War in Ancient India c7.s1.2

c7.s1.2

Chariots were used in warfare from very remote times. There are many references to chariots in the Samhitas and in the Brāhmaṇas. In the *Ṛg Veda* there is a hymn addressed to the war chariot:¹² ‘Lord of the wood, be firm and strong in body: be bearing as a brave victorious hero. Show forth thy strength, compact with straps of leather and let thy rider win all spoils of battle.’ We meet with a similar hymn in the *Atharva Veda*.¹³ ‘O forest tree! stout-limbed verily mayst thou become our companion, further, rich in heroics; thou art fastened together with kine; be thou stout: let him who mounts thee conquer things conquerable.' ' Forth from heaven, from earth (is its) force brought up: forth from forest trees (is its) power brought hither: to the force of the waters, brought forth hither by the kine, to Indra's thunderbolt, the chariot, do thou sacrifice with oblations.' ' Indra's forces, the Maruts' front, Mitra's embryo, Varuna's navel do thou, enjoying this oblation, giving of ours, O divine chariot, accept the oblations.'