Hindu Administrative Institutions c11.s6.7

c11.s6.7

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 :—