Studies in Ancient Hindu Polity (Based on the Arthashastra of Kautilya), Vol. I c6.40

c6.40

The churners had generally to conform to certain fixed proportions in regard to the preparations of milk. Thus, it was fixed that 1 prastha, i.e. 1½ kancha, of ghee would be produced from 1 droṇa, i.e. 4½ chataks, of cow’s milk, one-fifth as much more from the same quantity of buffalo milk, and one-half as much more from the same quantity of milk of a goat or sheep. Where any variation of the above proportions occurred, as it must occur through a change in the quantity and quality of the food given to cattle, the exact quantity of ghee was ascertained by actual churning, and was fixed as the modified standard to which churners had to conform.¹