History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c24.s1.13

v1.c24.s1.13

There is ample literary evidence to indicate that ploughing had become the most important operation in tilling. The Cullavagga (VII.1.2) mentions ploughing as the first farming operation. Pāṇini (III.1.21) refers to the verb halayati meaning ‘uses the plough’. This is further indicated by the term lāṅalagrāha (one holding the plough) used by Patañjali (on Pāṇini III. 2.9) as referring to a cultivator (Bṛh.S. IV.9 - lāṅalajīvin).