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Dhananjay Vasudeo Dwivedi
SAMBODHI
प्रच्छायभूरुहां वृद्धिदायिनी वाल्पनिम्नकाम् ।
नाना बीजावलीवृद्धिकरणी च मुहुर्मुहुः ॥० With streams of water easily accessible, with water already easily adapted, it should be furnished with threshing floors. Endowed mostly with these characteristics the king should search and acquire best land. The king should appoint for this purpose those who know the way to scrutinize the quality of land. They should be equipped with the required eligibility
सुलभोदकनिस्रावां सुलभस्वीकृतोदकाम् । एवं लक्षणसंयुक्तखलभूमिवृतां वचित् ॥ वसुधां भूपतिर्वीक्ष्य गृह्णीयादुत्तमामिह ।। भूपरीक्षाक्रमविदो गुणाढ्या नृपचोदिताः ॥1
He should know the characteristics of soil by its colour, the drop of water, taste, and fluidity and ascertain that the soil is of uniform shade of the colour and is thick-set and sticky -
वर्णबिन्दुरसस्रावैः विद्यात् भूम्याश्च लक्षणम् ।
समवर्णा समच्छाया घना स्निग्धा च भूरपि ॥2 A good quality land yields good results to everyone, confers good wealth on the entire family, and causes growth of money, cattle, and grain
शुभलक्षणसंयुक्ता सर्वेषां शुभदा धरा ।
कुटुम्बारोग्यदा शश्वत् धनगोधान्यवृद्धिदा ॥3 Hence, only good soil should be indicated, or in some cases that of a mediocre quality also may be specified, but an expert of soil should by all means avoid a bad quality land -
निर्दिशेदुत्तमां भूमिं मध्यमामपि वा क्वचित् ।।
अधमां वर्जयेत् यत्नात् भूमिलक्षणपण्डितः ॥4 The soil used for the plantation of fruit and flower trees should contain sweet water and should be free from pieces of stones. It should be smooth, soft and not open to frost. The real test to judge the fitness of the soil is that there should be free growth of Tila, Mudga and Māsa.45
