War in Ancient India c7.s2.2

c7.s2.2

The next important division of the army was the infantry, or foot-soldiers. Originally chariots and elephants were mostly used for warfare. By frequent intercourse with countries which produced the finest horses the cavalry took an all-important place. Lastly came the foot-soldiers and the notion came to be entertained more and more with the march of time that the more numerically strong the army, the greater were the possibilities of its success. The *Atharva Veda* refers to one of the battle rites when arming a warrior: ‘I cover thy vitals with armour: let king Soma dress thee over with the immortal: let Varuṇa make for thee (room) wider than wide: after thee conquering let the gods revel.’⁹² One mode of equipment was with the ensigns.⁹³