War in Ancient India c8.43

c8.43

Judged by the then existing standards, when wants were comparatively few and simple, the scale should be put down as liberal. But there is evidence to show that this must have varied according to time and place, and that no uniform scale of salary was ever in vogue. It would appear that the pay was proportionate to and dependent upon the economic condition of the times. Revision of scales according to the fall or rise of prices was effected. These statements are made in the light of a text in the *Mahābhārata*²⁵ where the pay of a warrior is mentioned as 1,000 coins per month, whilst in the days of Kauṭalya it was a little more than 40 paṇas. The importance of this high salary can be realised if we keep in mind the conditions under which the Mauryas and afterwards the Guptas extended the limits of their empires by incessant encounters with the non-monarchical and republican States. These required a strong force ever devoted to the king, and the result was a heavy military expenditure. Compared with the scale of Kauṭalya, Śukrācārya’s must be considered very low. Not only was the pay low but the soldiers were made to bear the expenses of their clothing.²⁶ One thing must