The Mauryan Polity c13.s12.82

c13.s12.82

The Greek writer has the following on warriors. "They have only military duties to perform. Some make their arms and others supply them with horses and they have still others to attend on them in camp, who take care of their horses, clean their arms, drive their elephants, prepare their chariots and act as their charioteers. As long as they are required to fight they fight and when peace returns they abandon themselves to enjoyment; the pay which they receive from the state being so liberal that they can with ease maintain themselves and others besides".³ As regards military duties Kauṭalya gives it as the function of the Kṣatriyas.⁴ That their pay was liberal is seen from the list contained in the *Arthaśāstra*. The chiefs of the military corporations, the chiefs of the elephants, horses, chariots, and of the infantry, each, got 8,000 *paṇas*. The superintendents of the infantry, cavalry, chariots, and elephants were paid 4,000 *paṇas* respectively. The chariot-driver, the physician of the army, and other non-military officials employed in training horses and other animals got 2,000 *paṇas* each. The pay of the trained soldier was 500 *paṇas*. This means that the pay of a trained soldier exceeded four times that of an artisan. The arsenal department and the departments under the superintendents of horses and of elephants bear testimony to the fact that the state employed a large number of people to minister to the wants of the soldiers. All the necessary arms and armour, animals, and servants were supplied to the soldiers whenever they went out on a campaign. They were not allowed to have any arms without licence. The state regulated their keeping of arms and armour.