Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v1.c15.s3.t2.22

v1.c15.s3.t2.22

From the observations of foreign travellers cited above, it is clear that the soldiers were paid by the Government. The system of giving pay to soldiers is very ancient. Kauṭilya enjoins thus: "That army which is vast and is composed of various kinds of men and is so enthusiastic as to rise even without provision or wages for plunder. . . is (to be considered as) a compact body of vast power".³ In the detailed enumeration of wages given by Śukrācārya, provision is made for the payment of salary even to the deceased servants of the king.⁴ It is obvious, therefore that long before the thirteenth or fourteenth century, the system of paying soldiers was already in vogue.