India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c8.s6.t1.4

c8.s6.t1.4

(2) *Yavāgū* (IV.2.136). Barley gruel was a papular food like *odana*, as can be gathered from its repeated mention in the illustrations to *sūtras*. The *Jātakas* mention *yāgu* as a popular food. Patañjali considered *yavāgū* to be a liquid diet (*Bhāshya* on VII.3.69). Pāṇini specially mentions the *yavāgū* eaten in the Sālva country (*Sālvika Yavāgū*) which like the breed of Sālva bulls enjoyed wide reputation (IV.2.136, *Go-yavāgvoś-cha*). The ancient Sālva *janapada* consisting of a confederacy of six member states most probably coincided with the vast territory stretching from Alwar to Bikaner in Rajasthan. People in these parts are still quite fond of eating gruel, which is of two kinds, *viz.* (1) thin *lapsī*, that is sweet in taste and eaten by the rich, and (2) thick *rābarī* that is saltish and prepared by the poor. Pāṇini also mentions *ushṇikā* in *sūtra* V.2.71 as a *saṁjñā* word, which according to the *Kāśikā* was the name of a *yavāgū* of very thin consistency (*alpānnā yavāgūr-ushṇik-ety uchyate*). In *sūtra* II.2.34 Pāṇini describes *nakhaṁ-pachā*, 'nail scotching.' The *Kāśikā* connects *nakhaṃpachā* with *yavāgū*. We know from other sources that *yavāgū* was of two kinds, *peyā* and *vilepī*. The *peyā* or thin variety was drunk like *saktu* dissolved in water, while *vilepī* or paste-like *yavāgū* was licked with fingers of the hand. The *ushṇikā* in *sūtra* V.2.71 must be the *peyā* variety, whereas the *nakhaṃ-pachā yavāgū* was called *vilepī* which scotched the finger ends when licked hot.