India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c12.s3.8

c12.s3.8

Pāṇini also refers to military sports or tournaments (*praharaṇa-krīḍā*, IV.2.57), in which young men participated for display of archery and swordsmanship. Pāṇini states that the names of battles were derived from a two-fold factor, viz. the names of combatants (*yoddhṛi*) and the objective (*prayojana*) for which they fought (IV.2.56). The *Kāśikā* cites *āhimāla*, a battle fought by the Ahimāla soldiers (*ahimālā yoddhāro'sya saṁgrāmasya*); *syāndanāśva*, fight by contingents of chariots and horses; *Saubhadra* and *Gaurimitra*, a battle for the sake of Subhadrā and Gaurimitrā. Attacking with an army was termed *abhisheṇayati* (III.1.25; VIII.3.65); encircling *parisheṇayati*; and retreating *pradrāva* (III.3.27). ANUŚATIKA—Pāṇini refers to *Anuśatika* (VII.3.20), who was an officer of the Commissariat, according to the *Śukranīti*. He was an assistant of the *Śatānīka*, or commandant of 100 soldiers. 5 footmen were placed under a *Pattipāla*, 30 under a *Gaulmika*, and 100 under a *Śatānīka* (*Śukra*, II.140). The *Anuśatika* looked to army stores and recruitment.¹