India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c8.s12.10

c8.s12.10

The *Mahājanaka Jātaka* refers in a song to artistically decorated *dīpa* and *veyaggha* chariots (*Jāt.* VI, pp. 48-50). It appears that chariots so upholstered were intended for royalty. Rāma mounts the *vaiyāghra* chariot on the eve of his proposed consecration as heir-apparent (*Rāmāyaṇa*, II.16.28). Among the presents brought to Yudhishṭhira by kings of the Prāchya country were included *vaiyāghra* chariots each valued at 1000 *kārshāpaṇas* (Sabhāparva, 51.33, *vaiyāghra-parivārita-ratha*, and 61.4, *sahasra-samita vaiyāghra-rāja ratha*). The scabbard of Bhīmasena is spoken of as *vaiyāghra kośa* (*Mahābhārata*, Virāṭa-parva, 38.30, 55, Poona edition).