War in Ancient India c9.s4.12

c9.s4.12

arms are placed at certain distance so that there may be free movement for every soldier in the use of his weapons. There must be three men-at-arms to oppose a charger, and fifteen men or five horses to oppose a chariot or an elephant. If it is otherwise, it is viṣama vyūha. In an array of chariots (ratha) nine chariots are stationed in front and the same number on the two flanks and the two wings. The same number is also used for elephant (hasti) and horse (aśva) vyūhas; but in the array of elephants, nine war elephants are in the front, the same number, but trained for riding purposes are on the flanks, and rogue elephants on the wings; in an array of infantry (patti), soldiers wearing coats of mail are in front, those without armour are on the wings and archers in the rear.⁷⁹