Hindu Administrative Institutions c11.s5.21

c11.s5.21

From this it would appear that the Mauryan Government possessed an efficient fleet and had an elaborate naval department. Kauṭalya seems to have taken this for granted when he mentions a special nāvādhyakṣa. There are some scholars who are of opinion that the Kauṭalyan recommendations do not warrant the existence of a navy for purpose of war. Among the various vessels are mentioned those which are bound for the enemy's country (*amitraviṣayātigāḥ*). Surely vessels of merchandise would not be sent to an enemy's country, and Kauṭalya must have meant only warships from the use of this significant term. It may be that the superintendent of ships had the control both of naval enterprises and merchant ventures. Naval fight is again found in the *Manava-Dharma-Śāstra*.¹ Further the term *naukādhyakṣa* of the Pāla inscriptions shows how tradition is unanimous from the Mauryas to the Pālas. Naval fights are frequently referred to in the numerous Chola inscriptions of South India. Tamil literature contains innumerable references to the naval engagements actually entered into by the ancient Tamil kings.²