War in Ancient India c7.s1.t1: Functions of the Charioteer
War in Ancient India c7.s1.t1
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Functions of the Charioteer
c7.s1.t1.1
His chief duty was to lead the war chariot and to shield his warrior. He was ordinarily to obey the warrior's behests. Sometimes the charioteer had his own way and acted against his Knight's wishes. When the hero commanded him to drive the chariot in a particular direction, carelessly and irrespective of the consequences the charioteer expostulated, but agreed only when compelled to take that line of action.²⁴
c7.s1.t1.2
²⁴ *Mhb. Droṇa* 35, 31-2; 36 (whole). Cp. *Karṇa* 27. Here we have the legend of Brahmā acting as charioteer to Rudra bent upon blowing the Tirpura, the Asura citadel.
c7.s1.t1.3
He was an expert who drove his horses with the whip and reins in his left hand. But when this hand was wounded, he still drove on, holding the goad and reins in his right. ‘His true art’, says Hopkins, ‘consisted in wheeling and turning, in bringing the car rapidly about, so as to attack the antagonist with such speed from all quarters that the chariot seemed to advance from all sides at once. The names of the circles are apparently technical... The effect of circling was produced by goading the steeds and hauling on the reins.’²⁵
c7.s1.t1.4
²⁵ *Op. cit.* p. 253.
Linked texts (1)
- Mahābhārata — Vyāsa, Sanskrit