बृहत्संहिता (आचार्य वराहमिहिर - स्थापत्य, खगोल, मौसम व जल विज्ञान)

320 बृहत्संहितायाम् [Adh. XLIII. Sl. 17-21. Sloka 16.—A Brahmin should approach in the first part of the night the tree that has grown on white (red?) or black soil on a lonely spot, worship it accord- ing to rules and recite the following hymn, touching the tree. यानीह वृक्षे भूतानि तेभ्यः स्वस्ति नमोऽस्तु वः । उपहारं गृहीत्वेमं क्रियतां वासपर्ययः ॥१७॥ पार्थिवस्त्वां वरयते स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु नगोत्तम । ध्वजार्थं देवराजस्य पूजेयं प्रतिगृह्यताम् ॥१८॥ Slokas 17-18.—"Hail to all beings living in this tree! Salutation to you. May you change your abode after re- ceiving this gift. O great tree, hail to you! The king chooses you for the banner of the king of the Gods. Kindly accept this worship." छिन्द्यात्प्रभातसमये वृक्षमुदक्प्राङ्मुखोऽपि वा भूत्वा । परशोर्जर्रजरशब्दो नेष्टः स्निग्धो घनश्च हितः ॥१९॥ Sloka 19.—At dawn, facing the East or North, he (the carpenter) should cut the tree. A rough and creak- ing sound of the axe is not auspicious, but a soft and full one is favourable. नृपजयदमविध्वस्तं पतनमनाकुञ्चितं च पूर्वोदक् । अविलग्नं चान्यतरौ विपरीतमतस्त्यजेत्पतितम् ॥२०॥ Sloka 20.—If the tree falls down, unspoilt, unbroken and without being entangled in other trees, it will yield victory to the king; one that falls down under contrary circumstances should be discarded. छित्वाग्रे चतुरङ्गुलमष्टौ मूले जले क्षिपेद्विटपम् । उद्धृत्य पुरद्वारं शकटेन नयेन्मनुष्यैर्वा ॥२१॥