India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c9.s1.t1.97

c9.s1.t1.97

ĀŚVĪNA—(V.2.19). Pāṇini mentions it as the distance travelled by a horse in one day (*aśvasy-aikāhagamaḥ*). The *āśvīna* distance is mentioned in the *Atharvaveda* (VI.131.3) and the *Aitareya* and *Tāṇḍya Brāhmaṇas* (*Vedic Index*, I.70; cf. also Caland's note in the *Pañchaviṁśa Br.*, XXV.10.16). The exact distance is not stated, but seems to have exceeded five *yojanas* (25 miles), since the *Atharva* mentions it as coming after five *yojanas*. Kauṭilya states that horses of the first, second and third class drawing a chariot (*rathya*) travelled 6, 9 and 12 *yojanas* in one day (a *yojana*=about 5 miles), cavalry horses 5, 8 and 10 *yojanas* respectively (*Arth.* II.30). Patañjali mentions an average horse going four *yojanas* and a horse of higher mettle eight *yojanas* in one day (*Bhāshya*, V.3.55; II.413). Thus the *āśvīna* distance travelled by a horse in one day ranged from twenty-five to sixty miles according to the class of horse and the nature of work. As against Pāṇini's *āśvīna* (*aśva khañ*), the form in the *Atharvaveda* is *āśvina*, derived from *aśvin*, a horseman. Patañjali describes *śoṇa*, *hema* and *karka* (red, black and white) as colours of horses (I.251).