Studies in Ancient Hindu Polity (Based on the Arthashastra of Kautilya), Vol. I c7.s3.t4: Training given to horses
Studies in Ancient Hindu Polity (Based on the Arthaśāstra of Kauṭilya), Vol. I c7.s3.t4
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Training given to horses
c7.s3.t4.1
Horses were employed for the purposes of war or for ordinary purposes, according to their mettle. They were therefore trained not only for ordinary work of the State in times of peace (चौपवाद्यकं), but also for the more difficult movements required in war (वधायम्). The latter movements were of the following kinds:—
c7.s3.t4.2
(i) वलय (circular movement):—(a) वीपवेष्टक (turning in a circle with a diameter = 1 cubit); (b) वर्धमानक (advancing, and yet turning in a circle as above); (c) यमक (running the figure-of-eight); (d) लालीप्लुत (running and jumping simultaneously); (e) हयग (movement of only the forepart of the body); (f) द्वपादी (movement of only the hinder portion of the body).
c7.s3.t4.3
(ii) नीचैर्गत (slow movement with the head and ears kept erect):—(a) प्रकीर्णक (a combination of the movements mentioned above); (b) प्रकीर्णतर (same as the previous, but with one kind of movement kept prominent); (c) निषध (a movement in which the hinder part of the body is kept steady); (d) पार्श्वाणुगत (movement sideways); (e) ऊर्मिमागं (movement up and down like a wave); (f) मृगक्रीडित (playing like a मृग, a kind of deer); (g) मृगप्लुत (leaping like a मृग); (h) चिताज (a movement using only three legs); (i) वामानुवृत्त (moving right and left); (j) पञ्चपादि (movement by using two and three legs alternately); (k) सिंहावत (pacing like a lion); (l) लाघुत (long strides); (m) ऋजु (moving straight without a rider); (n) नमित (moving with the forepart of the body bent); (o) नृत्त (moving with the hinder part of the body bent); (p) पुलामिकीर्ण (zig-zag motion).
c7.s3.t4.4
(iii) प्लुत (jumping):—(a) कपिप्लुत (jumping like a monkey); (b) भेकप्लुत (jumping like a frog); (c) प्लुत (sudden jump); (d) एकपादप्लुत (jumping with one leg); (e) कोकिलसंचारि (leaping like a cuckoo); (f) उरग (dashing with the breast almost touching the ground); (g) बकचारी (leaping like a crane).
c7.s3.t4.5
(iv) धोरण (gallop):—(a) काक (imitating the flight of a heron); (b) वारिकाक (dashing like a water-duck); (c) मयूर (running like a peacock); (d) अर्धमयूर (half the speed of a peacock); (e) नकुल (dashing like a mungoose); (f) अर्ध-नकुल (half the speed of a mungoose); (g) वाराह (running like a boar); (h) अर्धवाराह (half the speed of a boar).
c7.s3.t4.6
(v) नारीइ is संज्ञाप्रतिकार, i.e. response to signals.
c7.s3.t4.7
Over and above these a few kinds of trot are enumerated as follows:—
c7.s3.t4.8
(1) धाव:—(a) विक्रम (trotting according to strength); (b) महाधाव (trotting with good breathing); (c) भारवाह (trotting with a load on the back). (2) धारा :—(a) विक्रम (pacing according to strength); (b) वल्गन (pacing with circular movement); (c) उपकण्ठ (pacing with gallops); (d) उपजव (middle speed); (e) जव (low speed).¹
c7.s3.t4.9
¹ The explanation of the above technical terms has been taken mostly from the Commentary of Bhaṭṭasvāmi.