SB 8.10.41

TEXT 41

TEXT

बलिर्महेन्द्रं दशभिस् त्रिभिरैरावतं शरैः ।
चतुर्भिश्चतुरो वाहान् एकेनारोहमार्च्छयत् ॥ ४१ ॥

balir mahendram dasabhis

tribhir airavatam saraih

caturbhis caturo vahan

ekenaroham arcchayat

balih-Maharaja Bali; maha-indram-the King of heaven; dasabhih-with ten; tribhih-with three; airavatam-Airavata, carrying Indra; saraih-by arrows; caturbhih-by four arrows; caturah-the four; vahan-mounted soldiers; ekena-by one; aroham-the driver of the elephants; arcchayat-attacked.

TRANSLATION

Maharaja Bali then attacked Indra with ten arrows and attacked Airavata, Indra's carrier elephant, with three arrows. With four arrows he attacked the four horsemen guarding Airavata's legs, and with one arrow he attacked the driver of the elephant.

PURPORT

The word vahan refers to the soldiers on horseback who protected the legs of the carrier elephants. According to the system of military arrangement, the legs of the elephant bearing the commander were also protected.