the fat of the
     hog, oil of the Gangetic porpoise, ghee, hemp, hair of
     the horses, and cow's horn—boiled and set to a
     decoction.
     53

187. The diseases of the kafa type can be overcome with
     bitter, strong, and astringent decoctions made out of
     panchamula (roots of five plant species—sriphala,
     sarvatobhadra, patala, ganikarika, and syonaka) with
     fragrant water.
188. For warding off all kafa type of diseases, the paste
     of white mustard should be deposited at the root and
     the trees should be watered with a mixture of sesame
     and ashes.
189. In case of trees affected by the kafa disease,
     earth around the roots of the trees should be
     removed and fresh, dry earth should be replaced for
     curing them.
190. A wise person should treat all types of trees affected
     by the pitta type of diseases with cool and sweet
     substances.
191. When watered by the decoction of milk, honey,
     yastimadhu, and madhuka, trees suffering from pitta type
     of diseases get cured.
192. Watered with the decoctions of fruits, triphala, ghee,
     and honey the trees are freed of all diseases of the pitta
     type.
193. To remove insects both from the roots and branches
     of the trees, wise men should water the trees with cold
     water for seven days.
194. The worms can be overcome by the paste of milk,
     kunapa water, and cow dung mixed with water and also
     by smearing the roots with the mixture of white
     mustard, vaca, kusta, and ativisa.
195. The worms accumulated on trees can be treated
     quickly by smoking the tree with the mixture of white
     mustard, ramatha, vidanga, vaca, usana, and water mixed
     with beef, horn of a buffalo, flesh of a pigeon, and the
     powder of bhillata (bhallataka ?).
196. Anointing with vidanga mixed with ghee, watering
     for seven days with salt water, and (applying) ointment
     made out of beef, white mustard, and sesame destroy
     the worms, insects, etc.
197. Creepers eaten away by insects should be sprinkled
     with water mixed with oil cake. The insects on the leaves
     can be destroyed by sprinkling the powder of ashes and
     brick-dust.
198. A wound caused by insects heals if sprinkled with
     milk after being anointed with a mixture of vidanga,
     sesame, cow's urine, ghee, and mustard.
199. Trees suffering from (damage due to) frost or
     scorching heat should be externally covered. Sprinkling
     with kunapa water and milk is also advisable.
     200–201. The broken trees should be smeared with the
     paste of the bark of plaksa and udumbara mixed with
     ghee, honey, wine, and milk and the broken parts should
     be firmly tied together with the rope of a rice stalk. Fresh
     soil should then be filled in the basin around the trees,
     sprinkled immediately with the milk of buffalo and
     flooded with water. Thus they recover.
200. (Verse is missing.)
201. If the branches fall off, the particular spot should
     be anointed with the mixture of honey and ghee and
     sprinkled over by milk and water so that the tree will
     have its branches reaching the sky.
202. If the branches are burnt they should be cut off
     and the particular spots should be sprinkled with water
     54

and milk and smoked with the shells of the crab, etc.
Thus treated the trees will put forth fresh sprouts.
205. If the trees are scorched with fire the whole tree
should be smeared with mud from the lotus creeper and
then should be watered with kunapa mixture. Then its
branches grow up to the sky.
206. When anointed with vidari, sugar, nagajivha (red
arsenic), and sesame mixed together and when
sprinkled with milk-water, trees struck with lightning
put forth healthy sprouts.
207. Trees which are dried up due to heat caused by
fire are cured when a mixture of sugar, sesame, and milk
is used for watering and anointing them and when they
are smeared all round by the mud from the bottom of a
lotus plant.
208. If dried due to bad soil, the original soil from the
root should be removed and it should be replaced by
healthy soil and milk-water should be sprinkled over
it.
209. If the drying is due to the lack of water, the trees
should be watered with milk-water and properly
fomented by the smoke of crab shells.
210. The wounds of the trees are healed by the treatment
of anointing with the paste of the bark of nyagrodha and
udumbara, cow dung, honey, and ghee.
211. The oozing can be cured by the (above stated) paste
and by covering the part with the barks of dhava,
sriparnika, syama, vetasa, and arjuna.
212. Diseases caused by wrong treatment can be
conquered by sprinkling the mixture of water and milk
and also by applying a paste of vidanga mixed with thick
mud.
213. Jaundice can be brought under control only in
weeks by sprinkling water mixed with the powder of
barley and wheat added to honey and milk.
214. Non-productive trees bear fruits and flowers to
one's complete satisfaction when they are fed with milk
and kunapa water.
215. Unproductive trees fill the quarters with branches
covered with flowers and fruits without fail if treated
with cold mixture (?) of sesame, barley, kulattha, green
gram, and black gram.
216–217. Sesame and the dung of the goat and sheep
each measuring one adhaka (256 handfuls), barley
measuring one prastha (64 handfuls), water measuring
one drona (1024 handfuls), and corresponding quantity
of beef if allowed to set for seven nights and then used
for watering, the trees put forth flowers and fruits.
218. They produce fruits also if watered with the thick
mixture of the flesh of tiger, leopard, and fox and with
milk of elephant and buffalo.
219. Tender plants suffering from excess watering
should be scratched with nails, uprooted, and every root
should be smeared with the mixture of honey and
vidanga and then should be watered.
220. Vegetables of cucumber types get cured of diseases
when smoked around by the bones of cow and dog
mixed with excreta of cat.
221. Very tender plants should not be exposed to
excessive smoking. Excessive smearing, although gentle,
also should be avoided by the wise.
222. Plants which are not cured by any one of the
various above-stated remedies should be transplanted
at other special sites.
55

Horticultural wonders

223–226. Several special processes with reference to the
plants will be described hereunder. They are: bearing
flowers and fruits round the year; bearing flowers and
fruits out of season; producing fragrance; changing the
tastes; changing the colors; changing the flowers;
changing the fruits; changing the fragrance; arresting
of fragrance; producing flowers on (non-flowering ?)
creepers; transforming trees into a creeper; dwarfing the
trees; mixing; longevity of ripeness; non-ripening;
longevity of crop; destruction and quick rejuvenation;
quick production of fruits; increasing the size of fruits
and flowers at the very appearance; transformation into
another species (?); and so on.
227. A healthy seed of a properly ripened mango
(makanda) should be soaked in the blood of a tortoise
and a hare and then should be dried in the direct heat
of the sun. After a month it should be planted in a pit,
previously prepared as per the method described before
(verses 67 and 68).
228. Thereafter it should be showered with the milk of
a she-goat. Then it blossoms into a tree with thousands
of branches and produces lovely flowers and fruits
round the year. This is no wonder.
229. Trees watered at the root with buttermilk,
sugarcane juice mixed with the powder of beef, vidanga,
and oil cake definitely produce beautiful flowers and
fruits out of season for a period of one month.
230–231. Trees produce flowers and fruits out of season
undoubtedly if the following procedure is followed:
Varahi, jira (cumin seed) and sugarcane juice should be
kept for a month in a pot containing ghee prepared in
the moonlight and when the mixture is well formed,
roots of the trees should be smeared with it, and the
basin should be filled with mud. Then sugarcane juice
should be profusely sprinkled and the trees should be
smoked with honey and kunapa.
232. An ordinary mango tree gets the good quality of a
high class mango tree and puts forth fragrant blossom
attracting the bees if it is smeared with the thick paste
of jambu, coral, and the roots of khas and then sprinkled
with the water from the same paste.
233. If mud, scented with buds of asoka, etc. is filled at
the root, trees get a very attractive and strong fragrance.
234. Kusmanda, vartaka, patolaka, etc. produced from
healthy seeds cultivated with marrow of a female boar
and also nourished with the sprinkling by the same
marrow mixed in water always produce seedless fruits.
235. A ball made out of the mixture of the flowers of
madhuka, honey from lotuses, crystalline sugar, and yasti
kept in a hole made at the root of a tree, produces long
lasting fruits (on the tree).
236. A ball made out of the mixture of asvaghna, langali,
the big and small brhati kept in the hole at the root of a
tree watered with the same mixture, produces pungent
fruits (on that tree) although their natural taste is
sweet.
237. A tree which normally produces pungent fruits
starts producing fruits sweet like nectar if thickly
smeared at the root with the paste of the mixture made
out of vidanga, yasti, yava, milk, and jaggery.
238. A tree producing sour fruits starts yielding sweet
fruits if its roots are exposed and smeared with the
mixture of the honey from the flowers of madhuka, yasti,
56