Chandragupta Maurya and His Times c7.58

c7.58

**Animal Fights.** Among other pastimes of the king, Aelian mentions the prevalence of even gladiatorial contests. But more usual were the contests arranged between "brute animals that are horned and butt each other, such as wild bulls, tame rams and rhinos. There were also arranged fights between elephant tuskers." The *Dīgha-Nikāya* calls such sport as *Samāja* which it condemns and describes as fights arranged between animals such as "elephants, horses, buffaloes, bulls, goats and rams," and even between "birds like cocks and quails."