On Elephants in Manasollasa - 1. Characteristics, Habitat, Methods of Capturing and Training

Hastishastra or the science dealing with elephants originated in India. Kings in ancient India maintained a separate division of manned elephants in their armies besides the foot soldiers, chariot riders, and horse riders. Capturing elephants from forests, managing them, treating their ailments, and training for various purposes formed an important activity in most kingdoms. Hastyayurvedasamhita (a manual of the science of elephant-life), a work by the sage Palakappya, is an ancient text that has been preserved in the Raja Serfoji Saraswathi Mahal Library of Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu. The encyclopedic work, Manasollasa, or Abhilashitarthachintamani has been ascribed to the Western Chalukya King, Someshvardeva or Somadeva III, who ruled in the twelfth century AD. A large number of verses deal with elephants and their management. For the first time ever, these verses have been translated into English in this article with a discussion. This paper is the first in a series of three articles.