Social Life in Ancient India: Studies in Vatsyayana's Kamasutra c6.75

c6.75

In this connection it may be noted that the word Kāpiśī in the main sūtra of Pāṇini which Katyayana supplements, refers no doubt to the country of Kapi-shih of Yuan chwang ² in the neighbourhood of Bāhlīka; it was famous for its vine-yards now as in ancient times as is shown by the example by which the Kāśikā-Vṛtti explains the rule ³ and we observe that the soldiers of Raghu also relieved themselves from their fatigue with the liquor of that country in the rich vine-yards. ⁴ The Kāśikā-Vṛtti further compares the favourite drink of the Bāhlīkas with those of other well-known Indian tribes and peoples: "The Uśīnaras drink milk (Kṣīra), while the favourite beverage of the Prācyas is Surā, that of the Bāhlīkas is Sauvīra, and that of the Gandhāras Kaṣaya"⁵