Hindu Administrative Institutions c11.s6.18

c11.s6.18

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.