War in Ancient India c8.27

c8.27

∗ I have followed M. H. Gopal (*Mauryan Public Finance*, p. 195.) The equivalent in modern currency is on the calculation of V. A. Smith who valued the silver *pana* as equal to a shilling. If Pliny is to be believed the Mauryan king had a standing army of 600,000 foot soldiers, 30,000 horse and 9,000 elephants. This alone entailed an expenditure roughly of £ 17,000,000. This does not include the pay of the army officers such as commander-in-chief and commanders, the expenses of the fleet, of the armoury and arsenal of the commissariat, and several minor departments which were so many adjuncts to the Defence department. If these were included, we have to estimate the defence expenses of the Mauryan State to be several millions pound sterling. Arrian (*Indika*, ch. 12) tells us that the army officials were all paid very liberally. It appears that the Mauryan government believed in a contented army.