Varaha Purana 172.36 — Adhyaya 172, Shloka 36
The Harm of Destroying a Grove and the Merit of Tree-Planting as Pūrta-Dharma
अश्वत्थमेकं पिचुमन्दमेकं न्यग्रोधमेकं दश पुष्पजातिः ॥ द्वे द्वे तथा दाडिममातुलिङ्गे पञ्चाम्ररोपी नरकं न याति ॥
aśvattham ekaṁ picumandam ekaṁ nyagrodham ekaṁ daśa puṣpajātīḥ | dve dve tathā dāḍimam ātuliṅge pañcāmraropī narakaṁ na yāti |
ผู้ใดปลูกต้นอัศวัตถะหนึ่งต้น ต้นพิจุมันทะหนึ่งต้น ต้นนยโครธะหนึ่งต้น พืชดอกสิบชนิด ต้นทับทิมสองต้น ต้นมะตูหลิงคะ (ซิตรอน) สองต้น และต้นมะม่วงห้าต้น—ผู้นั้นย่อมไม่ไปสู่ภาวะแห่งทุกข์คือ นรก (นารกะ)
Jyeṣṭha (continuation of response; speaker not re-marked)
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"narakas","instruction_summary":"A specified regimen of planting sacred and useful trees (aśvattha, picumanda, nyagrodha, flowering plants, pomegranate, citron, mango) prevents descent to naraka.","karmic_consequence":"By performing this ecological pūrta, one avoids naraka (state of suffering) and accrues protective merit; omission is not stated as sin here, but the protection is explicitly promised for the doer."}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false,"promised_fruit":"Non-going to naraka (naraka-anāgati) through prescribed tree-planting."}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":true,"symbolic_interpretation":"The ‘anti-naraka’ fruit is tied to sustaining prāṇa for many beings: planting becomes a purificatory, expiatory-like pūrta that counteracts suffering-producing karmas by generating widespread welfare.","vedantic_connection":"Ethical causality: actions that reduce duḥkha for others reduce one’s own duḥkha-fruition; planting sacred trees (esp. aśvattha/nyagrodha) also aligns with worshipful non-duality—seeing the divine in living supports."}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"karma-phala with ecological dharma","core_concept":"Concrete, countable welfare-actions can function as strong protective merit, averting painful destinies.","practical_application":"Create mixed groves: sacred shade trees (aśvattha, nyagrodha), medicinal/utility (picumanda), fruit trees (mango, pomegranate, citron), and pollinator-friendly flowering plants; maintain them to maturity."}
Subject Matter: ["Ecological stewardship","Ethics"]
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: bhayānaka
Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 172.38 (tree-planting equals major gifts); Varāha Purāṇa 172.36-37 (pūrta theory; restoration works)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritualized planting tableau showing the exact species: aśvattha and nyagrodha as large sacred trees, picumanda nearby, rows of flowering plants, paired pomegranate and citron saplings, and five mango saplings; in the background, a dark naraka motif recedes, indicating protection.","item_prompts":["aśvattha (peepal) with heart-shaped leaves","nyagrodha (banyan) with aerial roots","picumanda (nimba/neem-like) medicinal tree","ten flowering shrubs in a row","two pomegranate saplings with red blossoms","two citron trees with large fruits","five mango saplings","fading shadowy naraka imagery behind"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: stylized sacred trees with ornate leaf patterns; narrative symbolism of darkness retreating; warm auspicious palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-leaf halos around sacred trees; rich ornament; clear iconographic labeling through composition; naraka darkness minimized at edges.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: botanical detailing with elegant linework; serene gardener figure; subtle moral symbolism in background lighting.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: bright garden scene with distinct tree silhouettes; small narrative vignette of suffering realm dissolving into distance; crisp flora."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"protective and admonitory","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"grave at ‘naraka’, then reassuring on the promised result"}
FAQs
It provides a prescriptive list of valued trees and plants, useful for studying textual ethnobotany and the moral economy of landscape-making in Sanskrit literature.
No location is specified; the plant list is presented as a general prescription.
Cultivating specific beneficial trees and flowering plants is presented as a strong ethical practice with positive karmic outcomes.
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