भूमिप्रविभागविज्ञानीयाध्यायः
अथातो भूमिप्रविभागीयमध्यायं व्याख्यास्यामः ||१||
यथोवाच भगवान् धन्वन्तरिः ||२||
"Now, I shall expound on the chapter called 'The Division of Land."
"Thus spoke the revered Dhanvantari."
This introductory verse sets the stage for the forthcoming discussion on the classification and division of land as explained by the ancient sage Dhanvantari.
श्वभ्रशर्कराश्मविषमवल्मीकश्मशानाघातनदेवतायतनसिकताभिरनुपहतामनूषरामभङ्गुरामदूरोदकां स्निग्धां प्ररोहवतीं मृद्वीं स्थिरां समां कृष्णां गौरीं लोहितां वा भूमिमौषधग्रहणाय परीक्षेत |
तस्यां जातमपि कृमिविषशस्त्रातपपवनदहनतोयसम्बाधमार्गैरनुपहतमेकरसं पुष्टं पृथ्ववगाढमूलमुदीच्यां चौषधमाददीतेत्येष भूमिपरीक्षाविशेषः सामान्यः ||३||
"The land suitable for collecting medicinal plants should not be affected by: pits, gravel, stones, unevenness, anthills, cremation grounds, places of worship, or sandy areas. It should be uncultivated, unbroken, with nearby water, oily, fertile, soft, stable, level, black, white, or red. Plants grown on such land are not affected by worms, poisons, weapons, heat, wind, fire, water, or obstruction. They are of uniform quality, well-nourished, and deeply rooted."
This Shloka outlines the characteristics of ideal land for growing medicinal plants, emphasizing the importance of selecting a suitable environment to ensure the quality and potency of the plants.
विशेषतस्तु तत्र, अश्मवती स्थिरा गुर्वी श्यामा कृष्णा वा स्थूलवृक्षशस्यप्राया स्वगुणभूयिष्ठा; स्निग्धा शीतलाऽऽसन्नोदका स्निग्धशस्यतृणकोमलवृक्षप्राया शुक्लाऽम्बुगुणभूयिष्ठा; नानावर्णा लघ्वश्मवती प्रविरलाल्पपाण्डुवृक्षप्ररोहाऽग्निगुणभूयिष्ठा; रूक्षा भस्मरासभवर्णा तनुवृक्षाल्परसकोटरवृक्षप्रायाऽनिलगुणभूयिष्ठा; मृद्वी समा श्वभ्रवत्यव्यक्तरसजला सर्वतोऽसारवृक्षा महापर्वतवृक्षप्राया श्यामा चाकाशगुणभूयिष्ठा ||४||
"Specifically,
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the rocky land is stable, heavy, dark, or black, with thick trees and crops, possessing its inherent qualities.
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The oily land is cool, with nearby water, and is characterized by oily crops, tender grass, and white trees, possessing water qualities.
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The land with various colors is light and rocky, with sparse, small, pale trees, and is dominated by fire qualities.
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The rough land is ash-gray, with thin trees and hollow trees with little sap, possessing wind qualities.
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The soft land is level, with many pits, indistinct tastes, and devoid of essential qualities, with large mountain-like trees, and is dominated by sky qualities."
These Shlokas describe the specific characteristics of different types of land, emphasizing their inherent qualities and suitability for growing various types of vegetation.
अत्र केचिदाहुराचार्याः- प्रावृड्वर्षाशरद्धेमन्तवसन्तग्रीष्मेषु यथासङ्ख्यं मूलपत्रत्वक्क्षीरसारफलान्याददीतेति; तत्तु न सम्यक्, सौम्याग्नेयत्वाज्जगतः |
सौम्यान्यौषधानि सौम्येष्वृतुष्वाददीत, आग्नेयान्याग्नेयेषु; एवमव्यापन्नगुणानि भवन्ति |
सौम्यान्यौषध्मनि सौम्येष्वृतुषु गृहीतानि सोमगुणभूयिष्ठायां भूमौ जातान्यतिमधुरस्निग्धशीतानि जायन्ते |
एतेन शेषं व्याख्यातम् ||५||
"Some teachers say that roots, leaves, bark, latex, sap, and fruits should be collected in the rainy season, autumn, early winter, late winter, spring, and summer, respectively. However, this is incorrect due to the cooling and heating nature of the world. Medicinal plants with cooling properties should be collected in cool seasons, and those with heating properties in hot seasons; this ensures they retain their qualities. Medicines collected in the appropriate seasons and grown on lands dominated by cooling qualities become very sweet, unctuous, and cool. Thus, the rest is explained."
These Shlokas emphasize the importance of collecting medicinal plants in the appropriate seasons to ensure they retain their inherent qualities, highlighting the influence of environmental factors on their properties.
तत्र पृथिव्यम्बुगुणभूयिष्ठायां भूमौ जातानि विरेचनद्रव्याण्याददीत , अग्न्याकाशमारुतगुणभूयिष्ठायां वमनद्रव्याणि, उभयगुणभूयिष्ठायामुभयतोभागानि, आकाशगुणभूयिष्ठायां संशमनानि, एवं बलवत्तराणि भवन्ति ||६||
"In land dominated by earth and water qualities, collect purgative substances. In land dominated by fire, ether, and air qualities, collect emetic substances. In land dominated by both qualities, collect substances with dual properties. In land dominated by ether qualities, collect pacifying substances. Thus, they become more potent."
This Shloka emphasizes the importance of collecting medicinal substances based on the dominant qualities of the land to ensure their potency and effectiveness.
सर्वाण्येव चाभिनवानि, अन्यत्र मधुघृतगुडपिप्पलीविडङ्गेभ्यः ||७||
विडङ्गं पिप्पली क्षौद्रं सर्पिश्चाप्यनवं हितम् |
शेषमन्यत्वभिनवं गृह्णीयाद्दोषवर्जितम् ||८||
(सर्वाण्येव सक्षीराणि वीर्यवन्ति;) तेषामसम्पत्तावतिक्रान्तसंवत्सराण्याददीतेति ||९||
"All should be freshly collected, except for honey, ghee, jaggery, long pepper, and embelia. Fresh embelia, long pepper, honey, and ghee are beneficial. The rest should be collected fresh, free from defects. If not available, substances older than a year may be used."
These Shlokas emphasize the importance of using freshly collected medicinal substances, while also noting exceptions such as honey, ghee, jaggery, long pepper, and embelia, which retain their efficacy even when not fresh.
भवन्ति चात्र-
गोपालास्तापसा व्याधा ये चान्ये वनचारिणः |
मूलाहाराश्च ये तेभ्यो भेषजव्यक्तिरिष्यते ||१०||
"Here it is stated: From cowherds, ascetics, hunters, and other forest dwellers, and those who consume roots as food, the identification of medicinal plants is obtained."
This Shloka highlights the knowledge and expertise of various groups such as cowherds, ascetics, hunters, and forest dwellers in identifying medicinal plants, as they are closely connected to nature and have a deep understanding of the flora.
कटुस्तीक्ष्णश्च विस्रश्च गन्धस्तु पवनादिभिः |
लोहगन्धिस्तु रक्तेन व्यामिश्रः सान्निपातिकः ||९||
लाजातसीतैलसमाः किञ्चिद्विस्राश्च गन्धतः |
ज्ञेयाः प्रकृतिगन्धाः स्युः ... |१०|
"Here it is stated: From cowherds, ascetics, hunters, and other forest dwellers, and those who consume roots as food, the identification of medicinal plants is obtained."
This Shloka highlights the knowledge and expertise of various groups such as cowherds, ascetics, hunters, and forest dwellers in identifying medicinal plants, as they are closely connected to nature and have a deep understanding of the flora.
सर्वावयवसाध्येषु पलाशलवणादिषु |
व्यवस्थितो न कालोऽस्ति तत्र सर्वो विधीयते ||११||
"In the case of medicines like Palasha (Butea monosperma) and Lavana (salt), which are applicable to all parts of the body, there is no fixed time for their administration; they are prescribed universally."
This Shloka highlights the versatility and broad applicability of certain medicines like Palasha and salt, which can be administered without any specific time constraints and are useful for various conditions.
गन्धवर्णरसोपेता षड्विधा भूमिरिष्यते |
तस्माद्भूमिस्वभावेन बीजिनः षड्रसायुताः ||१२||
"The land is considered to be of six types, based on smell, color, and taste. Accordingly, seeds possess six types of juices (Rasas) depending on the nature of the soil."
This Shloka emphasizes the classification of land based on its sensory attributes and highlights how the nature of the soil influences the characteristics of the seeds grown on it.
अव्यक्तः किल तोयस्य रसो निश्चयनिश्चितः |
रसः स एव चाव्यक्तो व्यक्तो भूमिरसाद्भवेत् ||१३||
"The taste of water, though subtle and indistinct, becomes distinct and perceivable when influenced by the qualities of the soil."
This Shloka highlights the transformative nature of water's taste when it interacts with the soil, emphasizing the impact of the soil's qualities on the water's flavor.
सर्वलक्षणसम्पन्ना भूमिः साधारणा स्मृता |
द्रव्याणि यत्र तत्रैव तद्गुणानि विशेषतः ||१४||
"Land that possesses all characteristics is considered normal. Substances collected from such land will specifically retain those qualities."
This Shloka emphasizes that land with balanced and comprehensive characteristics is ideal for collecting substances, which will then retain the beneficial qualities of the land.
विगन्धेनापरामृष्टमविपन्नं रसादिभिः |
नवं द्रव्यं पुराणं वा ग्राह्यमेवं विनिर्दिशेत् ||१५||
"Substances, whether new or old, that are free from any bad smell and have not deteriorated in taste and other qualities, should be used as they are indicated."
This Shloka emphasizes the importance of selecting substances that are free from any unpleasant smell and have retained their original taste and qualities, regardless of whether they are new or old.
जङ्गमानां वयःस्थानां रक्तरोमनखादिकम् |
क्षीरमूत्रपुरीषाणि जीर्णाहारेषु संहरेत् ||१६||
"From animals of various ages, collect blood, hair, nails, etc. As well as milk, urine, and feces, when they are properly digested."
This Shloka highlights the collection of various animal products, emphasizing the importance of collecting them at the right time when they are properly digested and can be used effectively.
प्लोतमृद्भाण्डफलकशङ्कुविन्यस्तभेषजम् |
प्रशस्तायां दिशि शुचौ भेषजागारमिष्यते ||१७||
"Medicine stored on planks, earthen pots, boards, or stakes, in a clean and auspicious direction, is recommended in a pharmacy."
This Shloka emphasizes the importance of proper storage of medicines in clean and auspicious conditions to maintain their efficacy and purity.
इति सुश्रुतसंहितायां सूत्रस्थाने भूमिप्रविभागीयो नाम षट्त्रिंशोऽध्यायः ||३६||
"Thus ends the thirty-sixth chapter named 'The Division of Land' in the Sutra Sthana of the Sushruta Samhita."
This concludes the chapter, summarizing the comprehensive guidelines and wisdom shared for the classification and division of land.