Adhyaya 28

Verse 1

भीष्म उवाच । पादपानां विधिं ब्रह्मन्यथावद्विस्तराद्वद । विधिना येन कर्त्तव्यं पादपारोपणं बुधैः

Bhīṣma said: “O Brahman, explain fully and correctly the proper procedure concerning trees—by what prescribed method the wise should perform the planting of trees.”

Verse 2

ये च लोकाः स्मृता येषां तानिदानीं वदस्व मे । पुलस्त्य उवाच । पादपानां विधिं वक्ष्ये तथैवोद्यानभूमिषु

“And those worlds that are remembered as belonging to them—tell me of them now.” Pulastya said: “I shall explain the prescribed rule concerning trees, and likewise regarding garden-lands.”

Verse 3

तटाकविधिवत्सर्वं समाप्य जगतीश्वर । ऋत्विङ्मंडपसंभारमाचार्यं चापि तद्विधं

O Lord of the world, having duly completed everything according to the prescribed rite for the tank, he then arranged the requisites for the priests and the sacrificial pavilion, and also appointed an officiating ācārya in accordance with that very procedure.

Verse 4

पूजयेद्ब्राह्मणांस्तद्वद्धेमवस्त्रानुलेपनैः । सर्वौषध्युदकैः सिक्तान्दध्यक्षतविभूषितान्

In the same manner, one should honor the Brāhmaṇas with gifts of gold, garments, and unguents—having sprinkled them with water infused with all medicinal herbs, and having adorned them with curd and unbroken grains of rice.

Verse 5

वृक्षान्माल्यैरलंकृत्य वासोभिरभिवेष्टयेत् । सूच्या सौवर्णया कार्यं सर्वेषां कर्णवेधनं

Having adorned the trees with garlands and wrapped them with cloth, one should have the ear-piercing of everyone performed with a golden needle.

Verse 6

अंजनं चापि दातव्यं तद्वद्धेमशलाकया । फलानि सप्त चाष्टौ वा कालधौतानि कारयेत्

One should also offer collyrium (añjana); likewise, one should provide a golden applicator-rod. And one should have seven or eight fruits prepared, well-cleaned and polished by time.

Verse 7

प्रत्येकं सर्ववृक्षाणां वेद्यांतान्यधिवासयेत् । धूपोत्र गुग्गुलुः श्रेष्ठस्ताम्रपात्रेष्वधिष्ठितान्

For each of the trees, one should place the offerings at the ends of the altar. As incense in that rite, guggulu is the finest, set out in copper vessels.

Verse 8

सप्तधान्यस्थितान्कृत्वा वस्त्रगंधानुलेपनैः । कुंभान्सर्वेषु वृक्षेषु स्थापयित्वावनीश्वर

Having prepared pots filled with the seven kinds of grain and adorned with cloth, fragrance, and unguents, O lord of the earth, place those pots upon all the trees.

Verse 9

पूजयित्वा दिनांते च कृत्वा बलिनिवेदनम् । यथावल्लोकपालानामिंद्रादीनां विधानतः

Having performed worship at day’s end and offered the bali, one should do so properly, according to the prescribed rite, for the Lokapālas—Indra and the others.

Verse 10

वनस्पतेरधिवास एवं कार्यो द्विजातिभिः । ततः शुक्लांबरधरान्सौवर्णकृतमेखलान्

Thus the twice-born should perform the adhivāsa, the consecration of the sacred tree. Thereafter, one should bring forward those clad in white garments, wearing belts made of gold.

Verse 11

सकांस्यदोहां सौवर्णशृंगाभ्यामतिशालिनीं । पयस्विनीं वृक्षमध्यादुत्सृजेद्गामुदङ्मुखीम्

From within the midst of the tree (or grove), one should release a richly endowed, milk-yielding cow—milked into a bronze vessel and bearing golden horns—facing north.

Verse 12

ततोभिषेकमंत्रेण वाद्यमंगलगीतकैः । ऋग्यजुःसाममंत्रैश्च वारुणैरभितस्तदा

Then, with the consecration (abhiṣeka) mantra—amid instrumental music and auspicious songs—and also with the mantras of the Ṛg, Yajus, and Sāma Vedas, together with Varuṇa-related water rites, they performed the ceremony all around at that time.

Verse 13

तैरेव कुंभैः स्नपनं कुर्युर्ब्राह्मणपुंगवाः । स्नातः शुक्लांबरधरो यजमानोभिपूजयेत्

With those very water-pots, the foremost of brāhmaṇas should perform the ceremonial bathing. Then the sacrificer (yajamāna), having bathed and wearing white garments, should offer due worship.

Verse 14

गोभिर्विभवतः सर्वानृत्विजः ससमाहितान् । हेमसूत्रैः सकटकैरंगुलीयैः पवित्रकैः

With cows and other forms of wealth, he honored all the officiating priests, attentive and composed—also with golden threads, bracelets, rings, and sacred finger-rings.

Verse 15

वासोभिः शयनीयैश्च तथोपस्करपादुकैः । क्षीराभिषेचनं कुर्याद्यावद्दिनचतुष्टयम्

With garments, bedding, and likewise with necessary utensils and sandals, one should perform a milk-ablution for as long as four days.

Verse 16

होमश्च सर्पिषा कार्यो यवैः कृष्णतिलैरपि । पलाशसमिधः शस्ताश्चतुर्थेऽह्नि तथोत्सवः

An oblation (homa) should be performed with ghee, along with barley and black sesame as well. Palāśa firewood-sticks are recommended; and on the fourth day, a festival should likewise be held.

Verse 17

दक्षिणा च पुनस्तद्वद्देया तत्रापि शक्तितः । यद्यदिष्टतमं किचित्तत्तद्दद्यादमत्सरी

And again, one should likewise give a priestly fee (dakṣiṇā) there too, according to one’s capacity. Whatever one holds most dear—some cherished possession—one should give that, free from envy.

Verse 18

आचार्ये द्विगुणं दत्त्वा प्रणिपत्य क्षमापयेत् । अनेन विधिना यस्तु कुर्याद्वृक्षोत्सवं बुधः

Having given the teacher a gift in double measure, one should bow down and seek forgiveness. A wise person who performs the festival of trees according to this procedure does it rightly.

Verse 19

सर्वान्कामानवाप्नोति पदं चानन्तमश्नुते । यश्चैवमपि राजेन्द्र वृक्षं संस्थापयेद्बुधः

He attains all desired enjoyments and reaches the endless, imperishable state. And, O best of kings, the wise one who establishes and plants a tree in this manner gains these fruits as well.

Verse 20

सोपि स्वर्गे वसेद्राजन्यावदिंद्रायुतत्रयम् । भूतान्भव्यांश्च मनुजांस्तारयेद्रोमसंमितान्

He too, O King, would dwell in heaven for as long as three ten-thousands of Indras; and he would deliver humans—past and future—numbering as many as the hairs on the body.

Verse 21

परमां सिद्धिमाप्नोति पुनरावृत्तिदुर्लभाम् । य इदं शृणुयान्नित्यं श्रावयेद्वापि मानवः

A person who regularly listens to this teaching, or causes it to be recited, attains the highest spiritual perfection—difficult to obtain and free from return to rebirth.

Verse 22

सोपि संपूज्यते देवैर्ब्रह्मलोके महीयते । अपुत्रस्य च पुत्रित्वं पादपा एव कुर्वते

He too is duly worshipped by the gods and is honored in Brahmā’s world; and for one who is without a son, it is trees alone that bring about the state of having a son.

Verse 23

तीर्थेषु पिंडदानादीन्रोपकाणां ददंति ते । यत्नेनापि च राजेंद्र अश्वत्थारोपणं कुरु

At sacred pilgrimage places they indeed offer piṇḍa-gifts and other donations. Yet even so, O Rajendra, deliberately undertake the planting of the aśvattha, the sacred fig tree.

Verse 24

स ते पुत्रसहस्रस्य कृत्यमेकः करिष्यति । धनी चाश्वत्थवृक्षेण अशोकः शोकनाशनः

Of your thousand sons, one alone will accomplish the task. He will be prosperous; by the sacred aśvattha (pippala) tree he will be called ‘Aśoka’—the remover of sorrow.

Verse 25

प्लक्षो यज्ञप्रदः प्रोक्तः क्षीरी चायुःप्रदः स्मृतः । जंबुकी कन्यकादात्री भार्यादा दाडिमी तथा

Plakṣa is said to grant the fruit of sacrifice; Kṣīrī is remembered as bestowing long life. Jambūkī grants a maiden as a boon, and Dāḍimī likewise is said to grant a wife.

Verse 26

अश्वत्थो रोगनाशाय पलाशो ब्रह्मदस्तथा । प्रेतत्वं जायते पुंसो रोपयेद्यो विभीतकम्

Planting the aśvattha (sacred fig) is for the destruction of disease; and so too the palāśa is said to bestow Brahmā’s favor. But for a man, a ghostly state (pretatva) arises if he plants the vibhītaka tree.

Verse 27

अंकोले कुलवृद्धिस्तु खादिरेणाप्यरोगिता । निंबप्ररोहकाणां तु नित्यं तुष्येद्दिवाकरः

From the añkola tree comes increase of one’s lineage; from khadira comes freedom from disease. And for the young shoots of neem, the Sun is ever pleased.

Verse 28

श्रीवृक्षे शंकरो देवः पाटलायां तु पार्वती । शिंशपायामप्सरसः कुंदे गंधर्वसत्तमाः

In the śrī-tree dwells Lord Śaṅkara; in the pāṭalā tree dwells Pārvatī. In the śiṃśapā tree dwell the Apsarases, and in the kunda (jasmine) dwell the foremost of the Gandharvas.

Verse 29

तिंतिडीके दासवर्गा वंजुले दस्यवस्तथा । पुण्यप्रदः श्रीप्रदश्च चंदनः पनसस्तथा

In the land of Tiṃtiḍīka dwell the communities called Dāsavarga; and in Vaṃjula likewise are the Dasyus. There too are trees and places that bestow sacred merit and prosperity—such as sandalwood and the jackfruit tree.

Verse 30

सौभाग्यदश्चंपकश्च करीरः पारदारिकः । अपत्यनाशकस्तालो बकुलः कुलवर्द्धनः

The campaka bestows good fortune; the karīra is associated with another’s wife. The tāla brings loss of offspring; the bakula increases the prosperity of one’s lineage.

Verse 31

बहुभार्या नारिकेला द्राक्षा सर्वांगसुंदरी । रतिप्रदा तथा कोली केतकी शत्रुनाशिनी

These are named: Bahubhāryā; Nārikela (the coconut); Drākṣā (the grape); Sarvāṅgasundarī, “she whose limbs are all beautiful”; Ratipradā, “giver of delight”; as well as Kolī; and Ketakī (pandanus), the destroyer of enemies.

Verse 32

एवमादि नगाश्चान्ये ये नोक्तास्तेपि दायकाः । प्रतिष्ठां ते गमिष्यंति यैस्तु वृक्षाः प्ररोपिताः

So too, other kinds of trees—though not expressly mentioned—are likewise bestowers of merit. Those by whom trees have been planted will attain honor and lofty renown.