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Studies in Ancient Hindu Polity (Based on the Arthashastra of Kautilya), Vol. I c7.s3.t1: Registration and classification

Studies in Ancient Hindu Polity (Based on the Arthaśāstra of Kauṭilya), Vol. I c7.s3.t1

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Registration and classification

c7.s3.t1.1

Horses were registered not only according to their natural qualities, but also in several artificial but convenient ways. Thus, horses were regarded as belonging to the three classes or types of तीक्ष्ण (fiery), भद्र (gentle) and मन्द (sluggish).¹ They were also classified according to the places of their origin. Among these have been mentioned the following places, some of which have been identified:—

c7.s3.t1.2

¹ तेषां तीक्ष्णममन्दत्वेन साक्षात्मीपवाचकं वा कथं प्रयो-जयेत् ।—Bk. II, यथाधः, p. 188.

c7.s3.t1.3

(1) काम्बोज (Kâmbhôja), (2) सिन्धु (Sindhu), (3) आरट्ट (Âraṭṭa), (4) बनायु (Banâyu), (5) बाह्लीक (Bâlhîka), (6) सौवीर (Sauvîra), (7) पापेय (Pâpeya), (8) तैतल (Taitala).²

c7.s3.t1.4

² प्रयोगमात्रासुतमाः काम्बोजकसैन्धवारट्टबनायुजाः । मध्यमा बाह्लीक-पापेयक-सौवीरक-तैतलाः । एषाः प्रत्यवराः ।—Ibid.

c7.s3.t1.5

Identifications:—
(1) काम्बोज — Afghanistan: Kaofu (Kambu) of Hiuen Tsiang. (N. L. Dey's Geographical Dictionary.)
(2) सिन्धु — Sindh.
(3) आरट्ट — Punjab, land of the Arâshtrakas, i.e. the kingless. (Cunningham's Geography of Ancient India, p. 215.)
(4) बनायु — Arabia. (वाचस्पत्यम् of T. N. Tarkavachaspati.)
(5) बाह्लीक — Balkh in Central Asia. (Monier Williams.)
(6) सौवीर — or Sophir of the Bible; according to Cunningham, the same as the modern Eder in Guzerat. (Geogr. of Anc. Ind., p. 497.)

c7.s3.t1.6

It is interesting to note that almost all the places mentioned above appear in the following sloka of the Râmâyaṇa:—

c7.s3.t1.7

काम्बोजविषये जातेर्बाह्लीकेषु तथोत्तमैः ।
बनायुजेष्वदीजेषु पूर्वं हरि हयोत्तमेः ।

c7.s3.t1.8

—Bâlakâṇḍa, Sarga 6, sloka 22.

c7.s3.t1.9

नदीजा: in the sloka = सिन्धुनदी समीपोद्भवा: । (Râmânuja.)

c7.s3.t1.10

Of these places the first four were held to supply the best breed of horses, and the remaining four, horses of the second quality. Horses of inferior quality came from other places. Thirdly, there was another method used to classify horses, viz. by the way in which horses were procured. According to this method, horses could be of the following descriptions :—

c7.s3.t1.11

(1) पण्यमारिकं (brought to the sale-house for sale); (2) क्रयोपगतम् (recently purchased); (3) आहवलब्धम् (captured in war); (4) आजातम (of local breed); (5) साहाय्यकागतम् (sent for help as loan); (6) वनस्त्रातं (wild and fresh from forest); (7) यावतकालिकं (kept in the stable only for a while).¹

c7.s3.t1.12

¹ अथाश्वः पण्यमारिकं क्रयोपगतमाहवलब्धमाजातं साहाय्य-कागतं वनस्त्रातं यावतकालिकं वाऽप्यप्यं कुतश्चयोपवर्षिष्ठ-वर्गामसेर्लभेयेत् ।—(अथाश्वः) ।

c7.s3.t1.13

*A method of testing horses.*

c7.s3.t1.14

The mettle of a horse was inferred from certain measurements of parts of its body as explained below :—

c7.s3.t1.15

The face (मुख) of the best horse measures 32 angulas.

c7.s3.t1.16

Its length (आयाम), five times its face = 160 angulas. Its shank (जङ्घा), 20 angulas. Its height (उत्तसेध), four times its shank = 80 angulas.

c7.s3.t1.17

A defect of 3 angulas must be allowed in the above measurements in respect of horses of the second quality, and of 6 angulas in respect of inferior qualities.

c7.s3.t1.18

The girth (परिणाह) of the best horse is 100 angulas; of horses of second quality, 95 angulas; of horses of lowest quality, 90 angulas.¹

c7.s3.t1.19

¹ द्वात्रिंशदङ्गुलं मुखमुत्तमाश्वस्य, पञ्चमुखाभ्यायामः, विंशत्यङ्गुल जङ्घा, चतुर्जङ्ग उत्सेधः, त्र्यङ्गावरं मध्यमावरयोः, शताङ्गुलः परिणाहः, पञ्चमात्रावरं मध्यमावरयोः।—*Ibid.*

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