Pomegranate fumigation (Sriharsha)

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Sanskrit studies of M. B. Emeneau,

Selected papers (edited by B. A.

van Nooten), UC, Berkeley) includes

"Notes on 'SrIharSa's

NaiSadhacarita", p. 29-42.

 

On p. 34, M. B. Emeneau wrote

(originally in 1951):

" The verse 1.82 refers to a treatment

of pomegranates by fumigation, presumably

to increase their yield or size. This

reference is still obscure. The practice

mentioned is probably a magical one;

no reference to such a practice at the

present dayhas thus far been found.

 

vidarbhasubhrUstanatuGgatAptaye

ghaTAn ivA 'pazyad alaM tapasyataH

phalAni dhUmasya dhayAn adhomukhAn

sa dADime dohadadhUpini drume

 

"He saw the fruits on a pomegranate tree

that was being treated with smoke as a

fertilizer. They were like pots undergoing

rigorous austerities, hanging mouth downward

and drinking in smoke, in order to attain

the swelling prominence of the breasts

of the fair-browed maid of Vidarbha."

"

 

It's common practice to fumigate 'unripened

fruit' (kAy in tamil) to accelerate the ripening.

Skt. phala < tamil 'pa_lam' < pa_lu 'to ripen'.

 

In the Cologne university online Tamil lexicon (OTL),

some example words of Sriharsha describes

in his mahAkAvyam. Will check the

tamil version of Naishadam to see if this

is told there too. Are there any more parallel

Skt. quotes?

 

>From OTL

1) varAkippukai - a medicinal fumigation

 

2) maNagkaTTu-tal- to fumigate with odours, perfume

 

3) neruppumaNattal - smell of fire, fumigation

 

4) pukaippu - smoking, fumigation, smouldering

 

5) potukku-tal - to ripen fruits by fumigation

 

6) pukaiyUtu-tal 1. to quicken the ripening of fruits by fumigation;

2. to gild, to line with gold

 

7) UtalpOTukai 1. fumigation for making green fruits ripe, as

plantains; 2. fumigation, so as to expose the hole of rodents

as a bandicoot to smoke, and so force them to run away

 

8) pukaikATTu-tal 1. to smoke, fumigate, as a cure;

2. to burn incense, as for expelling flies, exorcising devils;

3. to offer incense, as to a deity

 

9) pukaikaTTu-tal 1. to smoke or funmigate affected parts

of the body, as in tooth-ache; 2. to impart a gold or

silver colour by fumigation

 

Happy New Year to all Indologists,

N. Ganesan