Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v1.c17.41

v1.c17.41

3. **Chaddanta.**—A tribe of elephants, of which tribe the Bodhisatta was once born as king (see No. 4). The Chaddantas and the **Uposathas** are the two highest classes of elephant.¹ The Chaddantakula sometimes provides the *hatthiratana* for a Cakkavatti, in which case it is the youngest of the tribe who so functions.² Of the ten tribes of elephants enumerated in the books³ the Chaddanta is classed as the highest, and the Buddha possesses the strength of ten Chaddanta-elephants, each elephant having the strength of ten thousand million men.⁴ These elephants have the power of travelling through the air and are white in hue.⁵