The Social and Military Position of the Ruling Caste in Ancient India, as Represented by the Sanskrit Epic c2.s5.423

c2.s5.423

‡ bṛnhita, ix. 9. 14; 55. 42. The Bṛh. Nār. P. 10. 15 ff. gives hreṣita as the sound of horses; bṛnhita as that of elephants; tam as that of bow and arrow (compare ṭaṅku, ḍamaru, doubtless onomatopoetic), and phiṭ as the noise of the war-car. In closing this topic, the exact statements of the dhanurveda in the Agni Purāṇa on the use of the steeds, elephants, and arms employed may be quoted as appropriate, though not finally explaining the more vague statements of the Epic. Thus, at the end of chapter 251 we find three horses given to the car; two hook-bearers, one leader, two shoulder-riders, and two swordsmen given to each elephant; previous to this we have a purely Epic list of ordinary arms, and the statement that the sword is worn on the left, the quiver on the right, the noose is ten hands long, the arrows are twelve muṣṭis long, the bow is four hands, and smaller for the foot-soldiers; the soldier should shoot low, etc. The divisions of weapons, etc., as in the Epic (compare Ag. P. 248. 1 ff., 24, 36 ff.; 249. 2 ff.; 250. 1ff.; 251 to end).