Studies in Ancient Hindu Polity (Based on the Arthashastra of Kautilya), Vol. I c6.20

c6.20

There was a register of cattle, kept by the superintendent. In it were noted the following varieties of cattle, viz.—male calves (वत्साः), steer (वत्सतराः), tamable draught oxen (दम्यावहिनो वृषाः), bulls for impregnating the herd (उक्षवः वृषाः), oxen for pulling carts drawn by pairs (युगवाहनास्तद्वहाः वृषाः), cattle of which the flesh was food (घ्नाः), buffaloes (महिषाः), draught buffaloes (पृष्ठभारवाहिनः महिषाः), female calves (वत्सिकाः), heifers (वत्सतरी), young cows (पड्वी), pregnant cows (गर्भिणी), milch cows (धेनु), cows and buffaloes that had not yet calved (अप्रजाताः) or were barren (वन्ध्याः), male and female calves only a month or two old or still younger (मासद्विमासजाताश्चाल्पजा वत्सा वत्सिकाश्च).² These, together with the cattle that strayed away and were not claimed for a month or two by the owner who lost them (मासद्विमास पय्युषिताः), were branded, and the superintendent registered each of them according to its class as mentioned above, and also according to the brand, natural signs, colour, and distance between the horns. This duty of the superintendent was termed व्रजपर्य्यग्रम्.¹