War in Ancient India c8.s1.18

c8.s1.18

The qualifications expected of a Commander-in-Chief were many-sided. He was normally a Kṣatriya. Sometimes members of the Brahman caste were chosen to fill that responsible post. Puṣyamitra Śuṅga was the Senāpati of the last Maurya king, Bṛhadratha. Generally persons who were versed in the Vedas and equally proficient in the practice of arms were appointed. Though Vaiśyas and Śūdras were debarred, still Śukra would select this officer from any caste, if he happened to be a śūra or a great hero.⁵⁸ Other qualifications were as follows: ‘A native of the land, versed in the theory and practice of counsel, in daṇḍanīti, possessing virtuous qualities of heroism, energy and manliness, large-hearted and generous, a student of the śāstras, one who has few or no enemies but many friends and relatives, self-confident, and of towering personality, one fully acquainted with the actions of the four-fold forces of spies and scouts, skilled in all modes of warfare, one who is a linguist, and who has travelled to foreign countries and fully acquainted with the routes and roads therein, a diplomat, one who evokes confidence from his own troops, one who can fight the enemy and protect his own army, who is able to detect fraud and disguises of spies and messengers, and ever loyal to his country.’⁵⁹ Weighed by strategic considerations, he must be able to order either advance or retreat.⁶⁰ To these the *Śiva Tattva Ratnākara* adds ‘economical in expenditure’. ⁶¹