How much distance a horse was expected to travel in a day

[Ashok Aklujkar]

I have asked this question on another list but have so far not received a response. It is also a question in which someone's chance recollection of having come across a relevant passage in a text might help. That is why I am reposting the query here a slightly longer version.

The larger Sanskrit-English dictionaries give aa;sviina as a measurement of distance: 'distance traveled by a horse, that is, by a horse-rider, in one day.' Saaya.na in his commentary of Pa;nca-vi.m;sa-braahma.na clarifies that a twenty-four hour day, ahoraatra, is meant in this context. Has anyone come across a statement expressing ancient understanding, especially ancient Indian understanding, of how much distance (kro;sa, yojana?) a horse/mare being normally ridden covered, assuming that the horse/mare did not stop?

(In actual practice, a horse/mare could have been changed at certain stops, but this possibility is obviously to be ignored in associating a distance with aa;sviina.)

Perhaps texts on horse science (ascribed to Nakula et al), which are not available to me locally, will help.

aa;sviina must be a measurement word like hasta or dhanus, where an ordinary language word is associated with a particular number and position in a system/scale of measurement.

ashok aklujkar

[Dr. Yadu Moharir]

Dr Aklujkar:

Namaskar

Aitereya brahmaNa (2.17)

While talking about the distance of "svarga" (as a location) does talk about the distance traveled by a "swift horse" in 1000 days.

Regards,

Yadunath

---

From: Ashok Aklujkar <ashok.a...@ubc.ca>
To: bvparishat <bvpar...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, September 29, 2011 8:18 AM
Subject: {भारतीयविद्वत्परिषत्} How much distance a horse was expected to travel in a day

--
अथ चेत्त्वमिमं धर्म्यं संग्रामं न करिष्यसि।
ततः स्वधर्मं कीर्तिं च हित्वा पापमवाप्स्यसि।।
तस्मादुत्तिष्ठ कौन्तेय युद्धाय कृतनिश्चयः।
निराशीर्निर्ममो भूत्वा युध्यस्व विगतज्वरः।। (भ.गी.)

[rniyengar]

Dear Professor Aklujkar,
MBh Udyoga Parvan has a statement about speed of 'khara'. This appears
when Dhritarastra tells Krishna that he (Dhr.) could have sent his
best 'khara-ratha' which could cover 14 (?) yojanas per day. I am
travelling and writing from memory. The above figure may need
correction. Once I am back in Bangalore, I will be able to post the
exact verse.

regards

RN Iyengar

On Sep 29, 8:31 pm, "Dr. Yadu Moharir" <ymoha...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Dr Aklujkar:
>
> Namaskar
>
> Aitereya brahmaNa (2.17)
>
> While talking about the distance of "svarga" (as a location) does talk about the distance traveled by a "swift horse" in 1000 days.
>
> Regards,
>
> Yadunath
>
> ________________________________

> From: Ashok Aklujkar <ashok.akluj...@ubc.ca>

[narayanan er]

Respected Sir,

I doubt whether the term khara is for horse or not, but it is for donkey in the Amarakosha, as it says: gardhaba. But at the same time, ashvatara, another meaning (source not known), having ashva with a tarap suffix to have a meaning of "an excellent horse" too. atishayena ashvah asvatarah-dvirvacanavibhajyopapade tarabiyusnau. The Manusmriti too speaks about a khara-cart and an ushtra-cart.

उष्ट्रयानं समारुह्य खरयानं तु कामतः।

स्नात्वा तु विप्रो दिग्वासाः प्राणायामेन शुध्यति।। (मनुस्मृतिः११.२०१)

Ushtra is for camel, but it is not clear that the kharayanam is for an ass-cart or for a horse-cart. Donkeys too pull carts and as hard as they can till they get exhausted. Now another question is how many miles make a yojana? Some say 8 miles, 4 miles and 5 miles etc. There is dicussion on yojana:

http://www.sizes.com/units/yojana.htm

In India, at least as early as 4th century bce – 20^th century, a unit of itinerant distance.

The Arthaśāstra¹ (4th century bce) says that 1 yojana = 4 gorutas; 1 goruta = 1000 dhanus; 1 dhanu = 96 angulas. Taking the angula as ¾ inch makes the yojana about 4.54 statute miles. During the colonial period the British administration set the yojana at 5 miles; however, this seems to be smaller than its usual value. The ancient commentator on the Arthaśāstra says the goruta is 2000 dhanus, which would make the yojana about 9 miles.

Regards,

Narayanan

---

From: rniyengar <narayana...@gmail.com>
To: भारतीयविद्वत्परिषत् <bvpar...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Friday, 30 September 2011 9:31 AM
Subject: Re: {भारतीयविद्वत्परिषत्} How much distance a horse was expected to travel in a day

[rniyengar]

S'riiman!

The discussion is becoming more interesting. First about the query of
Dr.Aklujkar.

My previous post stands corrected with the exact text below.
Dhritarastra is talking to Vidura and not Krishna. He is mentioning
what all gifts he will give Krishna. It is not khara-ratha but with
ashvatari. The speed of 14 yojana per day is not changing. The text is
the BORI edition as transliterated by the Japanese.


0050840031/.sphiitasya.vRSNi.vamzasya.bhartaa.goptaa.ca.maadhavah./
0050840033/.trayaaNaam.api.lokaanaam.bhagavaan.prapitaamahah.//
0050840041/.vRSNy.andhakaah.sumanaso.yasya.prajnaam.upaasate./
0050840043/.aadityaa.vasavo.rudraa.yathaa.buddhim.bRhaspateh.//
0050840051/.tasmai.puujaam.prayokSyaami.daazaarhaaya.mahaatmane./
0050840053/.pratyakSam.tava.dharmajna.tan.me.kathayatah.zRNu.//
0050840061/.eka.varNaih.sukRSNa.angair.baahli.jaatair.haya.uttamaih./
0050840063/.catur.yuktan.rathaams.tasmai.raukmaan.daasyaami.SoDaza.//
0050840071/.nitya.prabhinnaan.maatangaan.iiSaa.dantaan.prahaariNah./
0050840073/.aSTa.anucaram.eka.ekam.aSTau.daasyaami.kezave.//
0050840081/.daasiinaam.aprajaataanaam.zubhaanaam.rukma.varcasaam./
0050840083/.zatam.asmai.pradaasyaami.daasaanaam.api.taavatah.//
0050840091/.aavikam.bhahu.su.sparzam.paarvatiiyair.upaahRtam
0050840093/.tad.apy.asmai.pradaasyaami.sahasraaNi.daza.aSTa.ca.//
0050840101/.ajinaanaam.sahasraaNi.ciina.deza.udbhavaani.ca./
0050840103/.taany.apy.asmai.pradaasyaami.yaavad.arhati.kezavah.//10
0050840111/.divaa.raatrau.ca.bhaaty.eSa.su.tejaa.vimalo.maNih./
0050840113/.tam.apy.asmai.pradaasyaami.tam.apy.arhati.kezavah.//
0050840121/.ekena.api.pataty.ahnaa.yojanaani.caturdaza./
0050840123/.yaanam.azvatarii.yuktam.daasye.tasmai.tad.apy.aham.//

The last verse mentions that the 'mule-cart' would travel 14 yojana
per day. In verse 6 above Dhr. mentions horses born in Bahlika. We
have to conclude that he had both. About how much is a yojana, there
are different interpretations as already posted by Dr.Narayanan.
However I like the value given by Stein in his translation of the
Rajatarangini because he actually measured the distance between
Srinagar and other places (e.g. Varaahamuula the present day
Baramulla!) and concluded 1 yojana=6 miles= 9.6 km. Thus 14 Y is about
135 kms (distance between Bangalore and Mysore). A horse rider may
travel faster but a cart will slow down.

Ashvatara grammatically may mean 'better than ashva' but somehow this
word seems to be referring to a cross between a horse and an ass.
Others may throw more light on this point.

Discussion about what the above means to geography of MBh (Ref:
Dr.Joshi's stand alone post, which I find it difficult to respond)is
another matter. Since MB as per tradition is a three layered text
(Five as per Kosambi and Yardi)we have to agree upon to which layer a
verse or chapter belongs. For example 84.10 above mentions China. If
Hastinapura is taken to be the place with the same name in present day
UP, mule carts and knowledge of China is nothing surprising. Even now
in Rishikesh mules are quite common and more so in the interior of the
Himalayas.

Research students looking for Ph.D topics would surely find
interesting topics in MBh if they are willing to cross the self
imagined boundaries of Sanskrit departments of our Universities.
Dhanyo'smi

RN Iyengar

On Sep 30, 10:20 am, narayanan er <drernaraya...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Respected Sir,
> I doubt whether the term khara is for horse or not, but it is for donkey in the Amarakosha, as it says: gardhaba. But at the same time, ashvatara, another meaning (source not known), having ashva with a tarap suffix to have a meaning of "an excellent horse" too. atishayena ashvah asvatarah-dvirvacanavibhajyopapade tarabiyusnau. The Manusmriti too speaks about a khara-cart and an ushtra-cart.
>
> उष्ट्रयानं
> समारुह्य खरयानं तु कामतः।
>
> स्नात्वा
> तु विप्रो दिग्वासाः प्राणायामेन
> शुध्यति।। (मनुस्मृतिः११.२०१)
> Ushtra is for camel, but it is not clear that the kharayanam is for an ass-cart or for a horse-cart. Donkeys too pull carts and as hard as they can till they get exhausted. Now another question is how many miles make a yojana? Some say 8 miles, 4 miles and 5 miles etc. There is dicussion on yojana:http://www.sizes.com/units/yojana.htm
> In India, at least as early as 4th century bce – 20th century, a unit of
> itinerant distance.
> The Arthaśāstra1 (4th century bce)      
> says that 1 yojana = 4 gorutas;      
> 1 goruta = 1000 dhanus; 1 dhanu = 96 angulas. Taking      
> the angula as ¾ inch makes the yojana about 4.54 statute miles.      
> During the colonial period the British administration set the yojana at 5      
> miles; however, this seems to be smaller than its usual value. The ancient      
> commentator on the Arthaśāstra says the goruta is 2000 dhanus, which would make the yojana about 9 miles.
>
> Regards,
>
> Narayanan
>
>
>
> >________________________________

> >From: rniyengar <narayana.iyen...@gmail.com>

> >निराशीर्निर्ममो भूत्वा युध्यस्व विगतज्वरः।। (भ.गी.)- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[Dr. Yadu Moharir]

Namaste Prof Iyengar:

Indeed this could be an interesting challenge for a Ph.D Student.

Here one needs to consider the region or place where theses mule carts or horses were used?

In order to bring the distance in perspective; does the text mentions or clarify terrain, such as, desert plain, with fine sand or pebbles & rocks,  or was it mountainous region or a well traveled forest path?

Dr. Joshi's question is also interesting because mules are supposed to be more useful in mountain region. An excellent example can be the traditional use of mules for going down to the bottom on Grand Canyon. Horses rarely venture these trails.  The reason is that eyes of mules are more towards the sides as compared to the horse. This provides them (mules) a better judgment on hilly trails.

So use of mules could be providing some clues about the topography of the region.

Best regards,

Dr. Yadu

---

From: rniyengar <narayana...@gmail.com>

To: भारतीयविद्वत्परिषत् <bvpar...@googlegroups.com>

Sent: Saturday, October 1, 2011 6:59 PM

Subject: Re: {भारतीयविद्वत्परिषत्} How much distance a horse was expected to travel in a day

My previous post stands corrected with the exact text below.
Dhritarastra is talking to Vidura and not Krishna. He is mentioning
what all gifts he will give Krishna. It is not khara-ratha but with
ashvatari. The speed of 14 yojana per day is not changing. The text is
the BORI edition as transliterated by the Japanese.

[hnbhat B.R.]

I am not sure what these following replies describing measurement of the distance traveled by asses or mules for the question about the distance covered  by a horse/mare which is specific on the word आश्वीन which is described by Panini in a certain rule: अश्वस्यैकाहगमः 5-2-19 

 http://www.avg-sanskrit.org/avgupload/sutras/5-2-19.html

 त्रिष्वाश्वीनं यदश्वेन दिनेनैकेन गम्यते ( २. ८. ४८)

Dear sirs, those who replied the question. The question is not how many miles a "yojana" is, but how long the horse could travel per day. Prof. Iyengar has hit the question, as 14 yojana-s and only this has to be supplied with sources of information by him. Hope we could find it from him soon.

--
Dr. Hari Narayana Bhat B.R. M.A., Ph.D.,
Research Scholar,

Ecole française d'Extrême-OrientCentre de Pondichéry

16 & 19, Rue Dumas

Pondichéry - 605 001

[hnbhat B.R.]

Ashvatara grammatically may mean 'better than ashva' but somehow this
word seems to be referring to a cross between a horse and an ass.
Others may throw more light on this point.

I don't think it is the case. According to Panini, the reverse is the case:

5-3-90 कासूगोणीभ्यां ष्टरच् ।

5-3-91 वत्सोक्षाश्वर्षभेभ्यश्च तनुत्वे ।  

This is the explanation given in काशिका for the word -

अश्वतरः। अश्वेन अश्वायाम् उत्पन्नो ऽ श्वः , तस्य तनुत्वम् अन्यपितृकता।  

It is not the comparative suffix तरप् which is used only for the comparison of qualities endowed by the two nouns qualified by the adjective, but a different one as explained above and the suffix is used to show the inferiority of its genre.  The difference between अश्व and अश्वतर is finely brought out as applicable to the suffix related to its derivation .

Hope this settles the matter. Now the remaining thing is to see how long the distance is conveyed by the word आश्वीन means as derived by Panini "अश्वस्यैकाहगमः" (=the suffix खञ् added to the word अश्व to denote the distance covered by a day (by it)). It is supposed by R Iyerngar as 14 Yojana-s. (whatever be the interpretation in modern measurement of distance). Prof. Aklujkar's question was specific on this point:

The larger Sanskrit-English dictionaries give aa;sviina as a measurement of distance: 'distance traveled by a horse, that is, by a horse-rider, in one day.' Saaya.na in his commentary of Pa;nca-vi.m;sa-braahma.na clarifies that a twenty-four hour day, ahoraatra, is meant in this context. Has anyone come across a statement expressing ancient understanding, especially ancient Indian understanding, of how much distance (kro;sa, yojana?) a horse/mare being normally ridden covered, assuming that the horse/mare did not stop?

 

The commentators on this rule are silent on the question, probably they might not have considered it as relevant or important. Mahabhashya has to be checked. In any case, it seems to be used as adjective qualifying  the path or road covered by the horse as interpreted by Amara as वर्त्म than any specific distance like "goruta"m "hasta"  etc. This may be the reason why commentators are silent on the specific distance denoted by it. 

Anyhow, it needs to be supported by such an interpretation denoting any specific  distance. 

-- 

[rniyengar]

> Hope this settles the matter. Now the remaining thing is to see how long the
> distance is conveyed by the word आश्वीन means as derived by Panini
> "अश्वस्यैकाहगमः" (=the suffix खञ् added to the word अश्व to denote the
> distance covered by a day (by it)). It is supposed by R Iyerngar as 14
> Yojana-s. (whatever be the interpretation in modern measurement of
> distance). Prof. Aklujkar's question was specific on this point:

Dear Dr.Bhat,
I did not write that the distance covered by a horse is 14 yojanas,
nor I have supposed it to be so. I only informed interested members
that MBh has a verse which may have a bearing on the question raised.

RN Iyengar

[hnbhat B.R.]

2011/10/2 rniyengar <narayana...@gmail.com>

RN Iyengar

--
अथ चेत्त्वमिमं धर्म्यं संग्रामं न करिष्यसि।
ततः स्वधर्मं कीर्तिं च हित्वा पापमवाप्स्यसि।।
तस्मादुत्तिष्ठ कौन्तेय युद्धाय कृतनिश्चयः।
निराशीर्निर्ममो भूत्वा युध्यस्व विगतज्वरः।। (भ.गी.)

I am sorry. I just mentioned your above reference as proposed by you if I am not mistaken.  The mention of 14 yojana-s in your quotation from MBh is clear reference to the mule-cart driven अश्वतरी. while the question raised is the path or distance denoted by आश्वीन (the way/distance that can be covered in a day  by a horse - cart strictly not included in the rule of Panini). Now the difference between अश्व  and अश्वतर has already been explained in my post. Now the the difference ignored, or maintained. If the same is applied to अश्व it would be more or less the same, making a few yojana-s difference if any. This is left to just assessment of the usage of the word आश्वीन whether it maintains the difference or ignores the difference. It may be approximately 14 yojana-s as per the above quotation. The word is used as adjective and probably as a measurement (according to different interpretations of the सूत्र and lexicons). Prof. Aklujkar is there to decide upon the issue. 

Thanks for your providing the source. This may be helpful in solving the issue to some extent. Prof. Aklujkar was looking for this or similar statement in respect of अश्व.  अश्वतर hybrid of horse is inferior toअश्व the pure genie of horse. That is why it is called अश्वतर. Whether it makes difference between mare or horse and how much it differ from the अश्वतरी is a different question to arrive at the precise conclusion about the distance denoted by the word आश्वीन.

[navaratna rajaramnavaratna]

 

    From personal experience I would say between 40 and 50 miles a day for an experienced horseman is quite adequate. Note that riding is physically demanding activity and the rider also tires.

N.S. Rajaram

[navaratna rajaramnavaratna]

 

    Yojana was not standardized and varied depending on place and time. I find 135 km in a day to be excessive. This would require several changes of both horses and riders in a relay. A single horse with a single rider (who also tires) would not be able to do it.

 

    There is a reference in the Shalya Parva to Balarama returning from pilgrimage to Sarasvati tirthas just as Bhima was to fight Duryodhana. It is quite detailed as to places he visited. That gives a much more modest estimate.

 

N.S. Rajaram

2011/10/1 rniyengar <narayana...@gmail.com>