[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [War in Ancient India](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1944) › c10.73 # War in Ancient India c10.73 War in Ancient India c10.73 - **Language:** English ### [c10.73](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1944.c10.73) As has been already stated, the \*Kauṭalīya Arthaśāstra\* makes express mention of the Admiralty as a department of administration. There was a superintendent (adhyakṣa) over this department. His jurisdiction included vessels bound for commerce also. Kauṭalya distinguishes ocean routes (\*samudra samyānapatha\*) from river routes and routes for coastal traffic (\*kulapatha\*).⁴⁶ Among the sea-going vessels men of war also figure, bound for the enemy's country (\*amitra-viṣyatigah\*).⁴⁷ That Aśoka continued to maintain a fleet is evident from the wide diplomatic relations which the emperor had with distant powers like the Hellenistic monarchies of the Mediterranean. That the early Andhras had a fleet of their own is borne out by the more reliable evidence of coins. The coins belonging to the reign of Pulumāyi (and also of Yagñaśri) bear the figure of a two-masted sailing ship.⁴⁸ The coins were apparently issued to commemorate a naval victory.⁴⁹ During the epoch of the imperial Guptas a naval force was maintained by the State, as is evident from the inscriptions. The Allahabad praśasti of Samudragupta refers to his conquest of several islands.⁵⁰ There is a reference to Jīvita Gupta II’s army, which included a fleet of war boats.⁵¹ Later, Harṣa the emperor is credited with possessing a fleet consisting of boats. - [Previous: c10.72](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1944.c10.72) - [Next: c10.74](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1944.c10.74) - [Up: c10](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1944.c10) ## Linked texts (1) - [Kauṭilīya Arthaśāstra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.artha.kautilya) — Kauṭilya, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1944.c10.73](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1944.c10.73) · Pramāṇa