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
Para promover a frutificação e a floração em todos os tempos, deve-se irrigar a planta com leite resfriado misturado com ghee; e aplicar também pó de esterco de ovelha/cabra, farinha de cevada e sementes de gergelim.
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.