India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c9.s1.24

c9.s1.24

(i) *Ploughing* (*karsha*). The ploughed land was called *halya* (IV.4.97). Ploughing is referred to by the new term *halayati*, 'he holds the plough' (III.¹.21).³ We learn from Patañjali that agricultural labour was employed for ploughing. It enabled the owner of the land to sit in a corner and supervise the ploughing done by five hired labourers (*ekānte tūshṇīm-āsīna uchyate pañchabhir-halaiḥ kṛishatīti, tatra bhavitvyaṁ pañchabhir-halaiḥ karshayatīti*, *Bhāshya*, II.33). The labourers received *bhakta* or food in lieu of wages. This food was supplied at the time required.