Adhyaya 281
Vṛkṣāyurveda (The Science of Plant-Life) — Tree Placement, Muhūrta, Irrigation, Spacing, and Plant Remedies
This chapter turns from the discussion of tastes (rasa) to Vṛkṣāyurveda, presenting horticulture as a dhārmic science. Dhanvantari teaches auspicious tree placement by direction—plakṣa to the north, vaṭa to the east, mango to the south, aśvattha to the west/waterside—warns against thorny growth on the southern side, and prescribes remedial planting of sesame or flowering plants. Planting is to be done with consecratory worship: honoring a brāhmaṇa, the Moon, fixed stars, the directions, and specific divine aspects, choosing proper nakṣatras, and carefully tending the roots. For the site’s prosperity, water management is ritualized by channeling streams and building a lotus-pond, with favorable lunar mansions listed for beginning reservoirs. Practical guidance follows on seasonal irrigation, optimal and medium spacing, limits on transplanting, and pruning to prevent fruitlessness. The chapter ends with plant-therapeutic recipes—vidanga mixed with ghee as a paste, grain/legume adjuncts, milk-and-ghee irrigation, dung and flour amendments, fermented meat-water, and fish-water—to restore vigor, check disease, and promote flowering and fruiting.
Shlokas
Verse 1
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे रसादिलक्षणं नामाशीत्यधिकद्विसततमो ऽध्यायः अथैकाशीत्यधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः वृक्षायुर्वेदः धन्वन्तरिर् उवाच वृक्षायुर्वेदमाख्यास्ये प्लक्षश्चोत्तरतः शुभः प्राग्वटो याम्यतस्त्वाम्र आप्ये ऽश्वत्थः कर्मेण तु
Thus, in the Agni Mahāpurāṇa ends the two-hundred-and-eightieth chapter called “The Characteristics of Tastes and Related Topics.” Now begins the two-hundred-and-eighty-first chapter: “Vṛkṣāyurveda (the science of plant-life).” Dhanvantari said: “I shall expound Vṛkṣāyurveda. By the proper ritual procedure, the auspicious plakṣa is to be set to the north; the vaṭa to the east; the mango to the south; and the aśvattha to the west (the waterward quarter).”
Verse 2
दक्षिणां दिशमुत्पन्नाः समीपे कण्टकद्रुमाः उद्यानं गृहवासे स्यात् तिलान् वाप्यथ पुष्पितान्
If thorny trees have grown nearby on the southern side, there will be disturbance or inauspiciousness for dwelling in that house; therefore one should plant sesame (tila) there, or else flowering plants, as a remedial measure.
Verse 3
गृह्णीयाद्रोपयेद्वृक्षान् द्विजञ्चन्द्रं प्रपूज्य च ध्रुवाणि पञ्च वायव्यं हस्तं प्राजेशवैष्णवं
One should take the saplings and plant the trees; and, having duly worshipped the Brāhmaṇa and the Moon, one should also venerate the five ‘fixed’ (dhruva) points or stars, the Vāyavya (north‑west) quarter, Hasta (the lunar mansion), and the divine aspects known as Prājeśa and Vaiṣṇava.
Verse 4
नक्षत्राणि तथा मूलं शस्यन्ते द्रुमरोपणे प्रवेशयेन्नदीवाहान् पुष्करिण्यान्तु कारयेत्
For the planting of trees, both the proper lunar mansions (nakṣatras) and the condition of the roots are recommended for consideration. One should also channel river-streams into the site and have a puṣkariṇī—a lotus-pond or water-reservoir—constructed.
Verse 5
गृहवामे इति ञ पुष्करिण्यान्त्विति पाठो न सम्यक् प्रतिभाति हस्ता मघा तथा मैत्रमाद्यं पुष्यं सवासवं जलाशयसमारम्भे वारुणञ्चोत्तरात्रयम्
The reading “gṛhavāme …” is unclear; and the variant “puṣkariṇyāntv …” also does not seem correct. For commencing the construction of a water-reservoir, the auspicious lunar mansions are Hastā, Maghā, Maitra (i.e., Anurādhā), the first of the Uttaras, Puṣya, and that of Vāsava (i.e., Śravaṇa); also acceptable are Vāruṇa (i.e., Śatabhiṣaj) and the remaining three ‘Uttara’ asterisms.
Verse 6
संपूज्य वरुणं विष्णुं पर्जन्यं तत् समाचरेत् अरिष्टाशोकपुन्नागशिरीषाः सप्रियङ्गवः
Having duly worshipped Varuṇa, Viṣṇu, and Parjanya, one should then perform that rite, employing auspicious plants—ariṣṭa, aśoka, punnāga, śirīṣa—together with priyāṅgu.
Verse 7
अशोकः कदली जम्बुस् तथा वकुलदाडिमाः सायं प्रातस्तु घर्मर्तौ शीतकाले दिनान्तरे
Aśoka, banana (kadalī), jambu (rose-apple), as well as vakula and pomegranate—these are to be taken in the hot season in the evening and in the morning; but in the cold season, they are to be taken at the end of the day.
Verse 8
वर्षारत्रौ भुवः शोषे सेक्तव्या रोपिता द्रुमाः उत्तमं विंशतिर्हस्ता मध्यमं षोडशान्तरम्
In the rainy season, and when the ground becomes dry, the planted trees should be watered. The best spacing is twenty hastas, and the medium spacing is sixteen hastas apart.
Verse 9
स्थानात् स्थानान्तरं कार्यं वृक्षाणां द्वादशावरं विफलाः स्युर्घना वृक्षाः शस्त्रेणादौ हि शोधनम्
Trees should be transplanted from one place to another within a period not exceeding twelve (as prescribed by the measure). Dense, overgrown trees tend to become fruitless; therefore, in the beginning one should perform “purification” with a cutting tool—i.e., pruning and thinning.
Verse 10
विडङ्गघृतपङ्काक्तान् सेचयेच्छीतवारिणा फलनाशे कुलथैश् च मासैर् मुद्गैर् यवैस्तिलैः
When fruits are being destroyed, one should anoint the affected plants or trees with a paste of vidanga mixed with ghee, and then irrigate with cool water; one should also apply remedies using horse-gram, black gram, green gram, barley, and sesame.
Verse 11
घृतशीतपयःसेकः फलपुष्पाय सर्वदा आविकाजशकृच्चूर्णम् यवचूर्णं तिलानि च
To promote fruiting and flowering at all times, one should irrigate the plant with cooled milk mixed with ghee; and also apply powdered sheep/goat dung, barley flour, and sesame seeds.
Verse 12
गोमांसमुदकञ्चैव सप्तरात्रं निधापयेत् उत्सेकः सर्ववृक्षाणां फलपुष्पादिवृद्धिदः
One should store a mixture of cow-meat and water for seven nights; watering all trees with that (fermented infusion) promotes the increase of fruits, flowers, and the like in every tree.
Verse 13
मत्स्याम्भसा तु सेकेन वृद्धिर्भवति शाखिनः विडङ्गतण्डुलोपेतं मत्स्यं मांसं हि दोहदं सर्वेषामविशेषेण वृक्षाणां रोगमर्दनम्
By irrigating with fish-water, the growth of trees is promoted. Fish and meat, combined with viḍaṅga and rice-grains, constitute a nourishing ‘dohada’ application which, without distinction, suppresses the diseases of all trees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Plakṣa is placed to the north, vaṭa (banyan) to the east, mango to the south, and aśvattha (pipal) to the west/waterward direction, performed according to proper ritual procedure.
The text states this causes disturbance/inauspiciousness for dwelling; it recommends planting sesame (tila) or flowering plants there as a remedial measure.
Hastā, Maghā, Maitra (Anurādhā), the first of the Uttaras, Puṣya, and Vāsava (Śravaṇa); additionally Vāruṇa (Śatabhiṣaj) and the remaining three Uttara asterisms are also acceptable.
The best spacing is twenty hastas; the medium spacing is sixteen hastas.
It notes that overly dense trees become fruitless and prescribes early ‘purification’ through cutting—i.e., pruning/thinning with a tool.
For fruit destruction: apply a vidanga–ghee paste and irrigate with cool water, with adjunct use of legumes/grains (kulattha, māṣa, mudga, yava, tila). For flowering/fruiting: irrigate with cooled milk mixed with ghee, and apply powdered sheep/goat dung, barley flour, and sesame; additionally, seven-night fermented cow-meat water and fish-water irrigation are described as growth-promoting and disease-suppressing.