Consider the following statements about the Rigvedic period:
I. Irrigation from wells allowed agriculture to expand away from flood plains and strips on river margins into the present Punjab and Haryana plains having underground water levels reasonably close to the surface.
II. Draught-animal power was employed to draw up water out of the wells.
Which of the following information support/supports the above statements ?
1. There is evidence in the Rigveda of the use of ashma chakra (stone pulley wheel) and ahava (strapped wooden pails) to draw up water.
2. Mention has been made in the Rigveda of the use of implements like parashu/ kulisha (axe) and datra /sreni (sickle).
3. There is a history of the use of ox, even before the Rigveda, for ploughing the land and pulling the carts.
Select the answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer

(c) 1 and 3 only

Explanation of the Correct Answer

The given statements are about well irrigation and use of draught-animal power during the Rigvedic period.

The supporting information should directly prove:

1. Drawing water from wells
2. Use of animal power for agricultural or water-lifting purposes

Statement 1 is correct

• The Rigveda contains references to devices such as:
  • Ashma chakra: stone pulley wheel
  • Ahava: strapped wooden pails or buckets
• These suggest that water was drawn from wells using some form of mechanical arrangement.
• This supports the idea that well irrigation was known and helped agriculture extend beyond river margins.

Statement 2 is not directly relevant

• Implements such as:
  • Parashu / Kulisha: axe
  • Datra / Sreni: sickle
• These indicate knowledge of tools used for clearing vegetation or harvesting.
• However, they do not directly prove well irrigation or the use of draught-animal power to lift water.

Statement 3 is correct

• The use of oxen for ploughing and pulling carts was known even before the Rigvedic period.
• This supports the possibility of using draught-animal power for agricultural operations, including drawing water.
• It strengthens the inference that animals could have been used for lifting water from wells.

Therefore, statements 1 and 3 support the given claims.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect

Relevant Supplementary Information

Rigvedic Agricultural References

Which Evidence Supports Which Inference?

Rigvedic Economy: Important Features

Key Takeaways from the Tables

• Ashma chakra and ahava are the most direct evidence for drawing water from wells.
• Oxen support the idea of draught-animal power in agriculture.
• Axes and sickles prove agricultural activity but do not specifically prove irrigation or water-lifting.
• Rigvedic society was mainly pastoral, but agriculture and irrigation were not absent.
• The question asks which information supports the specific statements, not which information merely relates to agriculture.

Context and Current Relevance

• Rigvedic economy is often described as predominantly pastoral, but evidence of agriculture, wells, and implements shows a more mixed economy.
• References to water-lifting devices indicate early technological adaptation for cultivation.
• Such questions require careful distinction between general agricultural evidence and specific evidence for irrigation or animal-powered water lifting.

Table: Rigvedic Agricultural and Irrigation Terms

Table: Rigvedic Economy at a Glance

Table: Rigvedic vs Later Vedic Economy

Table: Common Rigvedic Terms Relevant to Economy and Society