Studies in Ancient Hindu Polity (Based on the Arthashastra of Kautilya), Vol. I c9.s1.24

c9.s1.24

We now proceed to give an account of the various types of vehicles, conveyances and other means of land carriage which were then in use. First come *chariots*, the construction of which was placed under the supervision of the superintendent of chariots (रथाध्यक्ष), who had to see that the chariots built corresponded with the various sizes and types in vogue; for there are mentioned no less than seven different sizes of chariots with a normal height of 10 purushas, *i.e.* 10 feet, but with a width ranging from 6 to 12 feet. There are also mentioned six varieties of chariots for different purposes. Thus the देवरथ was the chariot for the idols, the पुष्परथ was the festal chariot, the संग्रामिक war-chariot, the पारियात्रिक that used ordinarily for travelling. There was another class of war-chariots called the परपुराभिमानिक for use in expeditions. Lastly, there was the वेणविक or the chariot used in the period of training.¹