India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c8.s12.7

c8.s12.7

*CHARIOT-UPHOLSTERY*—After fabrication, the chariots were upholstered (*Parivṛito rathaḥ*, IV.2.10) of which the *Kāśikā* mentions three varieties, *viz. vāstra*, *kāmbala* and *chārmaṇa*, i.e. mounted with cloth, blanket and leather. Chariots covered with a special woollen stuff known as *pāṇḍu-kambala*¹ were called *pāṇḍu-kambalī* (IV.2.11). According to the *Vessantara Jātaka*, *pāṇḍu-kambala* was a kind of red-coloured blanket imported from Gandhāra (*Vessantara Jātaka*, VI.500, *Indagopaka-vaṇṇābhā Gandhārā paṇḍu-kambalā*), which, as the commentary adds, were of red colour and used for the army (*Jāt. Commentary*, Vol. VI. p. 501, *Gandhāra-raṭṭhe uppannā satasahassagghanikā senāya pāruta ratta-kambalā*).