Forest bounties Rig Veda 10.146

RV10.146 Bounties of Forests

ऋषि: ऐरम्मदो देवमुनि:-गृहस्थ से वानप्रस्थ और मितभाषी जीवन में आनंद लेने वाला।

Seer of this Vedic Hymn is  a person seeking relaxation away from noise of city life and is attracted to living in quiet natural surroundings of forests.  

 देवता:-अरण्यानी – जो अ‍ऋण रखता है देता है बिना लौटाने की इच्छा से. ।

 Sanskrit name of FOREST means one who does not give loan to be returned with or without interest but provides its bounties as GIFTS.  

1.अरण्यान्यरण्यान्यसौ या प्रेव नश्यसि ।
कथा ग्रामं न पृच्छसि न त्वा भीरिव विन्दती3ँ ।। 10.146.1

Forests as may  appear to be deserted  perishing , but they  do not deter your entry and do not ask any questions about your antecedents.

2. वृषारवाय वदते यदुपावति चिच्चिक: ।
आघाटिभिरिव धावयन्नरण्यानिर्महीयते ।। 10.146.2

Ambient (fauna ) make sounds in the forests such as singing crickets, birds etc. These sounds of the forest are very soothing and convey a calming peaceful message.

    3.उत गाव इवादन्त्युत वेश्मेव दृश्यते ।

    उतो अरण्यानि: सायं शकटीरिव सर्जति ।। 10.146.3

Cow and other animals find sustenance in the wild like in their homes, and when in the evening carts laden with forest produce emerge they return to their home, as if the gods in forests are sending them back to their homes with carts laden with bounties of the forests.( This is reference to the tradition forest management in India. A tract of forest afew kilometres deep on the periphery of the habitat was declared अभयराण्य- A forest land where there was no fear of carnivore. All men, with their cattle had free access to this forest for collcting there daily requirements and pasture feeding of the cows)

4. गामङ्गैष आ ह्वयति दार्वङ्गैषो अपावधीत् ।

वसन्नरण्यान्यां सायमक्रुक्षदिति मन्यते ।। 10.146.4

The gods of forest as if give directions to the cows from not going astray, and allow men to cut down on some trees. (This has been a traditional Indian practise with our forests. It is now accepted  that lower  branches of trees should be regularly lopped off. This provides leaf fodder for cows, and fire wood for rural women. But there is

 a great advantage hidden in the practice of pruning forest trees. This allows sun light to reach the ground level to facilitate undergrowth in forests. This undergrowth not only stabilizes the forest soil. This prevents soil erosion that results in Landslides and Floods. Green Undergrowth ground cover also gives rise to Pseudomonas Syringe bacteria that ensure regular rains in forests.) Those who chose to make their dwellings in forest become accustomed to hear fearful noises in the darkness of the nights.

5. न वा अरण्यानिर्हन्त्यन्यश्चेन्नाभिगच्छति ।

स्वादो: फलस्य जग्ध्वाय यथाकामं नि पद्यते ।। 10.146.5

Forests cause no harm to anyone who goes there to partake of the sweet fruits and bounties of nature, and not to exploit the forest wealth for his greed.

6.आञ्जनगन्धिं सुरभिं बहु अन्नामकृषीवलाम् ।

 प्राहं मृगाणां मातरमरण्यानिमशंसिषम् ।। 10.146.6

Give recognition to role of Forests, in which  like a mother unselfishly uncultivated without human efforts provide sweet smelling scents  like those of musk deer and  sustenance to nurture cows to feed freely to enable excellent nutritive agriculture.