Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.s11.764

v1.c3.s11.764

The plough land was called Urvarā or Kṣetra; manure (Śakan, Karīṣa) was used, and irrigation was practised (Khanitra). The plough (Lāṅgala, Sīra) was drawn by oxen, teams of six, eight, or even twelve being employed.¹⁰ The operations of agriculture are neatly summed up in the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa¹¹ as ‘ploughing, sowing, reaping, and threshing’ (kṛṣantaḥ, vapantaḥ, lunantaḥ, mṛṇantaḥ). The ripe grain was cut with a sickle (Dātra, Sṛṇi), bound into bundles¹² (Parṣa), and beaten out on the floor of the granary (Khala).¹³ The grain was then separated from the straw and refuse either by a sieve (Titau) or a winnowing fan (Śūrpa).¹⁴ The winnower was called Dhānyākṛt,¹⁵ and the grain was measured in a vessel called Ūrdara.¹⁶