History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c24.s3.t4.3

v1.c24.s3.t4.3

The Ṛgvedic references are not very explicit about the sowing method. One passage (ṚV. X.9.23) says “Harness the ploughs fit on the yokes, now that the womb of the earth is ready to sow the seeds therein”. Aiyer(p.16) interprets it as showing that seeds were “either sown in plough furrows or broadcast and then covered over by ploughing”. Another passage (ṚV X.101.3-4) has a similar import. “Attach the ‘sira’ (plural) spread apart the yokes, sow the seeds into the prepared womb”. These two passages will suggest that after an initial ploughing the seeds were sown with the help of a plough. J. Bloch also interprets sīram occurring in the passage as a plough used for sowing seed. This is evidence of sowing by a seed-drill plough.