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354
STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA
Ch. VỊ
that the germinating capacity, or viability of the cereals, such as, Sali (a kind of rice), Brihi (a kind of fine rice), Godhūma (wheat), Yava (barly), etc., if kept in a well protected granary, lasts in the minimum for one antarmuhurta and in the maximum upto three years; that of the pulses, like Kalaya, Masūra (lentil), Munga, etc., for one antarmuhūrta in the minimum and five years in the maximum; and that of Alusi, Kusumbhaka, Kodrava, Kangri, Sana, Sarsapa (mustard seed), Mülaga (raddish), etc., for one antarmukūrta in the minimum and seven years in the maximum, if stored up according to the above process. After the specified periods their respective germinating capacities (or viability) wither away and the seeds become unseeds.?
Plant life and Absorption of food by plants in different
seasons In the rainy season the Vanaspati-kāyika jīvas (plant-bodied beings) become much absorbers of their food, but after that in the seasons of Hemanta (autumn), Vasanta (spring), and Grīşma (Summer) all of them become less absorbers (sarvālpāhārā).
In Summer many Üsnayoniku beings (born in hot place) and Poggala (living organism) are born as plant-bodied beings in particular numbers and they increase and decrease (die) also in certain numbers, and they are born again ; for this reason in this season many plants endowed with leaves, flowers and fruits remain green, shining, beautiful and brilliant, having been adorned with these natural products and the wild beauty the forest.3
This account reveals the knowledge of the plant life and storage of its food for its sustenance and continuance against the clemency of the weather of the hot summer season.
Absorption of food by the Plants The BhS throws some light upon the process of absorption and assimilation of food-matter by the plants by explaining thus that the roots of the plants are touched (pervaded) by the root
i Bhs, 6, 7, 246.
98 16, 7, 3, 275.
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