Geographical and Economic Studies in the Mahabharata: Upayana Parva c6.156

c6.156

Bhagadatta’s other presents were made of swords with the handles made of pure ivory (śuddhadantatsarūnasin) (M.B., II, 47, 14). Sword handles (tsaravaḥ) made of the horns of rhinoceros, buffalos, the elephant tusks and bamboo roots or wood were common in Kauṭilya’s time (Arthaśāstra, p. 111). Prāgjyotiṣa could well afford to present as many ivory handles as it liked as the kingdom was the home of elephants in ancient times as to-day.