The Rite of Tree-Planting

Verse 1 (padma.1.28.1)

भीष्म उवाच। पादपानां विधिं ब्रह्मन्यथावद्विस्तराद्वद। विधिना येन कर्त्तव्यं पादपारोपणं बुधैः॥

bhīṣma uvāca pādapānāṁ vidhiṁ brahmanyathāvadvistarādvada vidhinā yena karttavyaṁ pādapāropaṇaṁ budhaiḥ

Bhishma said: O brahmin, tell me duly and in detail the rite of trees — the rite by which the planting of trees should be performed by the wise.

Verse 2 (padma.1.28.2)

ये च लोकाः स्मृता येषां तानिदानीं वदस्व मे॥

ye ca lokāḥ smṛtā yeṣāṁ tānidānīṁ vadasva me

And tell me now of the worlds declared for those who plant them.

Verse 3 (padma.1.28.3)

पुलस्त्य उवाच। पादपानां विधिं वक्ष्ये तथैवोद्यानभूमिषु॥

pulastya uvāca pādapānāṁ vidhiṁ vakṣye tathaivodyānabhūmiṣu

Pulastya said: I shall declare the rite of trees, and likewise for garden-lands.

Verse 4 (padma.1.28.4)

तटाकविधिवत्सर्वं समाप्य जगतीश्वर। ऋत्विङ्मंडपसंभारमाचार्यं चापि तद्विधं॥

taṭākavidhivatsarvaṁ samāpya jagatīśvara ṛtviṅmaṁḍapasaṁbhāramācāryaṁ cāpi tadvidhaṁ

Having completed everything just as in the tank-rite, O lord of the earth — the ritwiks, the pavilion, the materials, and the acharya, in that same manner —

Verse 5 (padma.1.28.5)

पूजयेद्ब्राह्मणांस्तद्वद्धेमवस्त्रानुलेपनैः। सर्वौषध्युदकैः सिक्तान्दध्यक्षतविभूषितान्॥

pūjayedbrāhmaṇāṁstadvaddhemavastrānulepanaiḥ sarvauṣadhyudakaiḥ siktāndadhyakṣatavibhūṣitān

— one should worship the brahmins likewise, with gold, garments, and unguents; sprinkled with the water of all herbs, and adorned with curd and unbroken rice.

Verse 6 (padma.1.28.6)

वृक्षान्माल्यैरलंकृत्य वासोभिरभिवेष्टयेत्। सूच्या सौवर्णया कार्यं सर्वेषां कर्णवेधनं॥

vṛkṣānmālyairalaṁkṛtya vāsobhirabhiveṣṭayet sūcyā sauvarṇayā kāryaṁ sarveṣāṁ karṇavedhanaṁ

Having adorned the trees with garlands, one should wrap them with cloths; with a golden needle, the ear-piercing of all should be performed.

Verse 7 (padma.1.28.7)

अंजनं चापि दातव्यं तद्वद्धेमशलाकया। फलानि सप्त चाष्टौ वा कालधौतानि कारयेत्॥

aṁjanaṁ cāpi dātavyaṁ tadvaddhemaśalākayā phalāni sapta cāṣṭau vā kāladhautāni kārayet

Collyrium too is to be applied, likewise with a golden rod. One should have seven or eight silver fruits made.

Verse 8 (padma.1.28.8)

प्रत्येकं सर्ववृक्षाणां वेद्यांतान्यधिवासयेत्। धूपोत्र गुग्गुलुः श्रेष्ठस्ताम्रपात्रेष्वधिष्ठितान्॥

pratyekaṁ sarvavṛkṣāṇāṁ vedyāṁtānyadhivāsayet dhūpotra gugguluḥ śreṣṭhastāmrapātreṣvadhiṣṭhitān

One should perform the adhivasana at the base of the altar for each and every tree; here, guggulu is the best incense, placed in copper vessels.

Verse 9 (padma.1.28.9)

सप्तधान्यस्थितान्कृत्वा वस्त्रगंधानुलेपनैः। कुंभान्सर्वेषु वृक्षेषु स्थापयित्वावनीश्वर॥

saptadhānyasthitānkṛtvā vastragaṁdhānulepanaiḥ kuṁbhānsarveṣu vṛkṣeṣu sthāpayitvāvanīśvara

Having filled the vessels with the seven grains, with cloth, fragrance, and unguents, O lord of the earth, having placed the jars at every tree —

Verse 10 (padma.1.28.10)

पूजयित्वा दिनांते च कृत्वा बलिनिवेदनम्। यथावल्लोकपालानामिंद्रादीनां विधानतः॥

pūjayitvā dināṁte ca kṛtvā balinivedanam yathāvallokapālānāmiṁdrādīnāṁ vidhānataḥ

— having worshipped, and at day's end having made the offering of bali, duly, to the world-guardians beginning with Indra, according to rule —

Verse 11 (padma.1.28.11)

वनस्पतेरधिवास एवं कार्यो द्विजातिभिः। ततः शुक्लांबरधरान्सौवर्णकृतमेखलान्॥

vanaspateradhivāsa evaṁ kāryo dvijātibhiḥ tataḥ śuklāṁbaradharānsauvarṇakṛtamekhalān

— the adhivasana of the tree should thus be performed by the twice-born. Then a cow wearing white cloth with a golden girdle —

Verse 12 (padma.1.28.12)

सकांस्यदोहां सौवर्णशृंगाभ्यामतिशालिनीं। पयस्विनीं वृक्षमध्यादुत्सृजेद्गामुदङ्मुखीम्॥

sakāṁsyadohāṁ sauvarṇaśṛṁgābhyāmatiśālinīṁ payasvinīṁ vṛkṣamadhyādutsṛjedgāmudaṅmukhīm

— a most excellent, milk-giving cow, milked into bronze, with golden horns, should be released facing north from among the trees.

Verse 13 (padma.1.28.13)

ततोभिषेकमंत्रेण वाद्यमंगलगीतकैः। ऋग्यजुःसाममंत्रैश्च वारुणैरभितस्तदा॥

tatobhiṣekamaṁtreṇa vādyamaṁgalagītakaiḥ ṛgyajuḥsāmamaṁtraiśca vāruṇairabhitastadā

Then, with the consecration-mantra, with instruments and auspicious songs, and with the Rig, Yajur, and Sama mantras, and with Varuna-mantras all around —

Verse 14 (padma.1.28.14)

तैरेव कुंभैः स्नपनं कुर्युर्ब्राह्मणपुंगवाः। स्नातः शुक्लांबरधरो यजमानोभिपूजयेत्॥

taireva kuṁbhaiḥ snapanaṁ kuryurbrāhmaṇapuṁgavāḥ snātaḥ śuklāṁbaradharo yajamānobhipūjayet

— the foremost of brahmins should perform the bathing with those same jars. Bathed and clad in white garments, the yajamana should worship —

Verse 15 (padma.1.28.15)

गोभिर्विभवतः सर्वानृत्विजः ससमाहितान्। हेमसूत्रैः सकटकैरंगुलीयैः पवित्रकैः॥

gobhirvibhavataḥ sarvānṛtvijaḥ sasamāhitān hemasūtraiḥ sakaṭakairaṁgulīyaiḥ pavitrakaiḥ

— all the composed ritwiks with cows, according to his means; with golden threads, together with bracelets, rings, and sacred finger-rings.

Verse 16 (padma.1.28.16)

वासोभिः शयनीयैश्च तथोपस्करपादुकैः। क्षीराभिषेचनं कुर्याद्यावद्दिनचतुष्टयम्॥

vāsobhiḥ śayanīyaiśca tathopaskarapādukaiḥ kṣīrābhiṣecanaṁ kuryādyāvaddinacatuṣṭayam

— with garments, beds, and likewise with furnishings and sandals. One should perform the milk-anointing for a full four days.

Verse 17 (padma.1.28.17)

होमश्च सर्पिषा कार्यो यवैः कृष्णतिलैरपि। पलाशसमिधः शस्ताश्चतुर्थेऽह्नि तथोत्सवः॥

homaśca sarpiṣā kāryo yavaiḥ kṛṣṇatilairapi palāśasamidhaḥ śastāścaturthe'hni tathotsavaḥ

Oblation should be offered with ghee, with barley and black sesame too; palasha fuel-sticks are prescribed; and on the fourth day, likewise, a festival.

Verse 18 (padma.1.28.18)

दक्षिणा च पुनस्तद्वद्देया तत्रापि शक्तितः। यद्यदिष्टतमं किचित्तत्तद्दद्यादमत्सरी॥

dakṣiṇā ca punastadvaddeyā tatrāpi śaktitaḥ yadyadiṣṭatamaṁ kicittattaddadyādamatsarī

And sacrificial fees likewise are to be given there too, according to capacity. Whatever is most desired, that one should give without envy or miserliness.

Verse 19 (padma.1.28.19)

आचार्ये द्विगुणं दत्त्वा प्रणिपत्य क्षमापयेत्। अनेन विधिना यस्तु कुर्याद्वृक्षोत्सवं बुधः॥

ācārye dviguṇaṁ dattvā praṇipatya kṣamāpayet anena vidhinā yastu kuryādvṛkṣotsavaṁ budhaḥ

Having given double to the acharya, one should bow down and ask forgiveness. Whoever, being wise, performs the tree-festival by this rite —

Verse 20 (padma.1.28.20)

सर्वान्कामानवाप्नोति पदं चानन्तमश्नुते। यश्चैवमपि राजेन्द्र वृक्षं संस्थापयेद्बुधः॥

sarvānkāmānavāpnoti padaṁ cānantamaśnute yaścaivamapi rājendra vṛkṣaṁ saṁsthāpayedbudhaḥ

— he obtains all desires and attains the endless state. And, O king of kings, whoever, being wise, establishes even a single tree in this manner —

Verse 21 (padma.1.28.21)

सोपि स्वर्गे वसेद्राजन्यावदिंद्रायुतत्रयम्। भूतान्भव्यांश्च मनुजांस्तारयेद्रोमसंमितान्॥

sopi svarge vasedrājanyāvadiṁdrāyutatrayam bhūtānbhavyāṁśca manujāṁstārayedromasaṁmitān

— he too, O king, dwells in heaven for as long as thirty thousand Indras reign, and he ferries across as many past and future men as he has hairs on his body.

Verse 22 (padma.1.28.22)

परमां सिद्धिमाप्नोति पुनरावृत्तिदुर्लभाम्। य इदं शृणुयान्नित्यं श्रावयेद्वापि मानवः॥

paramāṁ siddhimāpnoti punarāvṛttidurlabhām ya idaṁ śṛṇuyānnityaṁ śrāvayedvāpi mānavaḥ

He attains the supreme perfection, from which return is difficult. Whatever man constantly hears this, or causes it to be heard —

Verse 23 (padma.1.28.23)

सोपि संपूज्यते देवैर्ब्रह्मलोके महीयते। अपुत्रस्य च पुत्रित्वं पादपा एव कुर्वते॥

sopi saṁpūjyate devairbrahmaloke mahīyate aputrasya ca putritvaṁ pādapā eva kurvate

— he too is honoured by the gods and is exalted in the world of Brahma. Trees alone bestow the status of sonship upon one who is sonless.

Verse 24 (padma.1.28.24)

तीर्थेषु पिंडदानादीन्रोपकाणां ददंति ते। यत्नेनापि च राजेंद्र अश्वत्थारोपणं कुरु॥

tīrtheṣu piṁḍadānādīnropakāṇāṁ dadaṁti te yatnenāpi ca rājeṁdra aśvatthāropaṇaṁ kuru

They, the trees themselves, perform the pinda-offerings and the like at holy places for those who planted them. And, O king of kings, with effort, plant the ashvattha tree.

Verse 25 (padma.1.28.25)

स ते पुत्रसहस्रस्य कृत्यमेकः करिष्यति। धनी चाश्वत्थवृक्षेण अशोकः शोकनाशनः॥

sa te putrasahasrasya kṛtyamekaḥ kariṣyati dhanī cāśvatthavṛkṣeṇa aśokaḥ śokanāśanaḥ

That one tree alone will do for you the work of a thousand sons. By the ashvattha tree one becomes wealthy; the ashoka is the destroyer of sorrow.

Verse 26 (padma.1.28.26)

प्लक्षो यज्ञप्रदः प्रोक्तः क्षीरी चायुःप्रदः स्मृतः। जंबुकी कन्यकादात्री भार्यादा दाडिमी तथा॥

plakṣo yajñapradaḥ proktaḥ kṣīrī cāyuḥpradaḥ smṛtaḥ jaṁbukī kanyakādātrī bhāryādā dāḍimī tathā

The plaksha is declared to bestow the fruit of sacrifice; the milk-trees are held to bestow long life. The jambu bestows daughters; likewise the pomegranate bestows a wife.

Verse 27 (padma.1.28.27)

अश्वत्थो रोगनाशाय पलाशो ब्रह्मदस्तथा। प्रेतत्वं जायते पुंसो रोपयेद्यो विभीतकम्॥

aśvattho roganāśāya palāśo brahmadastathā pretatvaṁ jāyate puṁso ropayedyo vibhītakam

The ashvattha is for the destruction of disease; likewise the palasha bestows the merit of brahminhood. A man who plants the vibhitaka becomes a preta after death.

Verse 28 (padma.1.28.28)

अंकोले कुलवृद्धिस्तु खादिरेणाप्यरोगिता। निंबप्ररोहकाणां तु नित्यं तुष्येद्दिवाकरः॥

aṁkole kulavṛddhistu khādireṇāpyarogitā niṁbapraṁrohakāṇāṁ tu nityaṁ tuṣyeddivākaraḥ

From the ankola comes increase of family; from the khadira, freedom from disease. With those who cause neem saplings to sprout, the Sun is ever pleased.

Verse 29 (padma.1.28.29)

श्रीवृक्षे शंकरो देवः पाटलायां तु पार्वती। शिंशपायामप्सरसः कुंदे गंधर्वसत्तमाः॥

śrīvṛkṣe śaṁkaro devaḥ pāṭalāyāṁ tu pārvatī śiṁśapāyāmapsarasaḥ kuṁde gaṁdharvasattamāḥ

In the shri-vriksha (bilva) dwells the god Shankara; in the patala, Parvati; in the shinshapa, the apsarases; in the kunda, the foremost of gandharvas.

Verse 30 (padma.1.28.30)

तिंतिडीके दासवर्गा वंजुले दस्यवस्तथा। पुण्यप्रदः श्रीप्रदश्च चंदनः पनसस्तथा॥

tiṁtiḍīke dāsavargā vaṁjule dasyavastathā puṇyapradaḥ śrīpradaśca caṁdanaḥ panasastathā

In the tamarind dwell the class of servants, and in the vanjula, thieves. Sandalwood bestows merit and fortune, and likewise the jackfruit tree.

Verse 31 (padma.1.28.31)

सौभाग्यदश्चंपकश्च करीरः पारदारिकः। अपत्यनाशकस्तालो बकुलः कुलवर्द्धनः॥

saubhāgyadaścaṁpakaśca karīraḥ pāradārikaḥ apatyanāśakastālo bakulaḥ kulavarddhanaḥ

The champaka bestows good fortune; the karira makes one an adulterer. The palmyra destroys offspring; the bakula increases the family.

Verse 32 (padma.1.28.32)

बहुभार्या नारिकेला द्राक्षा सर्वांगसुंदरी। रतिप्रदा तथा कोली केतकी शत्रुनाशिनी॥

bahubhāryā nārikelā drākṣā sarvāṁgasuṁdarī ratipradā tathā kolī ketakī śatrunāśinī

The coconut gives many wives; the grapevine gives beauty in every limb. The kola bestows conjugal pleasure, and the ketaki destroys enemies.

Verse 33 (padma.1.28.33)

एवमादि नगाश्चान्ये ये नोक्तास्तेपि दायकाः। प्रतिष्ठां ते गमिष्यंति यैस्तु वृक्षाः प्ररोपिताः॥

evamādi nagāścānye ye noktāstepi dāyakāḥ pratiṣṭhāṁ te gamiṣyaṁti yaistu vṛkṣāḥ praropitāḥ

Other trees like these that have not been mentioned are also bestowers of fruit. Those by whom trees have been planted shall attain this same consecrated merit.