The Antiquities of Orissa v1.c10.501

v1.c10.501

The driver of the chariot, among all the six races, generally occupied the left side; but they never held the subordinate position which Jehu does in the present day. Looking to the manner in which Homer makes his heroes treat their charioteers and the familiarity which a driver is represented as taking with a son of the Great Rameses, Sir Gardener Wilkinson thinks “that we may conclude that the office in Egypt and Greece was filled by persons of consideration, who were worthy of the friendship they enjoyed.” In India, in the same way, the *sārathi* was always held in high respect, and even the great Kṛṣṇa did not think it unbecoming his dignity to become the charioteer Arjuna. Arjuna, on his part, acted in the same capacity for Uttara, son of Virāṭa: and Mātali, the *sārathi* of Indra, is represented as an adviser in many points to Rāma and Duṣyanta. Other charioteers seem to have enjoyed equal distinction. In fact, the warriors and the charioteers were either men of nearly equal rank, and both joined "in the labours and glory of the fight," or the office was awarded "as a mark of distinction and trust" for distinguished service. Hence it is that the art of chariot-driving was held as an important gentlemanly accomplishment, and the heroes of ancient days always prided themselves upon their proficiency in it.