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= 440 minister ride an ass-drawn chariot from Hastinapura to
Varaṇavata (1.132.7), and the Kaurava women fleeing the
battlefield of Kuruká¹£etra in mule-drawn chariots (IX.
28.70). Although it is not specifically said so, these
in all likelihood were the Kridarathas or sports-chariots,
smaller and lighter than the war-chariots and drawn in
many cases by a single ass or mule. In swiftness and
speed, however, they were no less useful than any other
vehicle and so Dhṛtarastra presented Kṛṣṇa with a mule-
Krsna
drawn chariot which could cover 14 miles a day (V.84.12).
The Mbh also refers to rathas drawn by cows,
camels and elephants.
Yudhisthira entered Hastinapura
as the acclaimed king, at the end of the mourning period
after the Mbh war, in a brand new chariot, covered with
woollen rugs and deer-skin and yoked with six white cows,
while Krsna and the other Pandavas followed in their
horse-drawn chariots. This is the only example of its
kind (XII.38.32-33) and the peaceful entry of Yudhisthira
with cows instead of horses, a symbol of military
prowess, represented the heralding of an era of peace
and prosperity.
The idea of chariots drawn by elephants appears
to be rather far-fetched, but king Drupada presented some
to the Pandavas during the celebrations of the Rajasuya
sacrifice. Though referred to as 'ratha' or chariots,
these were more probably wheeled wagons of some sort or
the other, drawn by elephants (II.48.29). The same must