History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v3.c33.s3.18

v3.c33.s3.18

But when we find that Mahmud himself rode an elephant when he fought with Ilekkhan near Balkh, we cannot suppose that Ānandapāla committed a blunder in riding an elephant, though we may hold that Vishvasrao's riding an elephant and exposing himself to bullets was a serious blunder at Panipat. There were no guns in the days of Ānandapāla and the only missiles that could be thrown against him were arrows and naptha-balls against which his armour and that of the elephant were a sufficient protection.