Chapter 2 - Classification of Soils

I. The four classes of soils (ka) eve brahmaksetri vaisya sudra carijati janiva || bhumi badiva || setavarna brahmana bhumi || lohita varna ksetriya stri || pitavarna bhave vaisya || sudra ca krsna varnika | artha- vamana bhumi sveta ksetriya bhumi rakata vaisya bhumi pita sudra bhumi kala | emante bhumi cinahi na parile cakhile janima | kasa vamana bhumi ksetriya pita tatha | ambila vaisya jatina sudrani madhukasrute | 5 | artha ksetriyabhumi pita | vaisyabhumi ambila | sudrabhumi || mativarna cakhi na parile gandha sumghi janima | 5 | brahmana bhumi kasa | madhura || i ada gandhe bhave brahma rajagandhena ksetriya | ksaragandhe bhave vaisya sudradhi visthagandhikah | artha | brahmabhumi adagandha vaisya ksetriya bhumi goraja gandha | vaisyabhumi lunagandha | sudrabhumi visthagandhah | gandha hine yadabhumi golaka parivarjayete | bhramayeta halatata | yo cinanti vidomo gandhare bhumi va cinahi na parile hala casam tila buniva | soyabhumi brahmana krja | ksetriya grha makhyati sudrimevaca | artha- tila yeve tiniratre uthai se cari rate uthai se bhumi ksetri jati | vaisyajati tilayeve harate uthai se bhumi sudrajati ↓ | phacarate bhave vaisya | sadame bhumi brahmajati | tila yeve tila yeve pancarate uthai | se bhumi | (2-5 prh ) samala vaisyamo sainya | sudradhi (kha) svetavarna brahmasiva | raktavarna ksatriya | krsnavarnika | ( 1 prh ) eve cari yati bhumi yanima | rsirovacah | setavarna brahmanam caiva | rakta- varna ksatriam stathah | pitavarna bhave vasya | sudradi krsnavarnikah | artha ! brahmanabhumi setavarna disai | ksatriyabhumi raktavarna disai | vasa yati pitavarna disai | sudrayati krsnavarna disai | emante bhumi cinhi yanile yanima | kasayam brahmana bhumi | ksatriya pitakostathah | 2 | cakhi kari ambilam vasa 1.

10 ORISSAN ARCHITECTURE arthah | brahmayati bhumi kasa lagai | sradrayatibhumi madya- prae lagai | 5| mati cakhi na yanile amrana kari yanima | ada gandhe bhave brahma | rajagandha ksatriastathah | khara gandha bhave vasya | sudra amisa gandhakam | gandhabhumi vari na parile hala casai tila bunaiva | slokah | trayoratre brahmanam bhumi | ksatiyo prohoma yati | pancaratre bhave vasa | sada ratre sudramevaca | arthah | tila yeve triyaratre utha se brahmayati bhumi boli yanima | cari ratre uthile ksatriya bhumi yanima | pancaratre uthile vasa boli yanima | sadaratre uthile sudraboli yanima | ' | saptaratre yeve tila uthai se yatinam | sudradhi madyakostathah | ksatriyabhumi pita lagai | vasabhumi ambila lagai | | picasa bhumi boli yanima tahi kehi na rahivah | ( prh 36, 37, 38 ) (ga) sriganasae namah | atha silpa liksate | brahmaksetrim vasasudram suklarakta pitaye | krsnavarna ca kramena ataiva vastu laksana || artha | brahmana yatibhumi sukla- varna | ksatra yati bhumi raktavarna | vasayatibhumi pittavarna | sudrayati bhumi krsna- varna | 0 | kasaya brahmanabhumi | ambila ksetriyastatha | tikta vaisa samaksata madhura sudramevaca | artha | brahmana bhumi kasa | ksatriyabhumi ambila| vaisya bhumi pita | sudrabhumi madhura | ghrta gandhobhavet brahma raktagandhapi bahuja | ksiragandhabhave vaisya sudra visthanugandhita | artha | brahmayati bhumi asvagandha | ksatriya yati bhumi raktagandha | vasayatibhumi suragandha | sudra yati bhumi visthagandha | svadena labhate yatra gandha tatra viniddiseta | artha | bhumire tila bunima savitri mantre | eha samabhumi kariba | triratrasca bhavet patram brahmasvara prakirttitah | ksatriyam pancaratrani vaisya saptabhistatha navamo sudravikhyato | evam bhumi pariksitah | vastubhumi caturasra kari langale casaiva | savitri mantrena kari | (gha) brahmana ksatriya vaisya sudra bhumicaturvidha | sukka rakta tatha pita krsna varne riti kramat || ajagandha brahmabhumi rajogandha ca ksatriya | ksaragandha bhaved vaisya sudra purisagandhaja || '

: CLASSIFICATION OF SOILS kasaya brahmana bhuviramla ca ksatriya tatha | vaisya khyata tatha tikta madhura sudrajatija || tilanam vapane tatra jnatavya bhumijatayah | triratrenankuro yatra brahmajati prakirttita || ksatriya pancabhira vaisya syat saptabhistatha | navaratre ca sudraya ankuro jayate dhruvam || ( prh 2 ) ada, aja etc. are evidently corruptions of aाjya, ghrita. 11 It 1. The Brahmin soil is white in colour. smells like clarified butter and is astringent to the taste. The Khsatriya soil is blood-red in colour, smells like blood and is bitter to the taste. The Vaisya soil is yellow in colour, smells like alkaline earth and is sour to the taste. The Sudra soil is black in colour, smells like faeces and has a taste like that of wine. seeds If one is unable to determine the caste of a soil by colour, taste or smell, he should prepare a small piece of ground with the plough (while uttering the Savitri mantra at the same time) and SOW sesamum therein. If sprouts appear after the third night, Brahmin soil; similarly, if they appear after 4, 5, nights, they should be recognised as Kshatriya, Vaisya and Sudra respectively. If the seedlings it is or 6 appear after 7 nights, then the soil belongs to the caste of pisachas (devils) and men should not build on such soil. 2. The selection of soils (ka) 1 viprasa catrbhumi | ksetriya titi sumrta | vaisya duramasayah | sudrasaka prakrtita || brahmana jasada bhumi | ksetriya grhamakhyati |

12 ORISSAN ARCHITECTURE se te nidhane yanti || jartha - krtatrajasri | ksetriyasa yada bhumi vaisyamagrha I makhyati | | satatam nidhanam yanti | brajasva guhamama | vaisvasakha yadabhumi sudra grhamasati | satatam nidhanam yanti | dravagiri pravasate | brahmanajanti bhumire ksetrivasa na kariba | vaisyabhumire sudra na rahiba | rahile ki hoi | tira agi tathaiva ca | ( 5 prh ) (kha) brahmanasa jada bhumi ksatria priyamichati | sa tato nidhano yanti | yama gati trasiri | ksatriasa jada bhumi | vamsasa priamichati | satrayam nodhane yanti | trayasya grhamasamam | artha | ksatria 1 tamhi vasa na rahoba | vasyara yeve tila paca I tila yeve cha ratre utha se sudrabhumi ratrare uthai | se bhumire ksatria na rahi | tila yeve cari ratre uthai | se bhumire ksatritra na rahai | ( 38- 9 prh ) (ga) svajati sukhamapnoti brahmasya caturabhumau | ksatriyaya sthibhisthasca vaisyaca dvayabhumi ca | sudranameka bhumisca caturvvarga vidhoyate | ye yahara svajati bhumire rahile sukha prapta hoina | brahmana cari jatire rahile sukhi hoi | ksetriya tini jatire rahiba | vaisya dui jatire rahiba | sudra tahara jatire rahiba || sloka || jyesthascaiva yadabhumi varnahinatra yo nara | sopi vastu vinasastu grhamajambuka rodite | asyartha- grhastha bhumire yeve bhumi svarna hoi grhasthara varnahina hoi | se bhumire rahile sakale siyala bobai | varnahina yada bhumi | varnajyesthantu yo narah | sopi vastu prasasta | sukhi bhavanti manavah | bhumire varnahina varnadeva grhasthara srestha varna hava se vasture kutumba badha़i, manusa sukhi bhavanti | (gha) svajatya sukhamapnoti brahmanasya caturbhumih | ksatriyanam tribhumih syadvaisyastu dvayabhumigah || sudranamekabhumisca caturjati vimdhiyate || brahmajati yada bhumim lobhadicchati ksatriyah | sarvve te nidhanam yanti saila vajrahata iva || ( 3 prh ) 2. If a man lives on the soil which belongs to his own caste, he will be happy. But a Brahmin may

CLASSIFICATION OF SOILS 13 live on any one of the four classes of soils, a Kshatriya can live on three, a Vaisya on two, and a Sudra on only that which belongs to his caste. If, through temptation, a man lives on soil which belongs to a caste higher than his own, then surely destruction shall follow him. The place where his house stands shall be converted into a waste, and jackals shall fill the place with their cries even during the daytime. If a man lives on soil belonging to his own caste or on one lower than his own, then surely will he live happily with friends, relations and attendants. III. (gha) The best site for dwelling purposes snigdha sthira surabhigulmalata sugandha | sasta pradaksinajala ca nivasabhumih || nesta viparyyayaguna kaca - karkarasthi | valika kantaka vibhitaka samkula ca || sthira susnigdha ye surabhi | gulmalatare hoi sobhi || sugandha yukta hoi thiva | prasasta bhumi dekha yiva || se bhumi caripakha jala | gheri thiva e sumangala || epari sthane kale ghara | ethiru hoi viparita | bali | hunka va thiva yahim | pari sthane kale ghara | mangala ghatai apara || kesa jhinkura goड़ि yuta | kantakavana bhaya thai || ghatai anista satvara || 3. A place which is sheltered by fragrant plants, cool and undisturbed, spacious and surrounded on all sides by water, is good for dwelling purposes. A site with the opposite of these qualities is not good.

14 ORISSAN ARCHITECTURE A place full of hairs (human ?), gravel, bones, sand builds on such a site, or thorns is fearsome. If one misfortune will rapidly overtake one. IV. Divination by means of a lighted lamp (ga) janumatre khanyate bhumi dikastu tini jat | artha | bhumi janumatrakari kholiba | vasaiba| gharajaka yeve dipa disai teve bhala | yojayet naksatrakaranam kuryyat vaddha- dipa gotie jaliba | tamhi bhitare etadarthaku ye disai se marana hoi | bada ksina hoi jvalile se vasture grhastha nasa yai | sloka | dipasakha vajandanti praname dipatojjvala dharma artha cinyatete dirghayumatirucyate | dipasikha yeve bada hoi jalai pralamya voive sarira tinti padai teve se ghare sampatti hoi | dirghayusa hoi | (gha) vastormadhye tu vivaram krtva bahupramanatah | dipam tatra sthapayitva cintayettatphaladikam || srida dipasikha dhumra vrddhih pracigata bhavet || agneye vesmadahah syad yamye mrtyu na samsayah || nairrte ca bhavedduhkham varunye dhananasanam | vayavye vyadhipida syaduttarasyam ca sampadah | aisanye sukhavrddhih syadityasabhaga nirnayah || ( 3-4 prh ) 4. A hole, one cubit deep ( or knee-deep ), should be made in the ground, and a lighted lamp placed therein to determine the 'luck' of the site. It is good if the lamp lights the entire cavity. If it burns dimly, the householder will die. If the flame becomes elongated, then the house will bring prosperity and long life ( to the owner ).. If the flame burns gray ( gives forth smoke ? ), it will bring prosperity. If it leans towards the east,

CLASSIFICATION OF SOILS 15 there will be prosperity; if towards the S. E., the house shall be burnt ; if to the south, there will doubtless be death%;B if towards the S. W., sorrow shall come; if towards the west, there will be loss of property; if towards the N. W, there will be sickness; if towards the north, prosperity shall come; if towards the N. E.. there shall be an increase in happiness. Thus are indicated the signs with respect to the different points of the compass. V. Classification of building-sites (ka) bastu laksanah - yatara pravaksami grha karyani vinasvaya yadakala subhavidda tada bhuvanamacaret srayat || caturakha visuvadi || trikona A || buta || || sakatadhi bhadrasanah 11 cakrah | vagada || pranamathana 3 || 55 | muchandaka || vrhantarpah || 0 || vrjana vrjana || || kumaprstha || dhanusuja B || ( 1 prh ) (kha) vastu laksana | tada bhuvanamacare | arthah 1 tathapi ye iccha karai | bharatae | 1 caturasra | krta | trikona A|| sakata || dagada 1 vyabjana || ☐ 11 kamaprstha || dhanaryaya | (ga) pokasabhumika | slokah | ayatana | athatara pravaksami | grhakaryadi samsayah | athava kalpana kari ki ava grhakarya karai | bhava ye grha se ksamana karai ! yahara ye vasa taha yanima | pralamba | vivada | || | mrnda | harmyapitha | | ( 34-5 prh ) 11 catusresthah || || yatra yadi kula subham vaha | yadi subhavibha karai | cakra | cuan madrasanah | cakah visamabahu || trikona A 1 sakatakrti dagada pranavasthana surikta | brhanmukha vyajana | kurmaprsthah | dhanu | suryyacakrah 8 | (gha) ayatam caturasram ca chatram bhadrasanam tatha | va visamavahuh syatrikonam sakatakrtim || dandam va pranavam mutti grhadam vyajanam tatha | kurmakam dhanurakaram survyakam ceti sodasah || (41h )

16 ORISSAN ARCHITECTURE VI. The effects of living upon each kind of buildingsite (ka) sodasabhumi sodasa prakare gala | kevana bhumire kebana guna janiba || 34 | ayate savisidhva || caturasre dhana agama | bhadrasane krtarthah | vrte puta vivarddhanah | cakre daridraya ca pujemah cabhitatha | 54 | visuvadi va dane rajabhaya trikonasa | 54 | sakata dhanaksayah pasudandi tatha danda | praname jyesthanasanah na sahanti grhe bhayya || arthanasana vrhanrpe | durjane visvanasaya krmanadhanapidana | suryodhanaksayavidat | dhanu caurabhaya bhavamtu || ( 1-2 prh ) (kha) sodasa bhumi sodsa prakaraye | kaimda kana ke bhumire kaॅda guna yanima | 1 artha | sloka | ayate sarvasidhi ca | caturasre dhanagama | bhadrasane krtarthaya | krti pustavivardhanam | cakre daridra ca | vasavada tapahanam | rajabhaya trikonasa | sakatadhi dhanaksayah | pasuhotri tatha dandam | pralambe yesthanasanam | athanasa krtyanrpe | namanti sure bhariya | arthanasam vrhanrpa | vyanjane vidyanasa ca | kumena dhana pidanam | surye dhanaksayadita | dhanu cora bhave mrtu | ( 35-36 prh ) (ga) e bhumi manankara subhasubha phala | ayatane sidhyate savvam | caturasra dhanagamah | ksatra pusti vivardhanam | bhadrasane krtarthasca | cakre daridrya mevoktam | soka visamabahuke | nrpabhiti trikonesyat | sakate ca dhanaksayam | nasyati cirakho danda | pranave ksayalocanam | surikta priyate bharya | arthanasam vrhammukhe | vyajanam vittanasanca | kummai ca dhanapidate | cape dhanabhayam jatam | suyai nannaksayam bhavet | (gha) ayate siddhayate sarve caturasra dhanagama | chatre pritivivarddha ca bhadrasane krtarthinah || cakre daridra- rogam ca sokam visamavahuke | rajabhititrikone syat sakate va dhanaksayam || caura nasyanti dandena pranave netranasanam | sumuttau mriyate bharyya grhade sukhanasanam ||

50% 25% CLASSIFICATION OF SOILS vyajane vittanasanam ca dhanalabham ca kacchape | cape caurabhayam vidyadbhaskare ca daridrata || ( 4-5 prh ) 17 6. From an examination of these names, it appears that they can be arranged in three groups as follows: a. Names common to all the mss: ayafa, rectangular ; chafurasra, square; bhadrasana, the beautiful site; chakra, shaped like the wheel; frikona, triangular; sakata, shaped like the bullock-cart; kurma, shaped like (the back of) a tortoise; dhanu, shaped like a bow; surya, shaped like the sun; danda, shaped like a staff. ' b. Names regarding which there has been some typographical error: pralamba, the elongated one; byajana, like the fan; chhatra(?), like the umbrella; bisamabahu, with unequal arms; brihanmukha(?), with a big mouth. C. Names which are nof common to all the mss : Muchhandaka, Mruchhanda, Grihada; surikfa, sumurfi, harmyapitha. Of these, ayafa brings prosperity in all matters ; chaturasra brings wealth; bhadrasana brings satisfaction ; brifa or chhafra brings welfare (?); chakra brings poverty: frikona is the cause of the king's displeasure; sakafa brings loss of wealth; danda brings about the death of cattle; pralamba brings about the death of an elder; brihanmukha brings about the loss of wealth ; byajana, the loss of wealth; surya, the loss of wealth and bisamabahu, bereavement. 3