Page:History of India Vol 1.djvu/59

Rh of the Rig-Veda, including cows, goats, sheep, buffaloes, and dogs (the latter used in carrying burdens), while one passage alludes to a king riding with his ministers on an elephant.

The war-horse, too, received his meed of praise, and so highly was he esteemed by the early Aryans in their battles against the aborigines, that under the name of Dadhikra he soon became an object of worship. It is evident, moreover, that the war-horses of the early Aryans inspired the aborigines with dire terror, as is shown by the following passage from the Rig-Veda:—

"As people shout and raise a cry after a thief who has purloined a garment, even so the enemies yell and shout at the sight of Dadhikra! As birds make a noise at the sight of the hungry hawk on its descent, even so the enemies yell and shout at the sight of Dadhikra careering in quest of plunder and cattle!

"Enemies fear Dadhikra, who is radiant and destroying as a thunderbolt. When he beats back a thousand men around him, he becomes excitable and uncontrollable in his strength."