Pre-Buddhist India: A Political, Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey of Ancient India Based Mainly on the Jataka Stories c4.s1.28
Pre-Buddhist India: A Political, Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey of Ancient India Based Mainly on the Jātaka Stories c4.s1.28
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c4.s1.28
These elephants were, as we said, clad in armour in girths and caparisons.⁷ And the mahauts—*gāmaṇis*—were armed with spikes and hooks (*tomaraṅkusā*) to urge and direct the beast. The warriors who sat on their backs (*nāgakhandhādhipatino*) were the brilliant princes, brilliant in their ornaments and dress, carrying swords, well-oiled, glittering, held fast, these mighty men who strike and strike again, and wave their banners.⁸ There were special elephant trainers (*hatthācariyās*) in the king’s service.⁹ In times of peace the elephants were richly decorated and used for processions.¹⁰