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The importance of trees has forever been given priority right from the Vedic period, as such enormous writings are evident to prove the aspect. A brilliant quote made in Visnusmrti says that, "The person who plants a tree is rewarded with the incarnation of that tree as his son in the next birth. The planter of the tree pleases God by offering the flowers obtained from that tree, pleases the

231 guests by offering their fruits and pleases the passerby, travelers with the pleasant shade of that tree, protecting them from the scorching heat of the sun as well as from rainfall."181 vrksaropayiturvrksah paraloke putrah bhavanti/ vrksaprado vrksaprasunairhdevan prinayati phalaiscatithin chayaya/ cabhyagatan deve barsatyudakena pitrn// (Visnu Smrti,ch.XCI,) Sukranitisara has compared the management of a kingdom with that of the peripherals of a tree. According to his comparison kingdom is a tree whose root is the king; whose trunk is the minister; whose branches are like the senapati (Commander); whose leaves and flowers are compared with the people or community of the state; and whose seeds with the land area of the kingdom (bhubhaga), like this the king is considered same as that of a gardener (mali).' 182 rajyavrksasya nrpatirmulam skandhasca mantrinah/ sakhaha senadhipah senah pallavah kusumani ca/ prajah phalani bhubhaga bijam bhumih prakalpitah // 181. The Smrti Sandarbha, volume. I,ch.XCI, 182. Sukranitisara, Ch.V, v.11. (Sukranitisara, ch. V, v.11.)

232 The smrtikaras prescribes for the istapurta actions which include the creation of gardens, plantation of trees full of fruits and leaves. Thus Laghuyamasmrti says thatistena labhate svargam purtte moksam samasnute/ vittapeksam bhavedistam tadagam purttamucyeta// (68) aramasca visesena devadronyastathaiva ca// (69) vapim kupatadagani devata yatani ca/ patitanyuddharedyastu sa purtaphalamasnute// (70) (laghuyamasmrti, Vv.68-70.) The plantation of trees generates the same reward which one gets by the donation of land or cow. So the Likhitasmrti enjoins thatbhumidanena ye loka godanena ca kirttinah/ tamllokanprapnuyanmartya padapanam praropane// (likhitasmrti, v.3.) Therefore, in the light of the philosophical value taken from Sukranitisara, Surapala in his 1st ch. on glorification of trees (tarumahima) suggests the planting of at least one solitary tree in the wayside giving shade to the restless travelers and passerby. Further, he questions for the use of several trees grown in a forest that with the sons who do not serve the purpose of dharma or artha being wayward and capricious (Vrikshayurveda v.4). The author compares

233 the planting of five (5) trees to be better than ten (10) sons as the trees offer libation to the father planter through their leaves, flowers and fruits (Vrikshayurveda v.5). Likewise, the comparison of a single tree is made with that of 10 (ten) sons, the same way as one (1) son is equal to 10 (ten) lakes, one (1) lake equals to 10 (ten) ponds, and one (1) pond equals to 10 (ten) wells (Vrikshayurveda v.6). Therefore, being well aware of this truth everyone should know the importance of planting trees as they yield the means of dharma, artha, kama, and moksa (Vrikshayurveda v.8). The chapter on the water of carass (kunapa) in its opening verse convenes the philosophical sense wherein it expressively assigns the trees as taravaha (the saviors) who are the means of overcoming groveling poverty. Thus, trees alone on this earth spread happiness both in the present life and life after (Vrikshayurveda v.97). Therefore, as the trees through their shade, flowers, and fruits help greatly in pursuit of dharma, artha, and kama, they are to be carefully nurtured (Vrikshayurveda v.98).