Pre-Buddhist India: A Political, Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey of Ancient India Based Mainly on the Jataka Stories c4.s1.26

c4.s1.26

The tremendous havoc that these sturdy beasts did in battles is described in many a story. ‘*Yuddhe vikkantacāriṇā*’,³ they really were. “Winding his trunk about the shafts of the pillars he tore them up like so many toad stools ; he beat against the gateway, broke down the bars, and forcing his way through entered the city and won it for its king.”⁴ In another scene the elephant is seen trampling and frightening away the host and breaking the camp and seizing the king by his topknot.⁵ The ideal war-elephant is strongly-tusked and best when sixty years old—‘a type of male vigour.’