Sambodhi 2018 Vol 41

Author(s): J B Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 55

46
Dhananjay Vasudeo Dwivedi
SAMBODHI
Land, which is even, has accessibility to water, and is covered with green trees, is good for growing all kinds of trees
समा समासन्नजला हरित्तरुनृणाङ्करा ।
तस्यां सर्वे यथास्थानं प्ररोहन्ति महीरुहाः ॥३० Suśruta Samhitā also discusses about the good and bad soil. It says
श्वभ्रशर्कराश्मविषमवल्मीकश्मशानाघातनदेवतायतनसिकताभिरनुपहतामनूषरामभङ्गुरामदूरोदकां स्निग्धां प्ररोहवतीं मृद्वी स्थिरां समां कृष्णां गौरी लोहितां वा भूमिमौषधग्रगणाय परीक्षेत। तस्यां जातमपि कृमिविषशस्त्रातपपवनदहनतोयसम्बाधमार्गरनुपहतमेकरसं पुष्टं पृथ्ववगाढमूलमुदीच्या चौषधमाददीतेत्येष भूमिपरीक्षाविशेषः सामान्य: 31
i.e. Soil free from holes, broken earthenware pieces, stones, unevenness, anthills, and which is neither a cremation ground, slaughter house, sanctuary of God, nor is sandy; soil which is not fertile, not fragile and not far away from water resources and which is fine, promotes germination, is soft, firm, level, black, white or red; such soil should be selected for collection of medicinal herbs. Even from the herbs grown in the above mentioned soils, only those which are unaffected by worms, poisons, trauma, sun-rays, winds, fire, water, obstructions and roads, and have good tastes, are mature and whose roots are thick and deep should be collected is facing north.
Kāśyapīyakrsisūkti says that as the earth is of a multifarious character by nature, a king consecrated to the fostering of all beings should initiate scrutiny of fields with marks of prosperity for crop production. The soil should be devoid of pieces of bones, stones etc.
एवं बहुविधा जाता मेदिनीयं प्रकीर्तिता । अतो महीपतिः सर्वप्राणिपालनदीक्षितः ॥ सस्याभिवृद्धये भूमि परिक्षेत सुलक्षणाम् ।
अस्थिपाषाणखण्डाद्यैः हीनां मृदुलमृत्तिकाम् ॥2 The land should consist of pliant clay, unctuous, with reddish and black hue, without chaff and glass, full of essence and glossy with water
सुस्निग्धामल्परक्तां च कृष्णवर्णा तथैव च ।
तुषकाचविहीनां च सारां रससमुज्ज्वलाम् ॥3 The land should be without holes, should be neither too deep nor too