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Hindu Administrative Institutions c11.s6: Sec. vi. The March of the Army

Hindu Administrative Institutions c11.s6

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Sec. vi. The March of the Army

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A conquering king must bide his time in commencing expeditions against his enemy country. Whenever the enemy is in trouble, providential, epidemic-stricken, or when his army and treasury are on the decline, or again when he has been deserted by his friends, the conqueror (*vijigīṣu*) might begin his attack. The general season recommended for march is autumn or spring.² Kauṭalya remarks that the season alone is not sufficient; the really more important thing is the resources. When an invading monarch feels that in point of resources he is strong while the enemy is not in prosperous circumstances he could begin his march.³ This is in other words to act according to the *deśa* (country), *kāla* (time) and *śakti* (resources). A practical statesman must have an eye to all these three in launching out an expedition. Then Kauṭalya compares the relative effects of marching against the enemy on particular months and seasons of the year.⁴ The *Viṣṇudharmottara* prescribes prayer to gods seven days previous to the actual march. This is also seen in the *Agni Purāṇa* where details of worship for different deities are given. It is said that the results of the expedition would be foreshadowed in the dreams which the king was generally believed to dream on the eve of his march. There is then a clear definition of what the signs of good and bad dreams are.¹ On the sixth day it is ordained that the monarch should take a victory-bath (जयस्नानं). The detail of this ceremonial is given from the *Lingapurāṇa*. The belief was that by that function the conquering king was sure to return with flying colours, after completely vanquishing the enemy.²

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² *S.T.R.*, v. 11. 55ff.

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³ बलविशिष्टः कृतोपजापः प्रतिविहितकर्तृस्वभूम्यां प्रकाशयुद्धमुपेयात् ॥ (*Arthaśāstra*, Bk. x, Sec. 3; cf. *Mbh.*, *Śānti Parvan*, c. 10-12.)

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⁴ *Ibid.*

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¹ *Matsyapurāṇa* and the *Rāmāyaṇa* quoted in *Vīramitrodaya*, pp. 331-40.

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² अपमृत्युजयार्थं तु सर्वशत्रुजयाय च । (Vide *Vīramitrodaya*, pp. 351-95.)

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Again the usefulness of the different constituents of the army depends upon the nature of the land through which the army has to march and on which it has to fight. Generally three routes are taken by the army on the march: water, land and forests (जलस्थलवनरूपं मार्गं.) So different kinds of grounds are given for the respective forces. That ground which is devoid of thorns and contains small stones, trees and pits is the best for cavalry force. That which has big stones, trees and anthills is for the infantry; that which is even, hard, free from pits and other obstructions, dry, free from plants and bushes, sand, etc., is the one favourable for chariots, and that which is uneven, with hill and dale, and contains trees and plants, and of muddy soil is fit for the elephants corps.³ The following are the uses to which the different limbs of the army corps were put¹ :—

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³ अकर्दमाममुदकाममर्यादामलोष्ठकाम् । अश्वभूमिं प्रशंसन्ति ये युद्धकुशलजनाः ॥

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¹ Arthaśāstra, Bk. x, Sec. 4.

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‘Concentration on occupied positions in camps and forests; holding the ropes (of beasts and other things) while crossing the rivers, or when the wind is blowing hard; destruction or protection of the commissariat and of troops arriving afresh; supervision of the discipline of the army, lengthening the line of the army; protecting the sides of the army; first attack; dispersion (of the enemies' army); trampling it down; defence; seizing; letting it out; causing the army to take a different direction; carrying the treasury and the princes; falling against the rear of the enemy; chasing the timid; pursuit; and concentration—these constitute the work of the horse.

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‘Marching in front; preparing roads, camping ground and path for bringing water; protecting the sides; firm, standing, fording and entering into water, while crossing pools of water, and ascending from them; forced entrance into impregnable places; setting fire, or quenching the

c11.s6.12

समानिरुदकाकाशरथभूमिः प्रशस्यते ।
नोचद्रुमा महाकक्षा सोदकाहस्तियोधिनां ॥
बहुदुर्गा महाकक्षा वेणुवेत्रतिरस्कृता ।
पदातीनां क्षमाभूमिः पर्वतोपवनानि च ॥
पदातिबहुलासेना दृष्टाभवति भारत ।
रथाश्वबहुलासेना सुदिनेषु प्रशस्यते ॥
पदातिनागबहुलासेना सुदिनेषु प्रशस्यते ।
गुणानैतान्प्रसंख्याय देशकालौ प्रयोजयेत् ॥

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(Śānti Parvan, c. 21-5; Arthaśāstra, Bk. x, Sec. 4.)

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fire; the subjugation of one of the four constituents of the army; collecting the dispersed army; breaking a compact army; protection against dangers; trampling down the enemy's army; frightening and driving it; magnificence; seizing; abandoning; destruction of walls, gates and towers and carrying the treasury—these constitute the work of the elephants.

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'Protection of the army; repelling the attack made by all the four constituents of the enemy's army; seizing and abandoning (positions) during the time of the battle; gathering a dispersed army; breaking the compact array of the enemy's army, frightening it; magnificence; and fearful noise; these constitute the work of the chariots.

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'Always carrying weapons to all places; and fighting—these constitute the work of the infantry.'¹

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¹ *Arthaśāstra*, Bk. x, Sec. 4, Trans.

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When the army was on the march, the different divisions of the four-fold forces were stationed on both sides, and in the centre rode the king, women, treasury and possibly other non-military officials such as guides, transport officers, *purohita* and others. At the head of the whole force marched the leader of the vanguard of troops surrounded by men of his own choice, perhaps the very flower of the army. The flanks of the army were again not left unprotected. Here were stationed the cavalry as well as the chariot followed by the elephant corps. Evidently the arrangement was strategic in character.² The *Rāmāyaṇa* affords a practical illustration of how the army of Rāma passed towards Laṅkā, the enemy-country. The same work wherein are recorded the heroic deeds of epic heroes contains the nature of the enemy's halt on the eve of the building of the famous bridge through which Rāma led his forces to Laṅka. This is not the place to give details of either that march or the camping of Rāma's host.

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² पुरस्तान्नायकः, मध्येकलत्रं खामी च, पार्श्वयोश्चा बाहूसारः, चक्रान्तेषु हस्तिनः प्रसारवृद्धिवी, सर्वतो वनाजीवः प्रसारः । स्वदेशान्वयातिर्वी-बधो मित्रबलमासारः स्वभूमितो यायात् । अभूमिष्ठानां हि स्वभूमिष्ठा

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From this it would appear that great care was bestowed on the choice of camping grounds which are very important as the strategic basis of all warfare. The *Mahābhārata* has sane reflections on the choice of ground for camps and the selection of the field of battle. The camp was erected quadrangular in shape with entrances on all the four sides, each protected by efficient troops and battlements. Separate divisions of the army were established in different places previously arranged. Each division of the army was lodged comfortably and attended to with special care. The king occupied a special apartment, and it is reasonable to believe that women and treasury were located with him.¹ Besides the defenders at the four entrances, there were army scouts stationed on the outskirts of the camp to keep a vigilant eye on the movements of the enemy, and communicate the same to the leaders of the army within the camp. In days of halt the enemy was sufficiently drilled in separate grounds, of course, within the camp, so that they might not grow inactive owing to the weariness of the march or any other cause. There was another division of the army that was also very active, and it was the commissariat and the supply department. The halt was the time for

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¹ *Śānti Parvan*, c. 43 ff.

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युद्धेऽप्रतिमाः भवन्ति । योजनमधमाः, अध्यर्धं मध्यमाः द्वियोजनमुत्तमाः
सम्भाव्या चागतिः पश्चात्सेनापतिर्यायात्, निविशेत पुरस्तात् ।
(*Arthaśāstra*, Bk. x, Sec. 2; cp. Agni, 242-4.)

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the members of this department to replenish their stock of provisions for man and beast as they got exhausted in the course of the march.

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On the subject of the choice of the battle-field the *Mahābhārata* gives it as the approved and accepted opinion of the military authorities that the region should not be miry or watery. The ground must be even and without stones and gravel, and it would be advantageous if it lay nearer the woods.¹ Again the regions containing trees and bushes are recommended as suitable for the operations of elephant corps and the infantry men. It is clear that belligerents did not choose the site for a battle indiscriminately, and the commander-in-chief had always an eye to its strategic importance. In the words of Kauṭalya it must be favourable to the invading monarch and unfavourable to the enemy. The ground was selected in such a manner as might be conducive to the success of the operations of the particular branch of the army that was to be employed thereon.²

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¹ *Śānti Parvan*, c. 13.

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² समा स्थिराभिकाशा निरुखातिन्यचक्रखुराऽनक्षप्राहिण्यवृक्षगुल्मप्रततोस्तम्भकेदारश्वभ्रवल्मोकसिकताभङ्गभङ्गुरा दरणहोना च रथभूमिः । (*Arthaśāstra*, Bk. x, Sec. 4; cf. *Śānti Parvan*, c. 21-24.)

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