War in Ancient India c8.41

c8.41

An idea of the scale of salaries and allowances to armies has been already furnished. The importance of regular payment of salaries to soldiers and officers is insisted on by the *Arthaśāstra* writers. Nārada repeatedly speaks to Yudhiṣṭhira of its advantages.²² Śukrācārya recommends a handsome pay to the soldiers, besides occasional allowances. He says that accurate records with full details as to the caste, age, district, village, station, period of service, amount of pay and allowances of the soldiers and officers are to be maintained; full pay should be given to those who have completed the practical course of training and half pay to the apprentices.²³ The case of the soldiers recruited from the wild tribes was different. Their soldiers were either paid in raw produce or permitted to indulge in plunder.²⁴ Trumpet-blowers and servants were paid each 120 paṇas.