India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c8.s13.1

c8.s13.1

A draught-animal is referred to by the peculiar term *patra*, from root *pat*, to move (III.1.121; IV.3.122-123). An animal fit to be yoked is called *yugya* (III.1.127). In the *Tad-vahati* section (IV.4.76-81) Pāṇini classifies animals on the basis of their being yoked to different vehicles and their capacity to draw various loads, as (1) *rathya*, bulls to draw chariots (IV.4.76); (2) *śākaṭa*, bulls for carts (IV.4.80); (3) *hālika* and (4) *sairika*, bulls for ploughs (IV.4.81). These distinctive terms were used in connection with the care and quantity of rations prescribed for the animals of each class, as we find in Kauṭilya (*Arth.* II 29, p. 131).