Studies in Ancient Hindu Polity (Based on the Arthashastra of Kautilya), Vol. I c6.38

c6.38

the cattle once or twice a day according to the seasons. Thus, in the rainy and autumnal seasons and in the first part of winter (हेमन्त), they had to milk both in the morning and in the evening, while in the other seasons, only once in the day; and if anyone violated this rule and milked a second time, he was visited with the cruel penalty of having his thumb cut off. They had to milk at stated hours and make good any loss caused by neglect of this rule.¹