History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c24.s1.38

v1.c24.s1.38

The earliest reference to iron ploughshare is taken to occur in the Atharvaveda (III.17.3) wherein lāṅgala is described as pavīravat (Macdonell and Keith, p.509). Sāyaṇa takes pavīra to be sharp-edged like vajra and explains it as the lance made of iron (ayomaya), fixed at the end of the plough, which tears the land. Pāṇini (IV.1.42) mentions the ploughshare (kuśī) as being filled in the potra (the central bent portion) and made of iron (ayovikāra). The Kokalika-sutta in the Suttanipāta refers to a phāla being heated and making sound when dipped into water.