Hindu Administrative Institutions c11.s5.8

c11.s5.8

In this connection we can examine whether the ancient Indian states had a standing army or an army recruited and disbanded at will. The evidence available shows that both methods were in practice. A detailed study of the constitution of the Indian army in early times shows that there were as many as six kinds of troops, the ṣaḍaṅgabala of Hindu political literature.³