[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) › c12.76 # War in Ancient India c12.76 War in Ancient India c12.76 - **Language:** English ### [c12.76](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1944.c12.76) In the Arthaśāstra there are four important chapters on this institution.⁴⁹ Spies in the guise of a fraudulent disciple, a recluse, a householder, a merchant, an ascetic, a satri, a firebrand, a poisoner, and a mendicant woman were employed by the king. Being encouraged with honour and presents of money, they were asked to swear their loyalty to the king and his council; for it was the minister that set them on their mission. Intelligent cultivators fallen from their condition were employed as house-holder spies, and traders fallen from their professions as merchant spies. The satris were orphans maintained by the State, while the firebrands were those who confronted wild animals in fight to earn their livelihood. Brahman widows were generally the parivrājaka spies, though women of other castes were enlisted in this service. Thus Kauṭalya distinguishes five institutes of espionage⁵⁰ (samsthas), the members of which were sent over the country by the king to ascertain the purity of his own officials and also of the enemy. - [Previous: c12.75](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1944.c12.75) - [Next: c12.77](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1944.c12.77) - [Up: c12](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1944.c12) ## Linked texts (1) - [Kauṭilīya Arthaśāstra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.artha.kautilya) — Kauṭilya, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1944.c12.76](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1944.c12.76) · Pramāṇa