Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 8 - Chapter 1 - Verse 41


Sanskrit:

बलिर्महेन्द्रं दशभिस्त्रिभिरैरावतं शरै: ।चतुर्भिश्चतुरो वाहानेकेनारोहमार्च्छयत् ॥ ४१ ॥

ITRANS:

balir mahendraṁ daśabhistribhir airāvataṁ śaraiḥcaturbhiś caturo vāhānekenāroham ārcchayat

Translation:

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

Purport:

The word vāhān 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.