War in Ancient India c7.s1.t4.37

c7.s1.t4.37

According to *Śiva-Vyāsa Dhanurveda*,⁶⁵ whose date of composition is difficult to fix with the data available at present, the king who possessed good and trained elephants was sure to succeed in every engagement, as they effectively destroyed the entrenchments of the enemy’s camp, vigorously protected the flanks of their own army, pulled down towers in a fury, struck terror into the enemy’s heart, destroyed his phalanx, and cleared a passage even through the densest forest. Lastly, they were ready to sacrifice their own lives for their master’s benefit and hence there was nothing equal to an elephant corps. Here we cannot forbear giving a beautiful Jātaka story⁶⁶ which pays a tribute to the noble qualities of the animal. The Bodhisatta was the son of an elephant-trainer in the neighbourhood of Benares. He was appointed to train the State elephant of his own king. Once the king mounting on it led an attack on the city of Benares. The soldiers who offered defence from within the city gates discharged a shower of missles against the enemy at which the elephant was frightened a little. The trainer addressed the elephant thus: ‘ Son, a hero like you is quite at home in the battle-field! In such a place it is disgraceful to turn tail.’