A History of Agriculture in India v1.c31.1

v1.c31.1

THE term animal husbandry is used here in a broader sense. Apart from cattle, buffaloes, sheep, and goats, it includes asses, horses, mules and elephants. Animal husbandry made great progress in the Mauryan age. As Sharma states, ‘With its emphasis on non-violence and the sanctity of animal life Buddhism boosted the cattle wealth of the country. The earliest Buddhist text Suttanipata declares the cattle to be givers of food, beauty and happiness (*annada, vannada, sukhada*), and thus pleads for their protection.’¹