Pre-Buddhist India: A Political, Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey of Ancient India Based Mainly on the Jataka Stories c6.s3.83

c6.s3.83

In the Asadisa Jātaka,⁶ we see Prince Asadisa exhibiting a marvellous feat of archery. The king, in whose service he was employed had asked him to bring down a cluster of mango-fruits. The archer chose a suitable position. He spread a screen around him and there (antosānim) doffed the white cloth which he wore over all, and put on a red cloth next his skin; then he fastened his girdle, and donned a red waistcloth. From a bag he took out a sword in pieces, which he put together and girt on his left side. Then he put on a mailcoat of gold, fastened his bow-case (cāpanālim) over his back, and took out his great ramshorn bow (meṇḍakamahādhanu), made in several pieces, which he fitted together, fixed the bow-string, red as coral (pavālavaṇṇaṃ jīyaṃ); put a turban upon his head; twirling the arrow with his nails, he threw open the screen and came out, prepared for the amazing feat.... He sped the arrow forth swiftly (vegaṃ janetvā kaṇḍaṃ khipi). As the arrow went up, it pierced the exact centre of the mango stalk (ambapiṇḍivantāni yāva-majjhaṃ kanta-mānaṃ).... Then he let fly another arrow with greater speed than the first. This struck the feather (puṃkhe) of the first arrow, and turned it back.... Down it came, not a hairbreadth out either way, but neatly cut through the stalk of the mango cluster.⁷