and are conversant with all the ways of unfair fight.
The Yavanas, the Kamvojas, and those that dwell around
Mathura are well skilled in fighting with bare arms.
The Southerners are skilled in fighting sword in hand.
It is well-known that persons possessed of great strength
and great courage are born in almost every country.
Listen to me as I describe their indications.
They that have voices and eyes like those of the lion
or the tiger, they that have a gait like that of the
lion and the tiger, and they that have eyes like those
of the pigeon or the snake, are all heroes capable
of grinding hostile ranks.[303] They that have a voice
like deer, and eyes like those of the leopard or the
bull, are possessed of great activity. They whose
voice resembles that of bells, are excitable, wicked,
and wrathful. They that have a voice deep as
that of the clouds, that have wrathful face, or faces
like those of camels, they that have hooked noses
and tongues, are possessed of great speed and can
shoot or hurl their weapons to a great distance.
They that have bodies curved like that of the cat,
and thin hair and thin skin, become endued with great
speed and restlessness and almost invincible in battle.
Some that are possessed of eyes closed like those of
the iguana, disposition that is mild, and speed and
voice like the horses, are competent to fight all
foes. They that are of well-knit and handsome
and symmetrical frames, and broad chests, that become
angry upon hearing the enemy’s drum or trumpet,
that take delight in affrays of every kind, that have
eyes indicative of gravity, or eyes that seem to shoot
out, or eyes that are green, they that have faces
darkened with frowns, or eyes like those of the mongoose,
are all brave and capable of casting away their lives
in battle. They that have crooked eyes and broad
foreheads and cheek-bones not covered with flesh and
arms strong as thunder-bolts and fingers bearing circular
marks, and that are lean with arteries and nerves
that are visible, rush with great speed when the collision
of battle takes place. Resembling infuriated
elephants, they become irresistible. They that
have greenish hair ending in curls, that have flanks,
cheeks, and faces fat and full of flesh, that have
elevated shoulders and broad necks, that have fearful
visages and fat calves, that are fiery like (Vasudeva’s
horse) Sugriva or like the offspring of Garuda, the
son of Vinata, that have round heads, large mouths,
faces like those of cats, shrill voice and wrathful
temper, that rush to battle, guided by its din, that
are wicked in behaviour and full of haughtiness, that
are of terrible countenances, and that live in the
outlying districts, are all reckless of their lives
and never flyaway from battle. Such troops should
always be placed in the van. They always slay
their foes in fight and suffer themselves to be slain
without retreating. Of wicked behaviour and outlandish
manners, they regard soft speeches as indications
of defeat. If treated with mildness, they always
exhibit wrath against their sovereign.’”