History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c32.s1.9

v1.c32.s1.9

In the classical age and later, due recognition was given to irrigation, both natural and artificial. The *Amarakośa* (6th cent. A.D.) distinguishes between provinces watered by the rains (*deva mātṛka*) and those irrigated by the rivers (*nadī-mātṛka*). The *Nītisāra* of Kāmandaka (Maity, 1957, p. 83) advocates the importance of irrigation by human effort. Considering the importance attached to irrigation the Gupta State evinced keen interest in the construction and restoration of irrigation work. Reference has been made to the Sudarsana lake. When the lake burst again as a result of heavy monsoon, Cakrapalita, who was the governor during the reign of Skandagupta, reconstructed it after two months' effort incurring huge amount of money.