247 - The characteristics of a site for building

Agni said:

1-3. Ishall describe the characteristics of a building site for the brahmins and others. They are white, red, yellow and black (soil) in order (for the four castes). A building siteshould have the smell of ghee, blood, cooked rice and wine in order (for the four castes). (Theyshould also) taste sweet, pungent and acid and other secondary tastes in order. (The ground)should be cleared of kuša, reeds, kāśa (a kind of grass) and dūrvā (a kind of grass having razor-like edges) after having dug out pieces of iron etc. and worshipped the brahmins. 

4-9. Sixty-foursquaresshould be made. Lord Brahma (occupies) the four central squares. The presiding deity (of the two squares) on the east of those (squares) is said to be lord Aryamå. God Vivasvån is (on the two squares) on the south. God Mitra is (on the two squares) on the west. Gods worshipped on the angular points are :) God Mahīdhara (Pruthvidhara) is on (the two squares on) the north. Apas and (Apa) Vatsa are on the south-east. God Sávitra, Savitā, Jaya and Indra (are respectively) on the south-west and west. God Rudra and (personification of) disease are on the north-west. (The gods worshipped) outside on the east and other directions from the angular squares are Mahendra, Satya and Sesha on the east. Cruhakshata, Aryaman¹, Dhruti and Gandharva on the south, Pushpadanta, Asura Varuņa and Yajna² on the west and Bhallāța Soma, Aditi³ and Dhanada on the north. Någa is the lord on north-east. Similarly, the first and the last are said to be the lords in each one of the eight directions. 

1. Yama and Bhrugaraja in other texts. 

2. Sesha in other texts.

3. Charaka, in other texts. 

10-15. Parjanya is the first god. The second one is Karagraha. (The other gods are) Mahendra, Ravi, Satya, Bhrusa and Gagana. Pavana (should be worshipped) in the east, (gods) Antariksha and Dhaneśvara in the south-east and the celestials Mruga and Sugrivaka in the south-west. Roga and Mukhya (should be worshipped) in the north-west, Pushpa, Kubera as well as Gruhakshata, Yama, Bhruśa, Gandharva and Någapaitka on the south, Dauvärika, Sugriva, Pushpadanta, the demon, the (presidting deity of) water (should be worshipped) in the west. The pulmonary disease that emaciates (men) and Nägarāja (the king of the serpents) (should be worshipped in the north). (The gods) Mukhya, Bhallata, Moon, Aditi, Kubera, Näga, Fire (god), the excellent Indra and Sun (god) (should be worshipped) in the east. Gruhakshata and puspa (are worshipped) in the south, the outstanding Sugriva in the west and Pushpadanta and Bhallaţa at the northern door. 

16-23. A stoneslab or a brickshould be laid on the ground and worshipped with the mystic syllables (as follows) and the celestialsshould be worshipped. O Daughter of (the sage) Vasishtha! Gladden us with wealth and progeny. O Victorious one! Heir of sage Bhargava (Paraśurāma)! Bring victory to the progeny. O Heir of (sage) Angirasa! The Satisfied one! Fulfil my desires. O Auspicious one! Heir of sage Kåśyapa! Make my mind good. O One endowed with all seeds! One surrounded by all gems and herbs! O Bright one! Rejoicing one! Daughter of (sage) Vasishtha! Be pleased here. O Daughter of Prajapati! Goddess on the quadrangle on the earth. O Goddess of Good fortune and Good demeanour! Auspicious one! Daughter of (sage) Kåśyapa! Be pleased in (this house). O One worshipped by great masters and adorned with incense and flowers! O Goddess that makes one get prosperous! O Daughter of (sage) Bhargava! May you be pleased in this house. One not mutilated! Unbroken one! Complete onc! Daughter of the sage Angirasa! I establish you on this brick. Confer on me the desired (things). One that is held by sovereigns, chieftains and owners of houses! May you be one that increases the progeny, wealth, elephants, horses and cows. (A brick or) stoneshould similarly be laid at the entrance to the house (for the first time). 

24-31. A plakṣa tree would be auspicious on the north and the vaja (tree) on the cast of the house. Udumbara on the south and the asvattha on the west are excellent. A gardenshould be laid on the left (of the house). Dwelling in such a house is good. The trees planted and grownshould be watered morning and evening in the summer, alternate days in the winter and cach night in the rainy season if the ground gets dried. Theyshould be sprinkled with cold water mixed with the paste of vidanga (a medicinal herb used as a vermifuge). If the fruits get destroyed, (the treesshould be sprinkled with water mixed) with (the paste of) horse-beans, black-gram, green gram, sesamum and barley. Sprinkling of cold water together with ghee is always (beneficial) for (the trees bearing) fruits and flowers. Sprinkling water with fish makes the trees grow. The powdered excrement of thesheep and goat (mixed with) the powdered barley and sesamum, beef and watershould be buried in the ground for seven nights and then sprinkling that would make all the trees bear fruits and flowers abundantly. Sprinkling mango trees with cold water mixed with fish is commended. The gentle kick of the ashoka (tree) by women with their feet is also commended. Date palms, coconut and other trees grow well by (adding)salt. Sprinkling with water mixed with vidanga (herb) and fish would be beneficial for all trees.