Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 11
Vṛkṣāyurveda (The Science of Plant-Life) — Tree Placement, Muhūrta, Irrigation, Spacing, and Plant Remedies
घृतशीतपयःसेकः फलपुष्पाय सर्वदा आविकाजशकृच्चूर्णम् यवचूर्णं तिलानि च
ghṛtaśītapayaḥsekaḥ phalapuṣpāya sarvadā āvikājaśakṛccūrṇam yavacūrṇaṃ tilāni ca
Afin de favoriser en tout temps la fructification et la floraison, on doit arroser la plante avec du lait refroidi mêlé de ghee ; et appliquer aussi de la poudre de fumier de brebis ou de chèvre, de la farine d’orge et des graines de sésame.
Lord Agni (teaching sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Vṛkṣāyurveda horticulture: prepare nutritive irrigation and top-dressing to induce flowering/fruiting in cultivated trees and vines.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Ghṛta-śīta-payaḥ-seka and organic top-dressing for puṣpa-phala-vṛddhi","lookup_keywords":["vṛkṣāyurveda","ghṛta","śīta-payaḥ-seka","yava-cūrṇa","tila"],"quick_summary":"Irrigate with cooled milk mixed with ghee and apply a dry dressing of goat/sheep dung powder, barley flour, and sesame to stimulate continuous flowering and fruiting."}
Concept: Life-supporting knowledge extends to plants; prosperity is cultivated through correct inputs (seka/lepa).
Application: Householders and gardeners apply systematic organic amendments rather than random watering.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Vr̥kṣāyurveda / Horticulture & plant-care remedies)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A gardener irrigates a flowering tree with a pot of cooled milk mixed with ghee; nearby are bowls of powdered dung, barley flour, and sesame for top-dressing around the roots.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, earthy reds and greens, stylized orchard with a gardener pouring ghṛta-mixed milk at the tree base, bowls of yava-cūrṇa and tila, decorative foliage patterns, flat perspective","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, rich colors and gold leaf accents, auspicious fruiting tree with ornate pot pouring milk-ghee, neatly arranged offerings of sesame and barley flour, halo-like glow around blossoms","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework, instructional layout showing irrigation and root-zone dressing, labeled vessels for ghṛta, śīta-payaḥ, yava-cūrṇa, tila, and dung powder","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed garden scene with attendants, one watering with a brass lota of milk-ghee, another sprinkling powders at the root, delicate blossoms and fruits, naturalistic shading"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Saveri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: घृतशीतपयःसेकः = घृत-शीत-पयः-सेकः (पयः = पयस्, विसर्ग-सन्धि); शकृच्चूर्णम् = शकृत्-चूर्णम् (त् + च → च्च); फलपुष्पाय treated as समाहार-द्वन्द्व dative singular.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 281 (Vṛkṣāyurveda)
FAQs
A practical Vr̥kṣāyurveda-style horticultural prescription: irrigating with cooled milk mixed with ghee and supplementing soil with powdered sheep/goat dung, barley powder, and sesame to stimulate flowering and fruiting.
Beyond theology, it records applied knowledge—organic fertilization and irrigation recipes—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of agriculture/plant-science alongside ritual, dharma, and other disciplines.
By supporting plant vitality and abundance (flowers and fruits), the instruction aligns with dharmic ideals of sustaining life and prosperity; such nurturing acts are traditionally regarded as meritorious (puṇya) through care of living beings and resources.