Geographical and Economic Studies in the Mahabharata: Upayana Parva c6.208

c6.208

The second item on their list of presents consisted of fabrics manufactured in Vāhlika and Cīna (*vāhlīcīnasamudbhavam*) (M.B., II, 47, 22), which were of appropriate measurements, of good colours, and pleasant to touch (*pramāṇarāgasparśādhyam*). The fabrics made of wool (*aurṇam*), of the *raṅku* goat's hair (*rāṅkavam*) of silk (*kīṭajam*) and of fibre (*paṭṭajam*), all made their appearance in the presents. Here the adjective *rāṅkava* needs some explanation. The word *raṅku* is usually explained in the dictionaries as 'a deer' (*rāṅkavam mṛgaromajam*, *Amarakośa*, II, 6, 111). But the *raṅku* explained as a deer is not correct as no fine cloth was ever woven out of deer's wool. It should be identified with the Rang goat which flourishes in the steppes of the high Pamir plateau. It affords a very fine shawl-wool.¹⁸⁹